The Orioles are rolling Shane Baz out again, and if this season has taught them anything, it’s that his starts have been brutal on the standings. Baz has actually done his part on the mound.
Since June 12, he’s logged 14 starts with a 3.76 ERA and 2.77 FIP, which are solid numbers by any measure. The problem is what happens around him: Baltimore has gone 2-12 in those games, and Baz has only one win in that stretch.
The bigger issue is the offense. The Orioles have scored just 3.02 runs per game behind Baz this season, the lowest mark in Major League Baseball.
That kind of support leaves no margin for error, and it’s been a recurring problem for the club’s rotation, especially in September. Even so, you’d think this lineup would stumble into a few more productive nights for a pitcher who has been steady for most of the year.
Baltimore also had to shuffle the roster after Blaze Alexander went back on the injured list with low back discomfort, the result of the injury he suffered in last night’s loss. Jeremiah Jackson takes his spot and immediately slides into the lineup at second base.
Jackson Holliday moves to shortstop so Gunnar Henderson can get a day off after leaving the game with a knee injury. Craig Albernaz said Henderson is “pretty banged up.”
The Orioles still have a steep climb ahead of them. They need to win at least 12 of their final 16 games to have any shot at the playoffs, and that feels like a mountain too high for this group. Still, they’re going to keep playing it out.
Baltimore’s lineup sends Dylan Beavers to left, Pete Alonso to first, Coby Mayo as the DH, Christian Encarnacion-Strand at third, Jackson Holliday at short, Rece Hinds in center, Jeremiah Jackson at second, Leody Taveras in right, and Carlos Narváez behind the plate. Shane Baz gets the start on the mound.
The Guardians counter with Steven Kwan in center, Chase DeLauter in right, José Ramírez at third, Jo Adell in left, Travis Bazzana as the DH, Nathaniel Low at first, Angel Genao at second, Patrick Bailey catching, and Brayan Rocchio at short. Foster Griffin starts for Cleveland.
In Other News...
Orioles Front Office Change Raises Bigger Questions During Wild Card Push
Matt Blood is no longer with the Orioles organization, a notable change in the front office while the club is trying to stay in the postseason race. Blood, who was promoted to vice president of player and staff development in November, had been a key part of Mike Elias operation since being hired in 2019 and worked through several roles, including director of player development and vice president of player development and domestic scouting.
The move comes amid a stretch of recent front office promotions for Baltimore, but it also arrives with the team still three games back in the chase for the last Wild Card spot. For an Orioles club trying to balance long-term stability with the urgency of the standings, the timing only sharpens the questions around how the organization is handling both its present push and its future structure. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Win Came With Another Injury Scare They Couldnt Afford
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Gunnar Hendersons injury during the game only added to the anxiety, especially with the Orioles already making unusual defensive adjustments just to keep the pieces in place. For a club trying to stay afloat through all the uncertainty, every new scare feels bigger than a single game, and this one left Baltimore waiting to learn how much more damage it might have to absorb. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Fans May Keep Coming Back To Pete Alonsos Costly Mistake
Pete Alonso has been one of the Orioles most productive bats this season, but in a September 8 game against the Guardians, one miscue in the field stood out for all the wrong reasons. His throwing error helped open the door to an inning in which Baltimore slipped behind, a frustrating moment in a game the club could not afford to let get away.
For an Orioles team trying to steady itself in a rocky September, plays like that carry extra weight. The club has struggled through the month and is now chasing in the Wild Card race, leaving every mistake just a little more expensive as the playoff margin keeps shrinking. [Read more 🡒]