Saturday night brings a matchup with real postseason weight in Baltimore, even if the lineup cards make you do a double take.
The Orioles are sending Kyle Bradish to the mound against Ian Seymour, and the bigger conversation before first pitch is where Tyler O’Neill is hitting. He’s leading off for Baltimore, a move that lands squarely in the “what are we doing here?”
category. O’Neill has been better lately and has handled lefties, but it’s still an eye-opener to see him planted at the top.
Gunnar Henderson is right back in the five spot after a big night there last time out. Henderson had four hits on Friday, including a home run and a double, and he gets the same assignment again.
Colton Cowser and Dylan Beavers are on the bench against the left-handed starter, with the possibility that one or both could surface later as pinch hitters. Christian Franklin gets the start in left, and the lower half of the order looks, as expected, a little thin.
Bradish is coming off a six-inning outing against the Rangers in which he allowed two runs, one earned, but still took the loss. Baltimore is going to need more than one run for him this time around.
Across the diamond, Seymour is listed as the Rays’ starter. He enters with a 4.08 ERA, though he has only been working as a starter, sometimes behind an opener, since June 8. Since then, his ERA sits at 3.49.
The standings picture is just as crowded as the lineup puzzle. The Orioles are four games under .500 and tied for last in the AL East, but they’re only a half-game out of the final Wild Card spot.
The Yankees and Red Sox are still comfortably ahead in the top two Wild Card positions, while the Twins, Rangers, Tigers, and Blue Jays are tied for the last spot at 60-63. Baltimore is right behind them, with the Guardians one game back.
There’s a very real path tonight for the Orioles to move into a tie for that final spot. If Baltimore wins and the Twins and Rangers lose, the Orioles would be tied with the Tigers and Blue Jays for the last Wild Card position. That’s how tight it is right now.
Here’s how the other relevant games have broken so far: the White Sox beat the Tigers 4-3, and the Blue Jays beat the Yankees 4-1. The Twins are set to face the Phillies at 7:10, the Guardians play the Padres at 7:10, and the Rangers are at the A’s at 9:40.
Baltimore’s lineup: Tyler O’Neill, Pete Alonso, Jackson Holliday, Coby Mayo, Gunnar Henderson, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Christian Franklin, Leody Taveras, Carlos Narváez.
Tampa Bay’s lineup: Yandy Díaz, Jonathan Aranda, Junior Caminero, Liam Hicks, Chandler Simpson, Jonny DeLuca, Cedric Mullins, Richie Palacios, Taylor Walls.
In Other News...
Orioles Suddenly Have A Pete Alonso Concern They Cant Ignore
Pete Alonsos health is suddenly worth watching in a way the Orioles did not need right now. During the 10th inning against the Rays, Alonso felt a cramp in his right calf, a minor-sounding issue that still landed with extra weight because Baltimore is leaning on every available edge as it tries to keep its wildcard push moving. Alonso brushed it off afterward, saying he has played through worse and feels fine, but anytime a key bat draws even a brief concern, the ripple effect is immediate.
The broader context is what makes this one linger. Alonso has played in 537 straight games, the second-longest active streak in the majors, and that kind of durability has been part of his value all along. He also said he expects to play in the next game, with a possible move to designated hitter, but the Orioles can only hope this stays a one-night scare rather than the kind of issue that starts affecting the stretch run. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Wild Card Push Suddenly Has A Catching Twist To Watch
As the Orioles keep pressing toward a Wild Card spot, the injury report is starting to look more like a depth chart again. A handful of players are moving through rehab work, and catcher Samuel Basallo is among the latest to edge back into the picture as Baltimore tries to keep its roster options open for the stretch run. Utility player Blaze Alexander is also getting closer to a rehab assignment after a hand fracture, while right-hander Twine Palmer has already been reinstated from the injured list and has been pitching well at High-A Frederick.
The timing matters because the Orioles have had to navigate October aspirations with constant roster churn, and catching is one area worth watching as the calendar turns. Basallos return path adds another layer to a group that has already been waiting on multiple injured pieces, and the next steps in Norfolk will tell Baltimore a lot about how soon that mix can start helping again. For a team trying to stay in the Wild Card chase, even the rehab assignments carry real weight. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Fans Are Split On Gunnar Henderson For One Painful Reason
A recent poll of 271 Orioles fans showed just how uneasy the mood has become around Gunnar Henderson. The reaction was nearly split down the middle, but a slight majority said they do not believe he will get back to being a good player for Baltimore, which is a striking sign of how quickly confidence can wobble when a young cornerstone goes through a rough stretch.
The Orioles still seem to be in wait-and-see mode with Henderson, hoping the bat and overall performance rebound before the concern hardens into something bigger. For a player who has been central to the clubs future plans, the current uncertainty is what makes this such a painful conversation for the fan base, especially with no immediate signs yet that the slump has turned the corner. [Read more 🡒]