The Orioles (42-49) open a home series against the Chicago Cubs (50-40) at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Tuesday night, having won four of their last ten games while Chicago arrives riding seven wins in its last ten.
Baltimore dropped a 3-2 decision to Cincinnati in its most recent outing, with Kyle Bradish giving the club a strong effort — 7.2 innings, five strikeouts, three earned runs — only to come away without the win. Blaze Alexander provided the brightest offensive moment, going 3-for-4, while Taylor Ward added a double among his two hits. Gunnar Henderson and Coby Mayo each drove in a run, but the Orioles couldn't generate enough support to pull it out.
Baltimore faces a Cubs club that sits near the top of the NL Central and has been one of the better teams in the National League over the past month, making this a stiff test for an Orioles team looking to get back above a more respectable pace. Matthew Boyd takes the mound for Chicago with a 3-1 record, though his 5.08 ERA suggests some vulnerability that Baltimore's lineup will look to exploit. Shane Baz goes for the O's.
An Orioles win to begin this three-game series and a six-game homestand going into the All-Star break would mark a big boost for a club riding that fine line between wild-card contender and trade deadline seller.
Probable Starters
Chicago Cubs: Matthew Boyd (3-1, 5.08 ERA)
Baltimore Orioles: Shane Baz (4-8, 4.19 ERA)
Where to Watch/Listen
First pitch: 6:35 PM ET at Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Weather: 80°F, Mostly Clear
TV: MASN
Radio: 98 Rock (97.9 FM) and WBAL NewsRadio (AM 1090 / FM 101.5)