Orioles manager Craig Albernaz spent most of his 16-minute pregame media session this afternoon, his longest of the season, talking about analytic data and the organization’s relationship with it.

This wasn’t a random topic.

The media was seeking his reaction to former pitcher Ben McDonald’s comments on MASN following Wednesday’s loss to the Rays, which suggested an overreliance and obsession with analytics and how the constant talk of exit velocity, spin rate and catch probability seemed to be misplaced with the team swept by the Rays at Tropicana Field.

In the last six games, the Orioles have recorded 52 batted balls clocked at 100 mph or higher, tied for second most in the majors and seven behind the Nationals. The Orioles’ 90 mph average exit velocity is tied for second best behind the Yankees’ 90.5 mph.

The Yankees are 30-21 and in second place in the division. The Orioles are 21-29 overall and 6-13 this month.

McDonald wants to see results more than Statcast numbers.

Albernaz didn’t directly respond to McDonald but cited the benefits of having the data handy while also stressing the need for balance.

“In my opinion, this is my personal take on this, I want more information, honestly,” Albernaz said, seeming to enjoy the debate. “Like, I love all the information. And all it is is just pieces to the puzzle. I think the more information you have, it helps you guide what’s happening in the game and your decision making, but it’s not the end-all, be-all. I think it’s, you take all the information you have, and then also you have to watch the game and players’ feedback and coaches’ feedback, and then you make your decision.

“Like, analytics, numbers, data have been along since this game has started. Obviously, it just looks different now. It’s more granular than batting average and ERA. Now there’s actually concrete data points that can give you a look underneath the hood of what the player is actually doing. And a lot of numbers are there for evaluation purposes, which to me doesn’t matter to me. It’s just more of taking the numbers and how can we get players better. And then also, can we find small margins for matchups that can either help us win the game or put our players in the best spot to succeed?”

Albernaz also was asked what he’s most focused on when it comes to at-bat quality.

“I think, are we swinging at pitches in the strike zone that we can do damage on? And are we not chasing outside the strike zone,” he said.

“I think it sounds very basic, but also, hitting is hard. I think we’ve all seen it across the league where a hitter goes up there and just waves at three pitches. To me, to a lot of people, there’s not an approach there. So that’s gonna happen. Humans play the game. So we challenge ourselves, how can we make that happen less, right? And how can we double down in our conversations to make sure that player, that hitter, is going up there equipped to handle that guy.

Taylor Ward is a popular example cited by the Orioles, a player who gets deep in counts and ranked second in the majors today with 47 walks, one behind the Athletics’ Nick Kurtz. Ward struck out 45 times, 20 fewer than Kurtz.

“It’s fun watching him hit every night because he has a plan every single time he goes to hit. And a lot of times it might result in a strikeout looking. But he is stubborn to what his approach is,” Albernaz said.

“He’ll have a terrible swing sometimes at pitches, but he’s never out of the at-bat. It’s just one swing. You can tell he just moves on and he’s still with his approach. And to me, those are kind of like the biggest indicators of at-bat quality.”

*Keegan Akin is the opener tonight if the weather cooperates.

Major League Baseball is pushing for the game to be played because Saturday’s forecast is even worse, and the Tigers make one trip to Baltimore.

Akin retired his three batters as the opener on May 10 against the Athletics, and Bassitt thrived in bulk relief with one run allowed in six innings.

Bassitt started in D.C. because the bullpen was “in rough shape,” as Albernaz described it, and the club remains confident that he can turn around his season. The Orioles were off yesterday and everything seemed to line up for Akin to get the ball first again.

“He’s somewhat platoon neutral,” Albernaz said. “He throws strikes. And it might deter them from hitting the lefties at the top of the order and setting up Bassitt to go deeper in the game. Kind of very similar to the A’s game.”

*Pete Alonso’s four defensive runs saved (DRS) are tied with Atlanta’s Matt Olson and San Diego’s Ty France for second most among major league first basemen behind Minnesota’s Kody Clemens (five).

Last year, Alonso’s minus-nine defensive runs saved ranked last at the position.

Alonso has three outs above averag, tied for fourth among first basemen. He posted a minus-9 OAA last season, second worst in the majors by a first baseman ahead of Colorado’s Michael Toglia (minus-10).

For the Tigers
Kevin McGonigle SS
Dillon Dingler C
Jahmai Jones DH
Riley Greene LF
Spencer Torkelson 1B
Wenceel Pérez CF
Zach McKinstry RF
Gage Workman 3B
Hao-Yu Lee 2B

Jack Flaherty RHP