Gunnar Henderson has moved into the leadoff spot tonight for the first time since May 16, with Taylor Ward lowered to second for the series opener against the White Sox at Camden Yards.

Henderson is 1-for-18 in his last four games.

Samuel Basallo is the designated hitter, Dylan Beavers is in right field, Colton Cowser is in center and Blaze Alexander is at third.

Pete Alonso can become the fifth Oriole with 20 homers prior to the All-Star break in his first season with the club, joining Mark Trumbo (28 in 2016), Nelson Cruz (28 in 2014), Frank Robinson (21 in 1966) and Mark Reynolds (20 in 2011).

Alonso’s 19 homers are tied for third among players on new teams this season behind the White Sox’s Munetaka Murakami (20) and the Pirates’ Brandon Lowe (20).

Alexander is hitting .367 since the start of May, the highest among players with 100 plate appearances in that span. It would be the highest average in May and June by an Orioles player since Melvin Mora in 2003 (.369), per STATS.

Shane Baz is 4-8 with a 4.31 ERA and 1.383 WHIP in 16 starts. He’s surrendered only nine home runs in 94 innings.

Baz’s ERA was down to 4.04 before he allowed five runs in five innings in Anaheim. His eight losses are tied for most in the American League, a list that also includes Kyle Bradish.

Baz made his only career start against the White Sox on July 21, 2025 and allowed eight runs and eight hits in four innings.

The Orioles are seven games below .500 and three back in the Wild Card race. The Blue Jays have lost six in a row, leaving the Orioles a half-game out of third place but also only 1 ½ ahead of the last-place Red Sox, who have won four straight.

“Obviously, every game matters,” Henderson said, “so just obviously execute a little bit more on the back half of the games, and yeah, we’ll win more games.”

The Orioles have swept the White Sox in three consecutive series for nine wins in a row. The last time that they swept a team in four straight series was a run of five in a row against the Blue Jays from 1978-79.

Also, the Orioles have won their last nine series against the White Sox. A series win this week would tie Baltimore’s longest streak against any opponent all-time, which is 10 straight versus the Senators from 1963-1964.

White Sox right-hander Sean Burke, a third-round draft pick in 2021 out of the University of Maryland, has made 16 appearances (12 starts) and posted a 3.71 ERA with 87 strikeouts in 87 1/3 innings. He faced the Orioles on April 8 in Chicago and allowed two runs and two hits in five innings.

In his last two starts, Burke has allowed only two runs in 13 2/3 innings. He’s walked two and struck out 14.

Burke has a 3.00 ERA in three appearances (one start) against the Orioles, with five runs in 15 innings.

Ward is 4-for-9 with two doubles against Burke. He’s a career .313 hitter against the White Sox with a .397 on-base percentage and .504 slugging. The average and OBP are his highest against any team, and his slugging is second.

The White Sox (43-39) and Guardians are tied for first place in the American League Central. Chicago is 28-14 at home and 15-25 on the road after three straight 100-loss seasons.

Twenty teams have posted a .500 or better record following a 100-loss season, including the Orioles in 1989 and 2022, per STATS. Three teams have made the playoffs: the 2017 Twins, 2020 Marlins and 2024 Royals.

The only team to win its division/league one season after losing 100-plus games is the 1890 Louisville Colonels.

The White Sox have hit 116 home runs, second most in the majors behind the Yankees (121). Their .738 OPS is sixth.

Chicago is 17-10 in one-run games after posting the worst record in the majors the past two seasons, and the Orioles are 6-13. Six of the White Sox’s last seven games have been decided by one run.

Former Orioles reliever Serathony Domínguez is in Chicago’s bullpen.

For the Orioles
Gunnar Henderson SS
Taylor Ward LF
Adley Rutschman C
Pete Alonso 1B
Samuel Basallo DH
Dylan Beavers RF
Colton Cowser CF
Blaze Alexander 3B
Jackson Holliday 2B

Shane Baz RHP