The Orioles are carrying an extra reliever for tonight’s series opener in Minnesota.

Cam Sanders was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk this afternoon. Left-hander Cade Povich was optioned yesterday, which could create room for Chris Bassitt in the rotation.

Bassitt made his third rehab start Friday with Norfolk. The Orioles are off Thursday and could stay with four starters for the next turn or plug in Bassitt.

Povich lasted three innings yesterday against the Rangers and allowed three runs and four hits. Sanders appeared in back-to-back games with the Orioles on July 17-18 in Houston, recorded his first career win and save, and was optioned.

The Orioles will try to gain more ground in the Wild Card race while visiting an old friend.

Dean Kremer starts tonight against the team that traded for him back in July 2018 and dealt him to the Twins eight years later.

Kremer allowed one run and three hits in five innings against the Royals in his Twins debut. Tonight marks his first home game. He’s made two career starts at Target Field and allowed seven runs in 11 innings.

Yesterday’s 10-5 win over the Rangers left the Orioles two games back for the last Wild Card. Four teams are ahead of them, including the Twins, who have lost their last two games and six of eight.

Tyler O’Neill has the second-highest OPS this month at 1.382 among players with a minimum 20 plate appearances, per STATS. His 1.026 OPS since the All-Star break is the seventh-highest mark in the majors in a minimum 40 plate appearances and second highest in the American League after Yordan Alvarez (1.059).

O’Neill has posted a .305 average with two doubles, eight home runs, 14 RBIs and a 1.125 OPS in 24 games since July 1.

Jackson Holliday’s 1.063 OPS with two outs is fourth highest in the American League and seventh in the majors in a minimum 60 plate appearances.

The Orioles had an extra-base hit in the first four innings Sunday, the second time they’ve done so this season after a May 22 game against the Tigers at Camden Yards.

Left-hander Trevor Rogers has registered a 4.20 ERA in 21 starts. He struck out nine over six innings against the Angels in his last outing, with two runs and three hits allowed. He’s surrendered two earned runs or fewer in eight of his last nine starts.

Rogers faced the Twins in his first start of the season, and for the first time in his career, and shut them out on three hits over seven innings.

Josh Bell is 6-for-15 with two doubles against Rogers.

Rogers’ 1.99 ERA since June 20 is fourth best in the American League in a minimum six starts, per STATS.

The rotation has posted a 3.73 ERA since May 24, fifth highest in the AL.

Pete Alonso has hit 289 home runs in his eight major league seasons, the fourth most all-time through eight seasons. Yesterday, he became the fourth Oriole all-time with multiple homers and walks while going 3-for-3 or better, according to STATS.

The Orioles lost all six games to the Twins last season after winning 10 straight against Minnesota from July 2, 2023-Sept. 29, 2024.

The Orioles have won six of their eight series against the American League Central.

Minnesota is 30-27 at home and 28-34 on the road.

Nine of the Twins’ last 10 games have been decided by two runs or fewer to raise their season total to 63, tied for second most in the majors. They’ve failed to score in the first inning in the last 12 games.

Kody Clemens is the first Twins player with at least 19 home runs in each of his first two seasons with the team since Tom Brunansky in 1982-87.

For the Orioles
Gunnar Henderson SS
Pete Alonso 1B
Jackson Holliday 2B
Tyler O’Neill DH
Dylan Beavers LF
Leody Taveras RF
Coby Mayo 3B
Colton Cowser CF
Carlos Narváez C

Trevor Rogers LHP

For the Twins
Austin Martin LF
Ryan Jeffers C
Royce Lewis 2B
Josh Bell DH
Luke Keaschall RF
Brooks Lee 3B
Kaelen Culpepper SS
Victor Caratini 1B
Ryan Kreidler CF

Dean Kremer RHP

The Orioles promoted right-hander JT Quinn to Double-A Chesapeake and infielder DJ Layton and outfielder Jordan Sanchez to High-A Frederick. MLB Pipeline ranks Sanchez as the organization’s No. 20 prospect, Layton at No. 24 and Quinn at No. 25.

Quinn, a second-round pick in 2025 out of the University of Georgia, posted a 3.75 ERA in 21 games with Frederick, with 106 strikeouts in 93 2/3 innings.

Sanchez, 20, batted .247/.312/.392 with 11 doubles, a triple, eight home runs and 47 RBIs in 66 games with Single-A Delmarva. Layton, 20, was a sixth-round pick in 2024 out of Charlotte Christian (N.C.) High School who batted .247/.397/.389 with 19 doubles, four triples, six homers, 45 RBIs, 73 walks and 32 steals in 95 games.