Orioles-Astros collection preview: Houston, you might have an issue

There are two main storylines heading into the Orioles’ weekend collection vs. the Astros. The primary revolves across the residence debuts of not too long ago promoted prospects Dylan Beavers and Samuel Basallo. The second pits the languishing Houston offense up towards the dominant Orioles beginning rotation.

Each Beavers and Basallo have been largely profitable since making their MLB debuts in Houston, and have collectively breathed new life into the Orioles’ offense. In his first 4 video games, Beavers is 4-for-14 with a double, an RBI and three walks. And whereas we’re nonetheless ready on the highly effective Basallo’s first massive league blast, he has contributed 5 RBIs in three video games whereas going 3-for-10. Since Beavers’ debut final Saturday, the Orioles are scoring 6.5 runs per sport and are 3-1 in that stretch.

Baltimore might not want a ton of offense to take this collection from Houston, nevertheless. The Astros are 3-6 of their final three collection and are averaging simply above two runs per sport throughout that stretch. Heading into yesterday’s matchup towards the Tigers, the Astros had been mired in a 28-inning scoreless streak—a streak that ended at 31 innings on a Mauricio Dubón RBI double off Charlie Morton within the 4th. In each video games that the Orioles gained final weekend in Houston, Baltimore shut out the Astros whereas solely permitting seven hits throughout the 2 wins.

Sport 1: Thursday, August twenty first, 7:15pm ET

Possible pitchers: RHP Brandon Younger (1-6, 5.68 ERA, 46 Ok) vs. RHP Jason Alexander (3-1, 4.74 ERA, 35 Ok)

What’s one of the best ways to comply with up a near-perfect sport? How a few second crack on the lineup you simply dominated? After beginning the sport with 7.2 good innings towards the ‘Stros final Friday, Brandon Younger will kick off the collection in Baltimore trying to shut down Houston once more.

The Texas native delivered the most effective begin of his profession towards his hometown crew, largely due to nice fastball command. He threw 41% heaters towards Houston final day trip, and never solely did the Astros get a success off the fastball, however they solely had a .101 XBA on the four-seamers they did handle to get wooden on. We’ve seen Trevor Rogers excel this yr with a plan of assault primarily based largely on fastball command, and evidently Younger is attempting to comply with swimsuit.

Opposing the Orioles’ rookie right-hander shouldn’t be the actor who performed George on Seinfeld, however slightly 32-year-old RHP Jason Alexander. The Northern California native is experiencing the primary success of his profession with the Astros this season, posting a 2.63 ERA in seven appearances. Alexander put collectively a high quality begin in his first look towards the Orioles, going 6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 HR and 6 Ok. The O’s will hope to be higher ready towards Alexander’s changeup, after solely getting one hit off the off-speed pitch final Saturday.

Sport 2: Friday, August twenty second, 7:05pm ET

The place to look at: MASN/MASN+

Possible pitchers: LHP Cade Povich (2-6, 4.98 ERA, 90 Ok) vs. RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (2-4, 6.90 ERA, 50 Ok)

The Orioles deployed an opener final Saturday earlier than turning to Povich within the second, and the left-hander delivered with a season-high 10 Ks. Povich’s fastball and changeup have been his finest weapons all season, however towards the Astros he had his curveball working. The ‘Stros solely obtained three hits (all singles) off his breaking ball, whereas producing 5 swings and misses.

Povich will try to keep that stage of success as he returns to Camden Yards. The second-year left-hander has a 6.05 ERA in Camden Yards this season, in comparison with 3.86 ERA on the highway. Povich confronted off towards Astros as soon as earlier than in Baltimore, taking a no-decision after placing up 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 2 HR and three Ok. Slim has been hit notably laborious by Astros’ commerce deadline acquisition Carlos Correa, who’s 4-for-8 towards him with a homer.

