:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63164100/1025637518.jpg.0.jpg)
The Orioles are back on television on a Sunday afternoon for one of the remaining handful of spring training games you’ll actually be able to watch. Today, the Tigers will come calling to Sarasota for an exhibition.
Opening Day is still 25 days away. If something’s not going right because somebody’s still rusty from the offseason, there’s time for that to improve. Not that much time, but enough that they can still convince themselves that’s what’s happening.
If something’s not going right because a player isn’t going to be able to play at an MLB level this year or any more, there are enough players in camp who the O’s might turn to instead to try to fill whatever spot this season.
Related to the above, Chris Davis is in the starting lineup today. It’s still just March 3. Davis has only come to the plate eleven times. That’s not a lot of batting - but when he’s struck out five out of the eleven times he batted, it’s enough to start to wonder if he’s going to spend this year looking mostly like he did last year, at least until the new management gets sick of watching him.
The starting nine for this Sunday afternoon:
- Jonathan Villar - 2B
- Joey Rickard - CF
- Chris Davis - 1B
- Renato Núñez - 3B
- Austin Wynns - C
- Yusniel Diaz - RF
- Alcides Escobar - SS
- Austin Hays - LF
- Anthony Santander - DH
Andrew Cashner is making the start for the Orioles in what will be his first Grapefruit League game action. Other O’s pitchers who could be seen today are Pedro Araujo, Cody Carroll, Branden Kline, Dillon Tate, Tanner Scott, and Gabriel Ynoa. Kline has had two good outings to date. The rest of these dudes are still looking to latch on to some spring training success.