masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe Orioles already won their fourth series of the season. Today’s goal is to complete the sweep in Philadelphia before returning home.
Their last series sweep of the Phillies came on June 15-16, 2015 when they took two games at Camden Yards. The last three-game sweep occurred on June 19-21, 2009 at Citizens Bank Park.
José Iglesias is the designated hitter today with Renato Núñez at first base and Chris Davis on the bench.
Pat Valaika is the shortstop with Iglesias hampered by a sore…

The Orioles already won their fourth series of the season. Today’s goal is to complete the sweep in Philadelphia before returning home.

Their last series sweep of the Phillies came on June 15-16, 2015 when they took two games at Camden Yards. The last three-game sweep occurred on June 19-21, 2009 at Citizens Bank Park.

José Iglesias is the designated hitter today with Renato Núñez at first base and Chris Davis on the bench.

Pat Valaika is the shortstop with Iglesias hampered by a sore left quadriceps muscle.

Rio Ruiz is the cleanup hitter.

Santander-Swing-Black-sidebar.jpgAnthony Santander, who’s batting second again, has collected an RBI in a career-high six consecutive games and totaled nine in that span. Eleven of his 18 hits this season are for extra bases.

Thomas Eshelman is facing the team that traded him to the Orioles in June 2019. He’s never pitched against the Phillies.

Jake Arrieta is facing the team that traded him to the Cubs in July 2013. He’s 2-0 with a 1.32 ERA and 0.878 WHIP in two career starts against the Orioles spanning 13 2/3 innings.

Arrieta has made two starts this season and allowed three runs in 11 innings.

Davis is 3-for-7 against Arrieta.

The Orioles have collected 10 or more hits in eight games this season and are 7-1.

Maybe hitting really is contagious.

“Absolutely,” said Ruiz, who hit his fourth home run last night. “I think you can see the guy in front of you doing his job, it makes you want to do your job. The lineup is all about protecting the guy behind you and Don (Long) is really adamant about that and really preached that early on last year. As long as you do your job, the guy behind you is able to do his and it just carries on from there.”

The Orioles have been one of the more successful teams in baseball when swinging at the first pitch, ranking first in the majors in average (.471), doubles (10), extra-base hits (17) and OPS (1.390), and second in hits (32).

For the Orioles
Hanser Alberto 2B
Anthony Santander RF
José Iglesias DH
Rio Ruiz 3B
Renato Núñez 1B
Dwight Smith Jr. LF
Pedro Severino C
Austin Hays CF
Pat Valaika SS

Thomas Eshelman RHP

Here are the listed starters for the weekend series against the Nationals at Camden Yards:
Friday: Tommy Milone vs. Stephen Strasburg
Saturday: Asher Wojciechowski vs. Patrick Corbin
Sunday: TBD vs. Max Scherzer

Both teams will get an extra player for Friday night’s game, which follows the resumption of last Sunday’s suspended game.