The Baltimore Orioles already like some new twists to the season and they’d like something else to occur Wednesday night.
They’ll be trying to secure back-to-back victories for the first time this season with a home game against the Boston Red Sox.
The Orioles have alternated wins and losses so far. The first game of this series was played Monday, with the Orioles winning 8-5 in their home opener, before a scheduled day off Tuesday.
The Orioles had some power in the first series at Toronto, but collected 15 hits without a home run in the game against Boston.
“We’re going to hit our homers,” Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde said. “I’m not worried about that. I like us putting the ball in play and making things happen. We’re athletic. We can run.”
Orioles outfielder Cedric Mullins drove in four runs Monday.
“That’s what we talk about all the time, how do we manufacture runs until the big stick comes up,” Mullins said. “Really leaning off the confidence I had the second half last year.”
The Red Sox are searching for early consistency and trying to make sure all the players are sharp. That leads to lineup adjustments.
“I’ve got to play everybody here,” Boston manager Alex Cora said. “They need at-bats. It’s the first week of the season.”
That meant Rob Refsnyder and Romy Gonzalez were in Monday’s lineup and they both produced two hits.
The Red Sox are waiting for designated hitter Rafael Devers to get going. He has started the season on a 0-for-19 slide with 15 strikeouts.
Boston will start left-hander Garrett Crochet (0-0, 3.60 ERA) on Wednesday. He gave up two runs on five hits in five innings in Thursday’s victory at Texas.
Crochet, acquired from the Chicago White Sox in the offseason, signed a six-year, $170 million contract on Tuesday.
Crochet has faced the Orioles three times (one start) in his career, covering eight innings. He’s 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA in those outings
There already have been feel-good moments this week for the Orioles aside from the victory. The Orioles had Felix Bautista pitch the ninth Monday in his first home appearance since 2023 because of last year’s injury. He gave up two runs, but was well-received by the crowd.
“Really cool for Felix to feel that love from Baltimore fans,” Hyde said.
The Orioles will be without outfielder Colton Cowser for perhaps two months because of a broken thumb suffered Sunday. So that means lineup adjustments, not to mention shortstop Gunnar Henderson (intercostal strain) could be available soon as he’s on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk.
“It gives other guys opportunities,” Hyde said. “It’s not going to be the last injury that we have this season. We’re going to have things pop up. This is why you create depth.”
The Orioles have right-hander Zach Eflin (1-0, 3.00 ERA) lined up for his second start of the season. He gave up two runs on two hits in six innings of the opener at Toronto.
Eflin, who turns 31 on April 8, is 3-0 with a 5.10 ERA in six career starters against Boston. Two of those victories came last year, one with the Tampa Bay Rays and the other with the Orioles at home after he was traded.
–Field Level Media
