For the second straight series, the Orioles will play an opponent in a rubber match game after splitting the first two games of a series. They play in Pittsburgh to decide this series after winning 5-2 Friday and losing 5-4 yesterday in 11 innings.
The Orioles, 5-3 overall, are 1-1 on the road and 1-0 in rubber match games. They split two games with the Royals before Wednesday's 4-3 walk-off win gave them a series win.
A win today would make the Orioles 3-0 in series this season.
Pittsburgh is now 7-2 after a 5-0 start. They began the year 4-0 at Miami and went 2-1 at Washington. So whichever clubs win today will have three series wins to start its year.
With that 7-2 mark (.778), Pittsburgh is tied with the New York Yankees and Cleveland for the best record in baseball.