The Orioles remain 7 ½ games behind in pursuit of the last Wild Card spot after last night’s 7-6, 10-inning loss to the Mets. Thirteen games separate them from the first-place Blue Jays.
There’s still a chance, but it’s barely a flicker.
Tomoyuki Sugano is trying to get back to the form that produced a 3.04 ERA through 12 starts. He’s registered an 8.87 ERA and 2.149 WHIP in his last five outings to leave his overall numbers at 4.44 and 1.307 in 93 1/3 innings.
Sugano has allowed seven home runs in his last four starts over 18 innings.
Jackson Holliday is the designated hitter tonight. Holliday has recorded an RBI in three straight games (five RBIs total) after collecting one in the previous nine games.
Jordan Westburg is at second base and Ramón Urías is at third. Westburg recorded his 200th career hit last night with a single in the first inning.
Coby Mayo is the first baseman, Colton Cowser is the center fielder and Jacob Stallings is catching.
Mets left-hander David Peterson has made 17 starts and posted a 3.18 ERA in 102 innings. He’s allowed only seven home runs.
Peterson tossed a complete-game shutout last month in D.C. He’s registered 10 quality starts.
Left-handers are hitting .205/.255/.284 against Peterson this season and right-handers are hitting .253/.333/.370. He’s 5-0 with a 2.11 ERA and 1.157 WHIP in nine home starts and 1-4 with a 4.44 ERA and 1.414 WHIP in eight road games.
Peterson has faced the Orioles four times in his career, including three starts, and posted a 3.24 ERA and 1.440 WHIP in 16 2/3 innings. He’s allowed four runs in 9 2/3 innings at Camden Yards.
Urías is 2-for-4 with a double and home run against Peterson. Cedric Mullins is 2-for-4 with a double, but he’s on the bench.
For the Orioles
Jackson Holliday DH
Jordan Westburg 2B
Gunnar Henderson SS
Ramón Laureano LF
Ramón Urías 3B
Tyler O’Neill RF
Colton Cowser CF
Coby Mayo 1B
Jacob Stallings C
Tomoyuki Sugano
Tonight’s game airs on ESPN.