The Orioles are in another skid and it’s carrying them further from the playoff picture.

A fourth consecutive loss last night dumped them three games behind for the last Wild Card, with three teams ahead of them.

All four defeats have been by two runs or fewer, and the last three by only one. They were shut out for the fifth time last night.

A 1-0 loss marked the first time that the only run scored on a homer since Sept. 13, 2024 in Detroit (Kerry Carpenter) and the first at home since Sept. 13, 2023 versus the Cardinals (Richie Palacios).

Heston Kjerstad gets his first start tonight in right field.

Jackson Holliday is leading off as the designated hitter, followed by second baseman Blaze Alexander. Samuel Basallo is catching. Christian Encarnacion-Strand starts at third base, putting Coby Mayo on the bench.

Luis Robert Jr. also is on the bench tonight.

Chris Bassitt’s last start before going on the injured list and requiring lower-back surgery came against the Red Sox on June 3 at Fenway Park. He allowed three runs and six hits in three innings.

Bassitt owns a 3.88 ERA in 10 career starts against the Red Sox. Wilyer Abreu is 8-for-16 with two doubles, two home runs and nine RBIs.

Adley Rutschman is 5-for-16 with three doubles. Eli White is 5-for-11 with two doubles. Ceddanne Rafaela is 2-for-14 and Jarren Duran is 5-for-21 with a double and seven strikeouts.

The Orioles are seeing one right-hander, Sonny Gray, in the four-game series.

Gray is 16-4 with a 2.82 ERA in 25 starts. Left-handers are hitting .229/.288/.375 and right-handers are hitting .271/.314/.406. Gray’s posted a 2.77 ERA in 12 home starts and a 2.87 ERA in 13 road games.

Right-handers slugged .469 against Gray last season, but that number has dropped to .406 in 2026.

Gray registered a 2.40 ERA in five August starts. He hasn’t faced the Orioles this season and owns a 4.37 ERA in 15 career starts against them. His ERA at Camden Yards is 2.64 in eight starts.

Pete Alonso is 4-for-11 with two home runs against Gray. Robert is 4-for-12 with a double and homer.

For the Orioles
Jackson Holliday DH
Blaze Alexander 2B
Gunnar Henderson SS
Pete Alonso 1B
Samuel Basallo C
Heston Kjerstad RF
Christian Encarnacion-Strand 3B
Dylan Beavers LF
Colton Cowser CF

Chris Bassitt RHP

For the Red Sox
Roman Anthony DH
Mickey Gasper 1B
Wilyer Abreu RF
Trevor Story SS
Nick Sogard 3B
Isiah Kiner-Falefa 2B
Jarren Duran LF
Eli White CF
Connor Wong C

Sonny Gray RHP

The High-A Frederick Keys set a franchise record last night with their 81st regular season win.

The team’s .638 winning percentage is the best among full-season minor league affiliates this year and would be the best by a full-season Orioles minor league entry since Single-A Delmarva was 90-48 (.652) in 2019.

The Keys will face Greensboro on the road Tuesday in the first round of the playoffs. They will host Game 2 on Thursday and Game 3 if necessary on Sept. 11.