The Orioles have a second left-hander in their bullpen.

Nick Raquet was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk this afternoon, and right-hander Cameron Weston was optioned after Sunday’s game in Cincinnati.

Raquet has made three appearances with the Orioles and allowed three runs in 2 2/3 innings. All three runs came in his debut with the team on April 10.

Raquet has pitched in 22 games with Norfolk and posted a 3.21 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 28 innings. He joins Grant Wolfram as the only Orioles lefties in the ‘pen.

Weston was recalled on Wednesday but didn’t appear in a game.

The Orioles begin their final homestand tonight before the All-Star break.

Shane Baz makes his 18th start and penultimate appearance in the first half if the rotation isn’t tweaked. His only career start against the Cubs came on Sept. 12, 2025 at Wrigley Field, and he allowed five runs and six hits in 2 1/3 innings.

Alex Bregman is 5-for-9 with two doubles and a home run.

Taylor Ward is one of four players with at least 50 hits and 40 walks since May 2nd, along with Michael Busch, Nick Kurtz and James Wood. Ward’s 67 walks this season are the most by an Orioles player through his first 90 games with the team since Ken Singleton (78) in 1975.

Since the beginning of May, Blaze Alexander has registered eight games with at least three hits to tie him with Yordan Alvarez for second most in that span behind Otto Lopez (nine).

Left-hander Matthew Boyd is making his third start since his reinstatement from the injured list. He’s faced the Orioles six times in his career and registered a 4.83 ERA in 31 2/3 innings. He’s allowed three runs with 14 strikeouts in 10 1/3 innings in his two starts at Camden Yards.

In case you missed it this morning, the Cubs are 50-40 and in second place in the National League Central. They’ve won six of their last eight games and 12 of 16.

The Cubs are 17-8 all-time against the Orioles, including 9-2 at Camden Yards. They won two of three last season at Wrigley Field and swept a three-game series in Baltimore in 2024 by a combined score of 21-2.

The Orioles’ eight wins are their fewest against any opponent.

Dean Kremer opposes right-hander Colin Rea Wednesday night.