The Orioles’ lefty will attempt to outduel former All-Star Lance McCullers Jr. as he continues his restoration from a collection of devastating accidents. A former key part in two World Sequence-winning groups, McCullers missed all the 2023 and 2024 seasons attributable to issues from elbow surgical procedure. His return to the mound in 2025 has been lower than promising, as he has a career-worst 6.90 ERA whereas permitting practically 2 HRs and 6 BBs per 9 innings. Of the present Orioles, solely Ryan Mountcastle and Adley Rutschman have confronted McCullers, combining to go 0-for-4.

Sport 3: Saturday, August twenty third, 7:05pm ET

The place to look at: MASN/MASN+

Possible pitchers: RHP Dean Kremer (9-9, 3.97 ERA, 123 Ok) vs. RHP Cristian Javier (1-1, 3.38 ERA, 7 Ok)

After Rogers, Kremer is the most important contributor to the Orioles’ rotation, proudly owning the most effective ERA in MLB through the month of August. The 29-year-old has a 2.14 ERA over three begins in August, and a 3.23 ERA in 39 IP throughout six second-half begins.

The Orioles and Kremer had been unfortunate losers within the first 5 of these begins, however the six-year vet picked up his first win of the second half final day trip towards the Astros. Like Younger, Kremer dominated the Houston lineup, tossing seven shutout innings, whereas permitting solely 4 baserunners and punching out seven. That was simply the newest chapter in a profession stuffed with dominance towards the Astros, as Kremer goes into Saturday’s matchup with a 1.47 ERA and .188 common towards in 5 profession begins vs. Houston.

Like McCullers, Javier is simply working his means again from an elbow harm that value him most of final season and the primary 4 months of this season. Javier made solely his second look of the season final Sunday—when he additionally confronted off with Kremer—going 3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER and a pair of Ok in a 12-0 Orioles win. It’s not clear what number of pitches Houston need Javier throwing at this level; he pitched 5 innings on 85 pitches in his first begin off the IL, however solely threw 50 pitches towards Baltimore earlier than leaving with an sickness.

Sport 4: Sunday, August twenty fourth, 1:35pm ET

The place to look at: MASN/MASN+

Possible pitchers: LHP Trevor Rogers (6-1, 1.41 ERA, 67 Ok) vs. RHP Spencer Arrighetti (1-4, 6.94 ERA, 21 Ok)

Rogers didn’t get the prospect to face the Astros in Houston, however will look to proceed his unprecedented run when he closes out the collection in Baltimore. Rogers’ 1.41 ERA provides him the most effective ERA over a pitcher’s first 12 begins in Orioles historical past—beating out Corridor of Famers Hoyt Wilhelm and Jim Palmer. The 27-year-old southpaw is in the midst of a streak of eight straight high quality begins, and hasn’t allowed multiple run in an outing in over a month.

Rogers has solely confronted the Astros as soon as earlier than in his profession, placing up a begin of 5.1, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB and 5 Ok final season proper earlier than the All-Star break. It’s a testomony to how far Rogers has include the Orioles that, if he had been to repeat the identical stat line Sunday vs. Houston, it’d be thought-about a foul begin for Baltimore’s burgeoning ace.

How Rogers approaches the Astros lineup might be fascinating. Up till this level, Rogers has thrown ~40% fastballs and 25% changeups, whereas mixing in his breaking balls as wanted. The Astros are a significantly better hitting crew towards fastballs than changeups, so we’ll see if he deploys an identical sport plan to his outing towards the Phillies, when he threw his change 36% of the time.

On the other finish of the spectrum from Rogers is Astros’ scheduled starter Spencer Arrighetti. Since being recalled on August eighth, Arrighetti has a 7.90 ERA over 13.2 innings whereas giving up a .339 common and .571 slugging proportion. The Houston space native took the L in his final begin towards the Tigers, giving up 5 runs over 5 innings whereas permitting two HRs in a 10-0 Astros’ loss.