The Orioles have a chance tonight to get within one game of .500 for the first time since April 30.

They moved within 1 ½ games of the last Wild Card with their 12th win in the last 17.

More shocking is how they moved Coby Mayo into the leadoff spot tonight.

The right-handed lineup also includes Taylor Ward batting second, Tyler O’Neill batting fifth and playing right field, Christian Encarnacion-Strand playing third base and Leody Taveras is catching.

Jake Rogers is behind the plate for his first start.

Gunnar Henderson and Jackson Holliday are the only batters from the left side.

Shane Baz has lowered his ERA to 3.98 in 21 starts. He’s faced the Phillies twice in his career and allowed eight runs and 11 hits in 8 2/3 innings.

Trea Turner is 3-for-6 with a home run against Baz.

Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sánchez is 13-4 with a 2.73 ERA in 22 starts. He’s struck out 157 in 138 2/3 innings.

The 2025 Cy Young runner-up in the National League had a 2.00 ERA on June 30 but allowed nine runs and 12 hits in 3 1/3 innings in his next start in Kansas City.

Sanchez has made one career start against the Orioles and allowed two runs and four hits in seven innings in 2023 at Citizens Bank Park.

Pete Alonso is 6-for-27 with a double, home run and 11 strikeouts against Sánchez.

The Orioles are 14-19 against left-handed starters, a deceiving stat considering that they won Wednesday’s game in 12 innings after Tarik Skubal carried a 7-0 lead into the seventh at Comerica Park.

For the Orioles
Coby Mayo DH
Taylor Ward LF
Gunnar Henderson SS
Pete Alonso 1B
Tyler O’Neill RF
Christian Encarnacion-Strand 3B
Leody Taveras CF
Jackson Holliday 2B
Jake Rogers C

Shane Baz RHP

Jhomnardo Reyes, the 18-year-old Dominican outfielder acquired late Friday night from the Twins for starter Dean Kremer, is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the organization’s No. 20 prospect.

Here’s part of the outlet’s scouting report:

“Reyes is a strong and athletic left-handed hitter and thrower who has made some solid adjustments at the plate at the same time as adding strength to lead to more production here in the United States. Some tweaks to his setup and swing, along with added physicality, has helped him tap into his considerable raw power more, with consistently high exit velocities and an ability to drive the ball in the air, particularly to his pull side. He’s done all of that while cutting down his strikeout rate, which was up over 28 percent in the DSL a year ago.

“An average runner, Reyes has seen time in all three outfield spots thus far in his brief pro career. He’s played more right field than anywhere else, and that could be a very good long-term home, with the potential run-producing power profile that fits well in the corner spot.”

The Orioles announced prior to Saturday’s game they recalled reliever Yaramil Hiraldo from Triple-A Norfolk. The right-hander had a 1.08 ERA and eight strikeouts in 8 1/3 innings at Norfolk.