The Orioles need Dean Kremer to be a stopper tonight with back-to-back losses that put them eight games below .500 and dumped them into last place.

Kremer has two straight quality starts for the first time since Aug. 12-17, 2025. His last time stringing together three in a row was Aug. 14-25, 2024.

Opponents are 2-for-27 with no extra-base hits and 14 strikeouts against Kremer’s splitter. His 45.1 percent whiff rate on the pitch is the highest mark among major league starters in a minimum 100 thrown.

“The splitter’s been extremely effective for him,” said manager Craig Albernaz. “There’s a lot that goes into that. It’s the arm speed, the sell of Kremer throwing it, how it looks when it gets to the hitter. It looks like a fastball and then it’s not. And it pairs well with his four-seam and his two-seam, especially when he’s throwing the fastball down.

“It’s just tough to make a decision for the hitter, and ultimately Dean has shown the ability to throw it for strikes, too, which the opposing offense really has to honor it.”

Colton Cowser is in center field again tonight, where he’s made a significant impact defensively.

Statcast calculates Cowser’s Outs Above Average at 3 in center and 6 overall in the outfield. His Defensive Runs Saved is 4 in center, the highest among the three positions.

Cowser’s three assists are tied for the team lead with Tyler O’Neill and Leody Taveras.

“I think it’s just confidence,” Albernaz said. “You feel like where the ball is up in the air and it has air under it, speaking on Cowser, you just feel like you can go catch it. It doesn’t matter where it is. And you get to that point just because of the work you put in. It doesn’t happen by accident, and Cowser, I’m sure everyone has seen it in here when guys are out there for defensive work on the field and BP, Cowser gets after it. All of his work is very intentional and it’s not surprising what he’s doing out in center field.

“I do think there is, not a hot streak, but a confidence that comes with that. When you’re feeling good, you’re getting the right jumps, you’re making plays, you just get in that zone, that confidence mode where you feel like you can get anything.”

Blaze Alexander is starting at third base tonight after playing right field last night and moving to second base in the eighth inning and third in the ninth.

Alexander joined Dick Williams on June 7, 1958 as the only Orioles to appear at those positions in the same game.

“For Blaze, he’s so athletic and dynamic, it’s such a great asset for him and what he can bring to the clubhouse and the team, knowing that no matter where you put him, he’s going to get the job done,” Albernaz said.

“For me, it’s such a great unlock for us, being able to have a player that can pretty much play every position. So like late in the game where you’re down or you have to make decisions and matchup based decisions, it makes the life a lot easier, where you have someone who can navigate multiple positions. And that was on full display (last night).”

Triple-A Norfolk outfielder Jud Fabian was reinstated from the injured list today.

Phil Regan, who managed the Orioles in 1995, died today at age 89.

Regan pitched in the majors from 1960-72 with the Tigers, Dodgers, Cubs and White Sox. He was an All-Star in 1966 and went 14-1 with a 1.62 ERA and 21 saves in 65 relief appearances for the Dodgers team that was swept by the Orioles in the World Series.

The lone managing opportunity for Regan came with the Orioles. He was in the dugout on the night that Cal Ripken Jr. broke Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games record.

The Orioles went 71-73 in the strike-shortened season and Davey Johnson replaced him in ’96.

For the Cubs
Pete Crow-Armstrong CF
Alex Bregman 3B
Michael Busch 1B
Seiya Suzuki DH
Ian Happ LF
Nico Hoerner 2B
Michael Conforto RF
Carson Kelly C
Dansby Swanson SS

Colin Rea RHP