Sunday gamethread: Orioles vs. Red Sox, 1:05

The Orioles just have to win today to avoid being swept, and the Red Sox are sending lefty Cy Young contender Chris Sale to the mound. Doesn’t look good for our guys. This is Sale’s first start after returning from the disabled list and Red Sox manager Alex Cora has indicated that he’ll be limited to 100 pitches today. He’ll still be able to pitch a complete game, I’m guessing.

I kind of thought we might see Chris Davis and/or Cedric Mullins get a rest today against Sale, but both are in the lineup. Mullins is a switch hitter but he’s never had much success against lefties. But I guess we might as well see what he can do against Sale!

The reason that Davis is in the lineup instead of Mark Trumbo is because ol’ Trum is having some knee inflammation. The beats are reporting it as a minor issue and that he should be ready to play on Tuesday after the off day.

It’s easy to miss in the general terribleness of this team, but Alex Cobb has been low key good for about a month now. Did he finally recover from his weird off season and short spring training, or has he rediscovered his split-fingered fastball, as indicated by Eno Sarris last week? Whatever it is, Cobb has pitched to a 3.43 ERA over his last seven starts, dropping his season ERA over a full run.

Wins and losses don’t mean anything to this team right now, but if Alex Cobb can be even an average pitcher that is good news for this team who signed him to a four-year deal in March.

Orioles

1. Joey Rickard (R) LF

2. Jonathan Villar (S) 2B

3. Adam Jones (R) RF

4. Trey Mancini (R) DH

5. Tim Beckham (R) SS

6. Chris Davis (L) 1B

7. Renato Nunez (R) 3B

8. Austin Wynns (R) C

9. Cedric Mullins (S) CF

Red Sox

1. Mookie Betts (R) RF

2. Brock Holt (L) SS

3. Steve Pearce (R) DH

4. J.D. Martinez (R) LF

5. Mitch Moreland (L) 1B

6. Eduardo Nunez (R) 2B

7. Rafael Devers (L) 3B

8. Sandy Leon (S) C

9. Jackie Bradley Jr. (L) CF

Let’s go O’s!