The Orioles are juggling a few injury situations while also trying to solve a specific matchup problem tonight against Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd.
Reliever Keegan Akin is seeking a second opinion on his left elbow and is scheduled to be evaluated by Dr. Keith Meister next week in Arlington, Texas. Akin is on the 15-day injured list, and his last appearance came June 27.
Colin Selby, who has not pitched this season, remains on the 60-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation. He is also getting a second opinion and will be evaluated by Dr. Neal ElAttrache at the end of July in Los Angeles.
The Orioles said closer Ryan Helsley is continuing treatment and rehabilitation on his right elbow while also seeking a second opinion.
Against Boyd, Baltimore is leaning into a left-handed look in the lineup with Samuel Basallo, Dylan Beavers and Jackson Holliday all starting. Manager Craig Albernaz described the approach as “trying to problem solve hitting left-handed pitching.”
Boyd has held left-handers to a .229 average with a .656 OPS in his career, while right-handers have hit .260 with a .779 OPS against him.
Taylor Ward is leading off, with Gunnar Henderson dropping to third. Basallo is the designated hitter, Beavers is in center field and Blaze Alexander is in right. Tyler O’Neill is on the bench, and Coby Mayo is at third base.
The Orioles’ rotation has been steady lately, posting a 3.61 ERA since May 20, which ranks third in the American League.
For the Orioles
Taylor Ward LF
Adley Rutschman C
Gunnar Henderson SS
Pete Alonso 1B
Coby Mayo 3B
Samuel Basallo DH
Blaze Alexander RF
Dylan Beavers CF
Jackson Holliday 2B
Shane Baz RHP
For the Cubs
Pete Crow-Armstrong CF
Alex Bregman 3B
Michael Busch 1B
Seiya Suzuki RF
Ian Happ LF
Nico Hoerner 2B
Michael Conforto DH
Dansby Swanson SS
Miguel Amaya C
Matthew Boyd LHP
In Other News...
Contender Now Linked To One Orioles Bat Fans Feared Losing
The trade deadline is starting to draw some familiar names into the rumor mill, and for Orioles fans, one of the more uncomfortable ones is a bat they have grown attached to. CBS Sports Mike Axisa recently pegged Taylor Ward as a possible fit for a Phillies club that has improved under Don Mattingly and looks like a buyer, with the appeal tied to his on-base ability and right-handed swing even as his home run total has dipped.
For Baltimore, the intrigue is less about Philadelphias needs than what Ward represents if the market keeps warming up. He is viewed as the kind of rental a contender can chase before he reaches free agency after the season, which is exactly the sort of profile that tends to stir deadline noise around a player who has become part of the Orioles everyday picture. The question now is how aggressive that pursuit gets, and whether Baltimore is forced to weigh short-term value against the kind of return that could make moving him easier to stomach. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Suddenly Have A Taylor Ward Problem At The Worst Time
Taylor Ward gave the Orioles exactly the kind of early boost they were hoping for, working his way on base at a strong clip and producing enough in April to look like a real middle-of-the-order fit. Since then, though, the bat has cooled, and the difference has shown up in both his power and his ability to get on base, which has made his once-promising start feel more fragile as the calendar moves toward the trade deadline.
That slide has already been noticed outside Baltimore, too. ESPNs latest trade-chip rankings have Ward slipping from 12th in the first edition to 24th now, a reminder that his market is changing along with his production. The Orioles would love to see him straighten things out over the next stretch, not just because they need the offense, but because a stronger finish would give them a much better position when the deadline conversations really start to heat up. [Read more 🡒]