Orioles-Purple Sox sequence preview: An opportunity to harass Boston followers once more

Was it actually solely every week in the past that the Orioles went into Fenway Park and swept two video games from the Purple Sox? The second of these video games particularly — a ridiculous 4-3 O’s win in 11 — virtually despatched Boston followers into full-on meltdown mode. In only a matter of days, although, the momentum has shifted for each groups.

The Sox stormed into Yankee Stadium and humiliated the Yanks for the primary three video games of the four-game set earlier than dropping the finale. The O’s, in the meantime, dropped three of 4 to the Astros, averting a sweep with yesterday’s win. Pitching advised the story for every workforce. Whereas Boston’s workers was stellar over the weekend, permitting a complete of 4 runs of their three wins, the Orioles’ hurlers had been shelled, giving up 26 runs of their three defeats.

The Sox have vaulted to the highest of the wild card standings over the Yankees and Mariners and at the moment maintain a four-game lead over the primary non-playoff workforce, the Royals. So that they appear to be in snug place to safe a playoff spot, as a result of it’s not as if the Purple Sox have any historical past of late-season collapses.

The Purple Sox have each the fifth-best ERA and the fifth-best OPS within the majors, giving them a well-rounded workforce that — on paper — ought to have a transparent benefit on this sequence. However because the Orioles proved final week, the sport isn’t performed on paper. There could possibly be some extra wild baseball, and Purple Sox fan meltdowns, in retailer for these subsequent 4 video games.

Recreation 1: Monday, 6:35 PM, MASN

LHP Brennan Bernardino (4-2, 2.93) vs. RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (10-5, 3.97)

Don’t look now, however Sugano…is likely to be good once more? The Nippon Skilled Baseball veteran was the Orioles’ most dependable starter within the first two months, then fell aside in June and July however has bounced again in August. He’s allowed only one run in every of his final three begins, together with final Tuesday in opposition to the Purple Sox (through which the run was unearned). That pushed his ERA under 4 for the primary time since June 20. Sugano twice struck out Masataka Yoshida, his longtime NPB opponent, in final week’s sport.

For the Sox, this is able to usually be Walker Buehler’s flip, however he’s been moved to the bullpen after struggling to a 5.40 ERA in 22 begins. His final outing, through which he walked 4 Orioles in as many innings, was the final straw. The Sox will use the lefty reliever Bernardino as an opener, with both a bullpen sport or a bulk reliever to observe.

Recreation 2: Tuesday, 6:35 PM, MASN

RHP Lucas Giolito (8-2, 3.72) vs. TBD

It’s been a pleasant comeback season for Giolito, who bounced between three totally different groups in 2023 — pitching terribly for 2 of them — after which missed all of 2024 with Tommy John surgical procedure. He was slightly rusty to start out this season, posting a 6.42 ERA in his first seven begins, however he’s been stellar ever since with a 2.55 ERA since June 10. He dominated the Orioles again on Might 24, working seven shutout innings. Earlier than that, he hadn’t confronted the Birds since 2022.

The O’s haven’t formally introduced a starter for Tuesday, however indications are that will probably be Kyle Bradish, marking his long-awaited return from his June 2024 Tommy John surgical procedure. The O’s right-hander has completed up a six-start rehab project and is able to make his first main league look since final June 14. The Orioles have missed him terribly. Don’t anticipate classic Bradish proper out of the gate, but when he can construct up some innings and get his velocity and command again, he’ll carry some momentum into 2026.

Recreation 3: Wednesday, 6:35 PM, MASN

RHP Brayan Bello (10-6, 3.07) vs. TBD

The 26-year-old Bello is having his greatest season but, bringing a 134 ERA+ into the sport. He’s giving up fewer hits and homers than ever earlier than, even together with his strikeout charge dropping to a career-low 6.8. He appears to have made a concerted effort to induce weak contact and get batters to hit the ball on the bottom, and it’s paying off. Bello was a thorn within the Orioles’ facet final season, beating the O’s three of the 4 instances he confronted them. Gunnar Henderson has his quantity, although, with 4 extra-base hits in 16 at-bats. Ryan Mountcastle, alternatively, is 1-for-10.

The O’s once more don’t have a starter introduced for Wednesday. This is able to have been Brandon Younger’s spot, however he landed on the IL with a left hamstring pressure that he suffered in his most up-to-date begin.

Recreation 4: Thursday, 1:05 PM, MASN

LHP Garrett Crochet (14-5, 2.38) vs. LHP Cade Povich (2-7, 5.13)

Povich seemingly was battling with Younger to maintain his rotation spot upon Bradish’s return, however Younger’s harm gave Cade a reprieve. Povich hasn’t precisely taken a step ahead over his 2024 rookie season. In virtually precisely as many begins as final 12 months, his numbers are strikingly related throughout the board, together with an equivalent 1.43 WHIP and an ERA (5.13) that’s simply seven factors higher than final season’s. The one huge change is that he’s racking up extra strikeouts, lifting his Okay/9 from 7.8 to 9.9. That included a career-high 10 strikeouts Aug. 16 in Houston. However till he can begin going deeper into video games — he’s labored greater than 5 innings solely as soon as in his final six outings — he’s not making a powerful case to be a part of the 2026 rotation.

Povich faces the unenviable process of attempting to defeat Crochet, who’s making a bid to win the AL Cy Younger Award. The lefty has been sensational in his first 12 months for the Purple Sox, at the moment main the AL in wins (14), strikeouts (207), and, most notably, innings pitched (166.1), a outstanding whole for a pitcher who was considered a significant harm threat when Boston acquired him. Check out Crochet’s Baseball Savant web page — actually every part is pink. (Purple is sweet.) He’s within the prime percentile of each statistical class possible. It may not be fairly sufficient for Crochet to overhaul Tarik Skubal because the Cy Younger favourite, however he’s awfully shut. Good luck, Orioles offense.