Orioles lineup, spring training schedule and more

Zach Eflin makes his fourth Orioles start tonight to kick off a four-game series against the Red Sox.

Eflin is 3-0 with a 2.33 ERA since joining the Orioles. He’s allowed five runs in 19 1/3 innings.

In his only start against the Red Sox this season, Eflin allowed three runs and six hits over five innings at Fenway Park. He’s faced them five times and gone 2-0 with a 6.00 ERA and 1.417 WHIP in 24 innings.

Rafael Devers is 6-for-13 with three doubles and two home runs against Eflin. Dominic Smith is 7-for-21 with four doubles.

Eflin and Kyle Gibson are the only Orioles to win their first three starts with their new team in their first three appearances, per STATS. Ben McDonald won his first five starts beginning July 21, 1990 after 12 relief appearances.

Ramón Urías is the third baseman tonight. He owns a career .354 (45-for-127) average against the Red Sox, the highest in Orioles history in a minimum 125 at-bats, per STATS. Ron Hansen had a .344 average, Ken Singleton .319, Frank Robinson .317 and Miguel Tejada .316.

Adley Rutschman is the designated hitter. Ryan O’Hearn is at first base. Colton Cowser is in left field and Cedric Mullins is in center.

Jackson Holliday has nine RBIs in his last 11 games since Aug. 2, the most on the team.

The Orioles remain a half-game behind the Yankees in the division race. They’ve gone 5-1 against the Red Sox this season, including 2-1 at home. Four of the wins are by at least five runs.

The teams meet again Sept. 9-11 at Fenway Park.

The Orioles and Yankees are tied for the major league lead in homers with 186.

Red Sox right-hander Nick Pivetta has made 18 starts and posted a 4.44 ERA and 1.143 WHIP. He’s struck out 117 batters in 95 1/3 innings.

Manager Alex Cora skipped Pivetta’s last turn due to arm fatigue.

Pivetta hasn’t faced the Orioles this season. He’s made 12 starts against them in his career and gone 8-2 with a 3.18 ERA and 1.103 WHIP.

Mullins is 9-for-27 with two doubles and a home run against Pivetta. Ryan Mountcastle is 6-for-24 with a double and two homers.

The Red Sox are 63-56 overall and 34-24 on the road. They trail the Yankees by 7 ½ games and are two back for a wild card.

For the Orioles

Colton Cowser LF
Anthony Santander RF
Gunnar Henderson SS
Ryan O’Hearn 1B
Adley Rutschman DH
Jackson Holliday 2B
Cedric Mullins CF
Ramón Urías 3B
James McCann C

Zach Eflin RHP

The club announced that MASN play-by-play announcer Kevin Brown signed a multi-year contract extension.

Brown is in his sixth season as part of the Orioles’ broadcast team.

“I'm humbled and honored to be a part of this next chapter of Orioles baseball,” Brown said in a statement. “My incredible colleagues in the booth and around the ballpark make every day a joy. Baltimore is a special place, and I'm grateful to call it my home. Here's to many more nights of this thrilling team, this passionate fan base, and all the ballpark food I can reasonably eat.”

Orioles broadcasts on MASN have seen a 35 percent increase in viewership this season, one of just two major league teams with a growth of at least 30 percent.

The Orioles announced their spring training schedule, with report dates and times to follow.

Their first game is against the Pirates on Feb. 22 at Ed Smith Stadium. They close against the Braves on March 23 in North Port. They have two off-days.

The Orioles will play 15 home games, including seven weekend dates. They’ll face nine different opponents and have a spring-high seven against the Pirates – four in Bradenton. They also host the Braves, Tigers, Twins and Phillies.

Road games also involve trips to Clearwater (three), Lakeland (two), Fort Myers (two Twins, one Red Sox), Dunedin (one), North Port (one) and Tampa (one).

The schedule also includes split-squads March 9 against the Twins and at the Phillies, and March 16 against the Phillies and at the Tigers.

The second Spring Breakout game will pit Orioles and Yankees prospects against each other March 15 in Sarasota.