Don’t look now – OK, go ahead and take a peek – but the Orioles are only a half-game out of the last Wild Card and they’re still playing the Angels.

The Mariners and Twins are one game back. The Guardians and Rangers have identical 57-58 records, while the Orioles are 56-58.

The Orioles can move within one game of .500 today for the first time since being 15-16 on April 30. They’ll fly to Dallas later today to begin a three-city, 10-game road trip.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand is batting cleanup today. Jackson Holliday is batting fifth and playing shortstop, with Gunnar Henderson serving as designated hitter.

Dylan Beavers is in left field and Leody Taveras is in right. Jeremiah Jackson is the second baseman.

Brandon Young’s streak of quality starts ended at three after he allowed four runs in 5 2/3 innings against the Phillies to raise his ERA to 3.31. He’s never faced the Angels.

Tyler Heineman is 2-for-4 against him.

Young has dominated left-handed hitters in his three starts since the break, holding them to a .146 average and .195 slugging percentage.

Angels right-hander Ryan Johnson made 14 relief appearances last season and posted a 7.36 ERA and 1.977 WHIP in 14 2/3 innings. He’s made nine starts and three relief appearances this season and posted a 7.63 ERA and 1.587 WHIP in 46 innings.

The 2024 second-round draft pick faced the Orioles on June 23 in Anaheim and shut them out on one hit with eight strikeouts over six innings. Go figure.

Jackson singled in the sixth inning and was erased on Tyler O’Neill’s double play.

In his last two starts, Johnson has surrendered 13 runs and 14 hits over 7 2/3 innings against the Giants and Brewers.

For the Orioles
Dylan Beavers LF
Pete Alonso 1B
Gunnar Henderson DH
Christian Encarnacion-Strand 3B
Jackson Holliday SS
Leody Taveras RF
Jeremiah Jackson 2B
Colton Cowser CF
Yohel Pozo C

Brandon Young RHP

For the Angels
Wade Meckler LF
Mike Trout DH
Nolan Schanuel 1B
Zach Neto SS
Vaughn Grissom 3B
Moisés Ballesteros C
Jose Siri CF
Josh Lowe RF
Oswald Peraza 2B

Ryan Johnson RHP

Here are the starters in Texas:

Friday: RHP Shane Baz vs. RHP Nathan Eovaldi
Saturday: RHP Kyle Bradish vs. RHP Jacob deGrom
Sunday: LHP Cade Povich vs. RHP Kumar Rocker