Orioles sending seven players to AFL, notes before tonight's game vs. Pirates

Seven Orioles will be on the Peoria Javelinas roster in the Arizona Fall League, highlighted by No. 4 prospect Enrique Bradfield Jr.

The Orioles also are sending outfielder Thomas Sosa, catcher Ethan Anderson and pitchers Zach Fruit, Luis De León, Carson Dorsey and Andy Fabian. High-A Aberdeen’s Jeremy Hileman will serve as one of the pitching coaches.

Bradfield has missed time due to hamstring injuries and can recoup some of the at-bats with Peoria. He was promoted from Double-A Chesapeake to Triple-A Norfolk on Sept. 2.

De León is the No. 21 prospect in the system, also per MLB Pipeline.

The Orioles drafted Anderson in the second round in 2024 out of the University of Virginia.

The AFL season begins Oct. 6. The championship game is Nov. 15.

Tyler Wells is making his second start tonight for the Orioles after allowing two runs in five innings in San Diego. He’s surrendered three runs in 12 1/3 innings in two career starts against the Pirates.

Joey Bart is 2-for-2 with a double and home run.

The Orioles have won seven of their last nine games. Three of the last four have been walk-offs.

Samuel Basallo won last night’s game with his bases-loaded fly ball in the 11^th inning that hit the left field line. Per STATS, Basallo had a .389 slugging percentage on fastballs through the first 10 games but it’s .900 in his last seven.

Paul Skenes will face the Orioles for the first time in the regular season. They’ve seen him in Sarasota and Bradenton for exhibition games.

The triple-digit fastball and secondary stuff plays anywhere.

Skenes hit 102 mph twice during his one inning in February 2024. The rematch came in the spring breakout game, with Skenes striking out Enrique Bradfield Jr. and Jackson Holliday, the latter seeing three pitches 100 mph or higher.

“I think he was probably throwing like 110,” Holliday quipped later. “That’s what it looked like. Brought out a cutter. I got to see all of them this time.”

Skenes made his 2025 spring debut in Sarasota and allowed one run in three innings. He also closed out his exhibition schedule against the Orioles in Bradenton, when they threw a combined no-hitter.

The next encounter comes tonight.

Skenes is 10-9 with a 1.98 ERA, 0.936 WHIP and 7.0 bWAR in his 29 starts. Last year’s National League Rookie of the Year has struck out 195 batters in 173 innings.

Over his last four starts, Skenes has allowed three earned runs in 25 innings with three walks and 29 strikeouts. He’s held teams without an earned run in 11 starts.

Right-handers are hitting .178 with a .493 OPS and left-handers are hitting .210 with a .604 OPS. Skenes has a 1.54 ERA and 0.821 WHIP at home and a 2.43 ERA and 1.055 WHIP on the road.

Alex Jackson is the only Oriole who’s faced Skenes, going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.

The Pirates have lost four games in a row. They’re 22-48 on the road.