The Baltimore Orioles are set to commence their divisional play against an American League East rival, the Boston Red Sox, in a three-game series beginning Friday night. This series marks a pivotal moment for both teams, with the Orioles striving for greater consistency after a period of mixed results, while the Red Sox are looking to rebound from a recent sweep.
Baltimore has experienced a challenging stretch, recording three wins and six losses over their last nine outings. Despite these fluctuations, Manager Craig Albernaz maintains confidence in his team's spirit and resilience. He highlighted the players' competitive drive, noting their ability to overcome setbacks, whether they are injuries, difficult games, or falling behind early. The team recently concluded a road trip with a notable 8-6 victory against Kansas City, a performance Albernaz cited as indicative of their offensive capabilities, particularly praising first baseman Pete Alonso's third home run of the season, which signaled a positive turn for the slugger.
In contrast, the Boston Red Sox arrive in Baltimore on the heels of a disappointing series against the New York Yankees, where they were swept in three games. The Red Sox's offense struggled significantly, scoring a total of just three runs while conceding four runs in each game of that series. Manager Alex Cora emphasized the early stage of the season, urging his team to persevere. Boston's struggles extend beyond this recent series, as they have lost five of their last six games overall and hold a concerning 4-8 record on the road.
The pitching matchup for the series opener has seen a last-minute change for the Orioles. Right-hander Dean Kremer was initially slated to start but was placed on the injured list due to a quadriceps strain. Consequently, Baltimore recalled right-hander Brandon Young from Triple-A Norfolk to take the mound. Young has a strong record this season, having pitched five shutout innings in an earlier road victory against the Chicago White Sox. He has also demonstrated impressive form in the minor leagues, giving up only two runs in 16 2/3 innings across three starts. For the Red Sox, Brayan Bello is scheduled to start. Bello's season has been inconsistent, as he has only completed five innings in one of his four starts, and in his most recent outing, he surrendered four runs in four innings against the Detroit Tigers. His career record against the Orioles stands at 4-2 with a 3.26 ERA across seven starts.
Further complicating matters for the Orioles, reliever Ryan Helsley was placed on the bereavement/family emergency list and will not be available until Sunday at the earliest. On a more positive note, catcher Adley Rutschman returned from the injured list earlier in the week and showed promise with a two-for-four performance in his first game back. Both teams face significant challenges and opportunities as they kick off this crucial divisional series.