The Baltimore Orioles would like for first baseman Pete Alonso to get untracked.
They hope to see more signs of that Wednesday night against the visiting Houston Astros after the slugger unleashed an opposite-field home run in a 5-3 Baltimore victory Tuesday in the series opener.
Alonso, a big free-agent prize for the Orioles in the offseason, is batting only .198 with four homers and 12 RBIs this season.
“I think my swing feels good,” he said. “Just need to get a ball or two to find some grass or maybe a seat.”
Alonso put one in the seats over the right-field fence in the fifth inning Tuesday. Every time he homers, it’s a signal that he could be on the verge of a breakout.
“His defense right now has been better than advertised,” Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said. “It’s been elite for us at first base. So it’s just on the offensive side of the ball, and he’s close. You can see it in the box, you can see it in his work. So I think once he kind of gets in that groove, it’s going to be dangerous.”
Alonso said it’s clear that the best is still to come from the Orioles, who halted a two-game skid on Tuesday.
“I think from the group largely, there’s been a lot of great individual performances, but I think from a lineup perspective, not everyone’s got going,” Alonso said. “I think once everyone kind of gets going, we start getting on the same page clicking, we’re going to put some runs up, which is going to alleviate some of the stress for the pitching staff.”
Right-hander Chris Bassitt (1-2, 6.75 ERA) will be Baltimore’s starting pitcher for the middle game of the three-game series with the Astros. He gained his first victory of the season last Wednesday despite giving up five runs in 5 1/3 innings in an 8-6 win at Kansas City. The Orioles have won in his past three starts.
Bassitt has made 16 career starts vs. Houston, recording a 5-6 record and 4.32 ERA in 89 2/3 innings. That marks the most innings he has logged against any opponent in his 12-year big-league career.
The Astros have the worst record in the American League and are dealing with injuries that have altered the available roster.
“It’s unfortunate that we have to go through this again,” Houston manager Joe Espada said. “But we find ourselves in a spot that we know we have been here before. … We have a roster now that I feel good about. Putting these guys in the best position to have some success is the most important thing while we get the rest of the guys back.”
Houston’s starting pitcher on Wednesday will be right-hander Peter Lambert (1-1, 3.27 ERA), who’s coming off last Wednesday’s six shutout innings in a 2-0 victory at Cleveland. He’ll face the Orioles for the first time.
Espada said the Astros will have infielder Jeremy Pena back with the team Wednesday, but he won’t be activated to play. Instead, he’ll continue rehab work for a hamstring strain.
Outfielder Colton Cowser hasn’t been in Baltimore’s lineup for four straight games, but Albernaz said part of that is because of Leody Taveras’ production.
“It’s nothing about Cowser,” Albernaz said.
Taveras is batting .286 this season, with two homers and 15 RBIs.
–Field Level Media
