Orioles lineup vs. Red Sox

The Orioles will try to clinch their series against the Red Sox today after moving within 1 ½ games of the last wild card spot.

They improved last night to 6-4 against the Red Sox after going 6-13 in 2021.

Michael Wacha’s reverse splits have produced a right-handed heavy lineup for the Orioles.

Austin Hays is leading off and playing left field, and Ryan McKenna is in center. Cedric Mullins is on the bench.

Also missing from the lineup are Rougned Odor and rookie Kyle Stowers. Tyler Nevin is playing third base, with Ramón Urías moving to second.  

Adley Rutschman is the designated hitter. He came within a triple of the cycle last night and has a .464 on-base percentage since the All-Star break.

Anthony Santander snapped an 0-for-14 streak last night and also came within a triple of the cycle. He has 16 RBIs in 10 games against the Red Sox this season.

Mullins has 41 extra-base hits. Going into yesterday, no player in the majors had at least 40 extra-base hits and 25 stolen bases.

Mullins leads the Orioles with 35 multi-hit games.

Kyle Bradish has allowed nine runs in 20 innings in four starts since rejoining the Orioles. His major league debut came against the Red Sox on April 29 and he allowed two earned runs (three total in six innings). A May 27 start at Fenway Park was much worse, with Bradish surrendering six runs and six hits in 1 1/3 innings in his shortest career outing.

Opponents had a .967 OPS against Bradish in his first 10 starts. They’ve posted a .741 OPS since he came off the injured list.

Last night was the first time in club history that the Orioles scored 15 runs and allowed 10.

Christian Arroyo and Xander Bogaerts have hit home runs off Bradish.

Wacha has gone 7-1 with a 2.44 ERA and 1.047 WHIP in 14 games, and has surrendered only seven home runs in 77 1/3 innings. He returned from the injured list on Aug. 14 and tossed seven scoreless innings against the Yankees, with two hits allowed and nine strikeouts.

Wacha has made six career starts against the Orioles and posted a 6.17 ERA and 1.586 WHIP in 23 1/3 innings.

Mullins is 5-for-11 with two doubles, one triple and one home run against Wacha. Ryan Mountcastle is 3-for-8 with two home runs and four RBIs. Hays is 3-for-5 with a double and three RBIs.

Boston lost last night despite recording 19 hits for the first time since Aug. 25, 2012 against the Royals.

For the Orioles
Austin Hays LF
Adley Rutschman DH
Anthony Santander RF
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Ramón Urías 2B
Jorge Mateo SS
Ryan McKenna CF
Tyler Nevin 3B
Robinson Chirinos C

Kyle Bradish RHP

Paul Mancano is handling pre-game and game coverage today while I’m in the MASN booth.