The Orioles (49-51) open a three-game road series at Fenway Park on Monday against the Boston Red Sox (50-48), having won seven straight to get right back in the AL wild-card race. The only team hotter in the American League right now is Boston, winners of 13 straight to postion themselves on the inside of the playoff picture after firing their manager earlier in the year.
Baltimore is two games back from Boston for the final AL wild-card position, as the trade deadline is less than two weeks away.
Brandon Young carried Sunday's 5-2 win over Houston, turning in seven innings of one-run ball with seven strikeouts. Coby Mayo provided the power with a home run among his two hits, while Leody Taveras drove in two runs and Dylan Beavers added a pair of hits including a double.
Shane Baz (4-9, 4.19 ERA) goes for Baltimore. Lefty Payton Tolle (5-6, 3.11 ERA) takes the hill for the Red Sox, one of two left-handed Boston starters projected to take the mound in the series, which could be a concern for the Orioles, who'd had trouble hitting lefty pitching.
Also a concern: Injuries to both regular catchers, Adley Rutschman (wrist) and Samuel Basallo (shoulder). They're not on the IL, but Rutschman didn't play Sunday's game in Houston and Basallo left early with injury.
Both teams are streaking in ways that make for a matchup not seen in almost 150 years.
According to OptaSTATS, this meeting marks only the second time in MLB history in which two teams on win streaks of seven or more games, and with the combined win streak of 20 or more games, play each other. The other was on September 13, 1884, between the St. Louis Maroons (12) and Washington Nationals (11).
In this rare baseball moment in 2026, someone's streak will end, and the other will keep going for at least another game.
Probable Starters
Boston Red Sox: Payton Tolle (5-6, 3.11 ERA)
Baltimore Orioles: Shane Baz (4-9, 4.19 ERA)
Where to Watch/Listen
First pitch: 7:10 PM ET at Fenway Park
Weather: 81°F, Mostly Clear
TV: MASN
Radio: 98 Rock (97.9 FM) and WBAL NewsRadio (AM 1090 / FM 101.5)