The Baltimore Orioles go for a sweep of a three-game series against the visiting Chicago White Sox on Sunday afternoon.
The Orioles have survived late-game threats to win the first two meetings of the season between the teams holding the two worst records in the American League, though Baltimore has put some distance between itself and Chicago.
There are several reasons why the Orioles might be starting to look more comfortable.
“Guys are starting to get comfortable in their positions,” pitcher Dean Kremer said. “I think there’s been less platooning or, it’s consistently the same guys in the lineup, I guess. Guys are getting their reps in.”
After winning 4-2 on Saturday, Baltimore has won five of its last seven games.
Orioles infielder Jackson Holliday homered Saturday and has at least one hit in 14 of his last 16 games.
“You look at the bottom line on the kid right now, it’s pretty impressive,” interim manager Tony Mansolino said. “So he’s done well in the (leadoff) spot, and everybody knows who he is. That’s for sure.”
The Orioles made roster moves Saturday with first baseman Ryan Mountcastle going on the injured list with a strained right hamstring and catcher Chadwick Tromp being designated for assignment. Joining the roster were infield prospect Coby Mayo, who provided a run-scoring single Saturday for his first career RBI, and outfielder Jordyn Adams.
It was an eventful return to the big leagues for Mayo, who was caught in a rundown and bumped with Chicago second baseman Lenyn Sosa. They yapped at each other and there was some pushing, resulting in a dugout-emptying moment without further escalation.
“Everyone has each other’s back. I think that’s just what happened,” Mayo said. “Looking out for teammates, and we’ll do the same thing for them.”
Chicago manager Will Venable said his team responded appropriately.
“These guys are a group that’s connected and have each other’s back,” Venable said. “I think more than anything just want to make sure that everyone stays safe out there and stays out of trouble, so the guys did a good job of handling the situation.”
The White Sox are 6-25 in road games. In the last 11 games they’ve lost overall, they’ve scored more than three runs just three times.
The Orioles are hoping that right-hander Charlie Morton (1-7, 7.09 ERA) shows more signs of a turnaround when he heads to the mound for Sunday’s first pitch. He’s back in the rotation and showed that he deserved that by logging six innings while giving up two runs on four hits and picking up his first win of the season Monday against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals.
Morton is 5-0 with a 2.08 ERA in five all-time starts against the White Sox.
The White Sox list right-hander Adrian Houser (1-0, 0.00) as their starter. He’ll be in his third outing of the season, throwing a pair of six-inning scoreless stints against the Seattle Mariners and New York Mets. In those outings, he allowed a total of five hits and four walks.
Houser has faced the Orioles just once, losing a 2022 matchup in his first appearance of that season by giving up two runs in 3 2/3 innings.
–Field Level Media
