The Orioles have won five of their last seven games following last night’s 4-3, 10-inning victory in Sacramento. They began today two games back for the final Wild Card spot.

They also got healthier with Blaze Alexander’s reinstatement from the injured list. He led off last night and went 1-for-5.

Alexander is out of tonight’s lineup. Jackson Holliday has returned to the leadoff spot. Gunnar Henderson is batting third after being used last night as a pinch-runner.

Pete Alonso is the designated hitter again, with Coby Mayo at first base.

Alonso is 0-for-8 with five strikeouts in his last two games, and he’s 1-for-24 against the Athletics over his last six games.

Mayo is 6-for-19 with a home run and five RBIs in his last five games.

Samuel Basallo is catching. Dylan Beavers, in left field again, is batting .346 (9-for-26) with three doubles and three home runs over his last nine games.

Holliday is 2-for-14 in his last three games and 5-for-24 in his last five, but he went 3-for-6 and 2-for-4 in two games in St. Louis.

Shane Baz will hope for some elusive run support. He’s received 15 runs over 12 starts since June 18. Among pitchers with at least 50 innings since that date, Baz’s 1.95 run support average ranks as the lowest in the majors.

The right-hander is 4-14 with a 4.04 ERA in 26 starts, and his loss total is tied with Tanner Bibee for highest in the majors. Baz is searching for his first victory since June 12 against the Padres. His eight-decision losing streak ties his career high.

On a positive note, Baz’s 0.65 home runs per nine innings this season are the lowest by an Orioles starter in a minimum 20 appearances since Kevin Gausman (0.56) in 2014.

Baz made a May 9 start against the Athletics and allowed five runs in 4 2/3 innings to leave his ERA at 5.48. He owns a career 4.10 ERA in four starts against the A’s. He allowed four earned runs and five total in seven innings in his only appearance at Sutter Health Park.

Max Muncy is 2-for-3 with a home run against him. Lawrence Butler is 2-for-12 with a double.

The Orioles’ home run streak ended last night at 15 games.

Alex Hoppe became the 10th Oriole last night to record a save, tying the franchise record set in 1987.

Right-hander Jack Perkins, a fifth-round draft pick in 2022 out of Indiana University, is 3-9 with a 6.68 ERA and 1.483 WHIP in 31 games (11 starts). He’s struck out 104 in 90 1/3 innings.

Perkins earned a “hold” on May 8 in Baltimore after retiring two batters in the ninth inning but allowing one run and one hit with one walk and two strikeouts. He started against the Orioles last summer at Camden Yards and got the win after surrendering three runs and three hits in six innings. All three runs scored on Henderson’s homer in the first.  

In his last start on Aug. 12, Perkins allowed six earned runs and seven total with 12 hits in five innings against the Rays, but he followed with 3 2/3 scoreless relief innings in Kansas City and one earned run (three total) in five relief innings in Houston.

Perkins has a 7.56 ERA and 1.600 WHIP in 17 home games and a 5.58 ERA and 1.339 WHIP in 14 road games. He’s allowing 1.69 home runs per nine innings this season after allowing 0.93 last year.

Butler is hitting .355 (22-for-62) with five home runs, 11 RBIs and nine walks over his last 17 games.

The A’s are 8-20 in their last 28 games.

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

Shane Baz RHP

For the Athletics
Henry Bolte CF
Jeff McNeil 1B
Zack Gelof 2B
Lawrence Butler RF
Tommy White 3B
Donavan Walton SS
Max Muncy DH
Carlos Cortes LF
Jonah Heim C

Jack Perkins RHP