The Orioles (54-56) host the Philadelphia Phillies (57-53) in the second meeting of a three-game series Saturday at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, with Baltimore having won five of their last ten games and the Phillies realing, having won two of their last ten.
Baltimore took the opener 6-4 on Friday night behind a scattered pitching effort held together by the bullpen. Brandon Young started and gave up four earned runs over 5.2 innings while striking out five, with Tyler Wells, Josh Walker, Anthony Nunez, and Yennier Cano combining for 2.1 scoreless innings to close it out. Pete Alonso provided offensive punch, going 2-for-3 with a game-tying home run, while Christian Encarnacion-Strand drove in two runs to tie the game again in a four-run seventh inning.
Gunnar Henderson struck a cathartic tiebreaking two-run triple to provide the final margin.
Philadelphia enters Saturday having lost four straight, a significant skid for a club that entered the series above .500 and in contention in the NL East.
Shane Baz (4-9, 3.98 ERA) takes the mound for Baltimore. The Phillies counter with left-hander Cristopher Sánchez, who at 13-4 with a 2.73 ERA is among the more dangerous starters in the National League. A win would give the Orioles a series victory heading into the finale and move them back toward .500 — meaningful positioning for a club sitting two games under with the trade deadline two days away, and looking to make a playoff push just 1.5 games out of the final AL wild-card spot.
Probable Starters
Philadelphia Phillies: LHP Cristopher Sánchez (13-4, 2.73 ERA)
Baltimore Orioles: RHP Shane Baz (4-9, 3.98 ERA)
Where to Watch/Listen
First pitch: 7:05 PM ET at Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Weather: 86°F, Overcast
TV: MASN
Radio: 98 Rock (97.9 FM) and WBAL NewsRadio (AM 1090 / FM 101.5)