Can the Orioles sweep the Cardinals?

They’re on the verge of it.

They scored 13 runs and cruised in the series opener. They led 7-0 in the second inning last night, were tied and won on Christian Encarnacion-Strand’s RBI double in the ninth – his fourth hit of the game. They left two runners in scoring position in the bottom of the ninth, after Jackson Holliday’s diving stop that preserved a slim lead.

All that work and they’re still 2 ½ games behind the Guardians for the final Wild Card.

The Orioles led 5-0 last night in the first inning after the first two batters were retired. Leody Taveras hit a three-run homer following RBI singles by Encarnacion-Strand and Dylan Beavers. Pete Alonso launched a two-run homer in the second, his 32nd of the season.

Again, he went to the opposite field. There isn’t a safe place to pitch him.

As Alonso circled the bases, he had nine homers and 20 RBIs over his last 16 games. Most Valuable Oriole is in the bag. He’s taking aim at Most Valuable Player.

I like his chances for Player of the Month. He’s slashing .391/.448/.736 with three doubles, nine home runs and 22 RBIs in 23 games.

Alonso is hitting .357 with a .690 slugging percentage against breaking balls in the second half. He hit .205 and slugged .308 in the first half.

Following today are two series against the Athletics and Rockies. In a related story, those teams rank among the worst in baseball.

The Orioles couldn’t gain ground in the Wild Card race because the Guardians rallied for two runs in the top of the ninth yesterday to defeat the Angels 4-3 in Anaheim. They’ll try again this afternoon, and they’ve got Trevor Rogers on the mound.

Rogers has three quality starts in four games this month, and his 4.14 ERA is the lowest since April 19. And run support seems to be a given in this series.

Rogers has allowed five earned runs in 15 innings in his three career starts against the Cardinals. He’s surrendered three earned runs in 11 innings at Busch Stadium.

Opponents are batting .184 against Rogers’ sweeper over his last 12 starts. They hit .269 in his first 12.

Alonso is the designated hitter today and Coby Mayo is playing first base. Samual Basallo is catching.

Leody Taveras gets another start in right field.

The Cardinals were TBA again with their starter until we finally found out that it’s right-hander Gordon Graceffo, a fifth-round draft pick in 2021 out of Villanova.

Sounds like an opener.

Graceffo has made 80 career appearances in three seasons, and today is only his second start. He’s 7-1 with a 3.13 ERA this season in 52 games, with 30 walks, 38 strikeouts and five home runs allowed in 63 1/3 innings. He hasn’t gone more than 2 1/3 innings this season.

Graceffo tossed a scoreless inning against the Orioles on May 26, 2025 at Camden Yards.

Carlos Narváez is 2-for-3 with a double and RBI against him.

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

Trevor Rogers LHP

For the Cardinals
José Fermín SS
Iván Herrera DH
Jordan Walker RF
Alec Burleson 1B
Joshua Báez LF
Blaze Jordan 3B
Ramón Urías 2B
Nathan Church CF
Pedro Pagés C

Gordon Graceffo RHP

Brandon Young, Shane Baz and Chris Bassitt start against the Athletics in Sacramento. The A’s aren’t listing their starters.

Seems to be an opponent trend.