The Orioles head into Thursday night’s matchup in Cleveland with a 9-9 record and a clear chance to move above .500. First pitch is set for 6:10 p.m. ET at Progressive Field, where Baltimore will face the Guardians in a game that carries extra meaning for manager Craig Albernaz, who is going up against his former club.
Baltimore has played close games all season, with eight of its nine losses coming by three runs or fewer and six wins also decided by small margins. The club has scored 77 runs and allowed 78, numbers that match the uneven but competitive profile of a team still searching for more consistency.
What matters for the Orioles
The Orioles have talent that suggests a better record than the standings show, but defensive mistakes and bullpen issues have kept the group from building momentum. That has made each game feel important, especially against a Cleveland team that is getting solid early work from a young starter.
Shane Baz is set to start for Baltimore, and his season has been a mix of overpowering stuff and inconsistent results. He owns a 0-1 record, a 4.50 ERA, and 13 strikeouts, and his fastball has reached triple digits while pairing with a sharp knuckle curve.
Baz was hit hard in his last outing against San Francisco, when he allowed three runs on nine hits over five innings. He also flashed better form in his only road start this season, striking out five over 5.2 innings in Pittsburgh while giving up one earned run.
Key pitching matchup
Parker Messick gets the ball for Cleveland, and the rookie left-hander has made a strong first impression. He is 2-0 with a 0.51 ERA and 16 strikeouts, and he has allowed only one run across 17.2 innings in his first three starts.
Messick’s last start came against Atlanta, where he threw 6.2 scoreless innings and gave up four hits while striking out five. The left-hander has handled the transition to the majors quickly, and his early production has become a key reason Cleveland is treating him as a valuable rotation option.
- Shane Baz: 0-1, 4.50 ERA, 13 K
- Parker Messick: 2-0, 0.51 ERA, 16 K
- Watch: MASN / MASN+
- First pitch: 6:10 p.m. ET
The Orioles did show some progress against left-handed pitching in their last game, when they scored four runs and collected six hits against Arizona’s Eduardo Rodríguez over five innings. That performance may matter again here, because Baltimore is still without several regular left-handed threats, including Ryan Mountcastle, Tyler O’Neill, and Adley Rutschman, all of whom are on the injured list.
Lineup notes for both clubs
Baltimore’s lineup puts Gunnar Henderson in the designated hitter spot and gives former Guardian Johnathan Rodríguez a chance in right field. Sammy Basallo starts at catcher, while Pete Alonso anchors the middle of the order at first base.
Cleveland counters with Steven Kwan leading off in center field and José Ramírez batting third at third base. The Guardians also feature Chase DeLauter at DH, Kyle Manzardo at first base, and Austin Hedges behind the plate, giving the home team a mix of contact, speed, and left-handed power.
The Orioles enter the night looking for a cleaner, more complete game than they have often produced so far. A win would push Baltimore over .500 and offer a needed boost in a season where the margins have been thin from the start.
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