The Orioles (65-68) wrap up a three-game series against the Cardinals (66-68) on Thursday at Busch Stadium, with Baltimore having won five of their last ten games and St. Louis having won three of their last ten.
Christian Encarnación-Strand carried the offense Wednesday, going 4-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI, including the go-ahead double in the ninth inning that snapped a 7-7 tie in Baltimore's wild 8-7 win. Leody Taveras added a three-run homer, and Pete Alonso hit his 32nd of the season. Kyle Bradish had a rough outing, allowing seven earned runs over 4.1 innings after Baltimore built an early seven-run lead, but the bullpen bailed him out — Grant Wolfram picked up the win with a scoreless eighth, and Andrew Kittredge closed it out for his seventh save.
Left-hander Trevor Rogers (9-8, 4.14 ERA) takes the mound for Baltimore looking to complete the sweep and set up a run in the wild-card race with series against the lowly A's and Rockies upcoming.
St. Louis' pitching situation has gone from thin to genuinely desperate: with Andre Pallante and Hunter Dobbins already on the injured list and shortstop Masyn Winn also landing there this week, the Cardinals may turn to Cooper Hjerpe for the start — a 22nd-overall pick in 2022 who would be making his major league debut in it. St. Louis has used a bullpen-game approach and short-notice starters throughout this series out of necessity, and Thursday's finale may be the clearest sign yet of how stretched their rotation has become.
The Cardinals have dropped five straight, a rough stretch that's followed them blowing a late lead against the Phillies over the weekend before running into Baltimore. A series win is well within reach for the Orioles, who remain 2.5 games back of suddenly streaking Cleveland, winners of seven straight, for the final American League wild-card spot.
Probable Starters
Baltimore Orioles: LHP Trevor Rogers (9-8, 4.14 ERA)
St. Louis Cardinals: TBD (Cooper Hjerpe expected)
Where to Watch/Listen
First pitch: 2:15 PM ET at Busch Stadium
Weather: 84°F, Mostly Clear
TV: MASN
Radio: 98 Rock (97.9 FM) and WBAL NewsRadio (AM 1090 / FM 101.5)