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Dylan Beavers is making his major league debut tonight, starting in right field and batting sixth in Houston. He’s the 61st player used by the Orioles this season, one short of the franchise record set in 2021.
Daniel Johnson is in center field and Dylan Carlson is in left.
Coby Mayo stays at first base, with Ryan Mountcastle serving as designated hitter. Get used to it.
One night after rookie Brandon Young tossed a perfect game for 7 2/3 innings, the Orioles are using Rico Garcia as an opener.
What a weird season.
Garcia will precede left-hander Cade Povich, who was scheduled to start, as the Orioles try to win their fourth game in a row.
This is Garcia’s second major league start. The first came in his debut for the Rockies against the Red Sox on Aug. 27, 2019. The next 40 games were in relief.
Garcia allowed six runs and seven hits in five innings, with five walks and three home runs. He threw 83 pitches.
The Orioles probably won’t ask for more than one or two innings. They aren’t stretching him out that far.
Garcia has made two appearances since rejoining the Orioles. He faced four batters Thursday against Seattle and allowed a run in two-thirds of an inning on Julio Rodríguez’s homer.
Povich has appeared in 15 games (14 starts) and registered a 4.95 ERA and 1.428 WHIP in 76 1/3 innings. He faced the Athletics in his last start and held them to one run in six innings.
Povich has a 6.05 ERA and 1.656 WHIP in nine home games this season and a 3.63 ERA and 1.154 WHIP in six road games.
The only career start against the Astros resulted in five runs and eight hits in five innings last August at Camden Yards. Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and Jeremy Peña have home runs against Povich in small sample sizes.
Povich had a 25.7 percent chase rate on his changeup prior to his stint on the injured list with left hip inflammation. His rate has increased to 37.0 percent in his two starts since returning from injury, per STATS.
Young became the first Orioles rookie to throw eight scoreless innings and allow one hit or fewer since Chris Waters on Aug, 5, 2008 in Anaheim.
The Orioles recorded the second shutout in Houston in team history, the other a 2-0 win on Aug. 26, 2022.
The 13 hits last night were the most in a road game since the Orioles totaled 15 on June 30 in Texas.
Gunnar Henderson is batting .522 (24-for-46) with runners in scoring position since June 1, the highest average in the majors. His overall .390 (32-for-82) average with RISP would be the second-highest by an Oriole in team history in a minimum 75 at-bats behind Jeff Conine’s .400 in 2001.
Jordan Westburg is slashing .323/.373/.500 (20-for-62) with two doubles and three home runs in his last 16 road games since July 4.
The Astros selected right-hander Jason Alexander on waivers from the Athletics in May and he starts tonight, his sixth among seven appearances with Houston. He has a 2.56 ERA, 1.200 WHIP, one save and two home runs allowed in 31 2/3 innings.
The month of August has brought out the best in him – no runs and four hits in 12 innings in two starts. He’s completed six innings in four of his starts.
Alexander has never faced the Orioles. Carlson is 0-for-2 against him. That’s it.
Carlson is 5-for-12 in his last four games. He homered last night for the first time since June 12.
For the Orioles
Jackson Holliday 2B
Jordan Westburg 3B
Gunnar Henderson SS
Adley Rutschman C
Ryan Mountcastle DH
Dylan Beavers RF
Coby Mayo 1B
Daniel Johnson CF
Dylan Carlson LF
Rico Garcia RHP
