-1745819772711.png){kind=logo}
The Orioles’ 2025 season is more than just a disappointment. It’s also a drip. A forecast calling for rain throughout the day and most of the night has threatened a sixth postponement and the third in a week, but the Orioles are hoping to squeeze in the game and preserve Thursday’s off-day.
The teams played in a steady shower last night, but the game went on uninterrupted. They have an open date on the schedule Thursday before the Cardinals fly to Texas. The Orioles host the White Sox over the weekend.
An April 11 game against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards was moved to July 29. The Orioles were swept in Detroit on April 26 and by the Twins on May 14. They split with the Red Sox Saturday in Boston after postponements on consecutive days in between a 19-5 loss. They could use a break in the weather.
If the Orioles play tonight, Adley Rutschman will serve as designated hitter and Cedric Mullins will start in center field. Rutschman left Sunday’s game in Boston after taking a foul ball off the mask. Mullins has sat out three of the last four games.
Mullins stayed on the bench last night in a 7-4 loss. Interim manager Tony Mansolino let catcher Chadwick Tromp bat to lead off the bottom of the ninth with Rutschman also unavailable.
Maverick Handley is catching, Dylan Carlson is in left field and Ryan O’Hearn is in right. Ramón Urías is the third baseman.
Urías has a career-high 10-game hitting streak. O’Hearn is slashing .374/.466/.596 in his last 28 games.
Outfielder Tyler O’Neill (left shoulder impingement) has started baseball activities and a rehab assignment is coming soon.
A roster move was made this afternoon, with reliever Matt Bowman’s contract selected from Triple-A Norfolk and Yaramil Hiraldo optioned after his major league debut last night. Hiraldo wasn’t charged with a run in 1 1/3 innings but he let an inherited runner score.
Bowman has allowed 10 earned runs and 11 total with 22 hits in 17 1/3 innings with the Orioles, who need a fresher arm for a tired bullpen.
The 40-man roster is full.
Left-hander Cade Povich is tonight’s scheduled starter against right-hander Miles Mikolas. He has a 4.86 ERA and 1.446 WHIP in nine starts but most recently has surrendered three runs in a combined 10 2/3 innings against the Nationals and Red Sox.
Povich has allowed only 20 hits over his last five starts after permitting 30 in his first four outings.
Right-handers were slugging .591 against Povich in March-April but are slugging .283 in May.
Mikolas has a 3.51 ERA and 1.169 WHIP in 10 starts. He’s surrendered only three home runs in 51 1/3 innings.
Mikolas is 3-0 with a 2.01 ERA and 0.940 WHIP this month and opponents are batting .182. All three home runs against him were hit this month.
Right-handers are batting .182 with a .520 OPS against Mikolas this year and left-handers are batting .267 with a .721 OPS.
Mikolas has faced the Orioles twice in his career and allowed four runs in 12 1/3 innings.
The Orioles are 9-14 all-time against the Cardinals and have gone 5-12 this year in interleague games. Their .294 winning percentage is second-lowest in the majors behind Colorado’s .167.
The Orioles have used 44 players this season with Tromp and Hiraldo making their debuts last night. Hiraldo was the fifth pitcher and sixth Oriole to appear in his first major league game.
For the Orioles
Jackson Holliday 2B
Adley Rutschman DH
Gunnar Henderson SS
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Ryan O’Hearn RF
Ramón Urías 3B
Cedric Mullins CF
Maverick Handley C
Dylan Carlson LF
Cade Povich LHP
Here are the starters for the weekend series against the White Sox:
Friday: RHP Zach Eflin vs. RHP Sean Burke
Saturday: RHP Dean Kremer vs. RHP Davis Martin
Sunday: RHP Charlie Morton vs. RHP Adrian Houser
