The Orioles have a chance tonight to win four straight games for the first time since Sept. 1-6, 2025.

They opened their series against the Angels last night with a 6-1 victory in Anaheim. Kyle Bradish tossed eight scoreless innings in the longest outing by an Orioles starter this season, and Taylor Ward and Coby Mayo homered.

Tonight’s pitching matchup on paper also tilts heavily in the Orioles’ favor.

Shane Baz has whittled his ERA to 4.04 in 15 starts. He’s allowed 13 earned runs in his last seven appearances over 44 2/3 innings for a 2.62 ERA.

Baz has surrendered three earned runs or fewer in seven consecutive starts since May 15, the second-longest streak of his career behind an 11-game stretch from Aug. 13, 2024-April 14, 2025.

Baz has made two career starts against the Angels and surrendered six runs in 11 innings. He allowed four runs with nine strikeouts in four innings in his only start in Anaheim.

Nolan Schanuel is 2-for-4 with an RBI and walk.

Through seven games of the trip, Orioles starters have posted a 2.17 ERA with 11 earned runs in 45 2/3 innings and a .200 (33-for-165) opponent average.

With a win tonight, the Orioles can claim a sixth straight game over the Angels for the first time since Aug. 3-29, 2010.

Angels right-hander Ryan Johnson is making his third major league start among 20 appearances over two seasons. He’s allowed 19 runs and 23 hits in 13 1/3 innings this season in five games (two starts), with eight walks, seven strikeouts and five home runs.

Johnson made a March 30 start at Wrigley Field and didn’t pitch again for the Angels until May 15. He made three relief appearances, was optioned, and returned for Thursday’s start in Sacramento.

The former second-round draft pick has allowed 11 runs 15 hits in 8 1/3 innings in his two starts.

Right-handers have hit .361/.392/.542 against Johnson in his brief career, and left-handers have hit .375/.446/.714.

Johnson has never faced the Orioles.

They should be champing at the bit tonight.

Leody Taveras is the only player to face Johnson, going hitless in his one at-bat.

Taveras played third base last night for the first time in his professional career after Blaze Alexander fouled a ball off his right knee and came out of the game in the third inning. The team announced that Alexander had a bruised knee.

Taveras handled the only ball hit to him before Mayo replaced him in the eighth.

Mayo began the night as the designated hitter and Jackson Holliday was unavailable due to some groin tightness, which led to Taveras’ assignment.

Holliday and Alexander are out of tonight’s lineup. Mayo is playing third base and Jeremiah Jackson is at second. Tyler O’Neill is the designated hitter.

Taveras is in right field, with Colton Cowser in center.

The Orioles are four games below .500 and two out of the Wild Card. They’re 4-3 on their West Coast trip.

For the Orioles
Taylor Ward LF
Gunnar Henderson SS
Pete Alonso 1B
Samuel Basallo C
Coby Mayo 3B
Leody Taveras RF
Colton Cowser CF
Tyler O’Neill DH
Jeremiah Jackson 2B

Shane Baz RHP

Right-hander Patrick Reilly began an injury rehab assignment today in the Florida Complex League and he allowed one earned run and four total with two hits, two walks and two strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings. He threw 38 pitches, 20 strikes. His fastball topped at 97.3 mph.

Reilly, 24, made three appearances last season with Double-A Chesapeake and posted a 1.86 ERA before undergoing Tommy John surgery in May. He was the organization’s No. 16 prospect entering 2025. MLB Pipeline currently ranks him 24th.

The Orioles acquired Reilly from the Pirates for minor league outfielder Billy Cook at the 2024 trade deadline. He’s averaged 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings in three seasons.

For the Angels
Zach Neto SS
Vaughn Grissom 3B
Nolan Schanuel 1B
Jorge Soler DH
Joe Adell RF
Oswald Peraza 2B
Christian Moore LF
Logan O’Hoppe C
Jose Siri CF

Ryan Johnson RHP