MINNEAPOLIS – The Orioles haven’t been nine games below .500 since July 2, 2022. A loss tonight would take them down to that mark.
They’ve dropped their last three games and 10 of 14. The most recent four-game skid came within a five-game streak from July 9-13, 2024.
Charlie Morton returns to the rotation tonight after three relief appearances and is trying to lower a 9.76 ERA and 2.205 WHIP. His 30 earned runs and 21 walks lead the American League.
Morton has a 4.50 ERA in four career starts against the Twins and a 4.50 ERA in two starts at Target Field. Christian Vázquez is 3-for-22 with two doubles, a home run and nine strikeouts.
Coby Mayo is out of the lineup after going 0-for-3 with three strikeouts last night and committing two errors. Emmanuel Rivera is starting at third base.
Ramón Laureano is in left field and Heston Kjerstad is in right. Ryan O’Hearn is the designated hitter and he’s batting fourth again.
The Orioles’ 10-game winning streak against the Twins ended last night with a 9-1 loss. They’re batting .209/.285/.316 on the road this season.
The Orioles went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position last night and are batting .192 with a .575 OPS.
Right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson, the Mets’ second-round draft pick in 2018 who was involved in the José Berríos trade between the Blue Jays and Twins, has posted a 4.03 ERA and 1.448 WHIP in six games (five starts). He’s walked 11 batters, struck out 30 and surrendered five home runs in 29 innings.
Richardson has a 0.87 WHIP in two home games this season and a 1.77 WHIP in four road games. He hasn’t walked a batter at home and has 11 on the road.
This is Richardson’s first career appearance against the Orioles. Laureano is 1-for-4 against him and Dylan Carlson is 1-for-1 with a walk and two RBIs.
The Twins’ 3.45 rotation ERA is fifth in the majors. The Orioles are 28th, and last in the American League, at 5.75.
For the Orioles
Cedric Mullins CF
Gunnar Henderson SS
Adley Rutschman C
Ryan O’Hearn DH
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Jackson Holliday 2B
Ramón Laureano LF
Heston Kjerstad RF
Emmanuel Rivera 3B
Charlie Morton RHP
Tyler O’Neill made his first injury rehab appearance last night with Triple-A Norfolk and went 1-for-3 with a walk.