Monday night Orioles game thread: vs Red Sox, 7:05

If the Orioles are going to play the role of “spoiler” they may as well get started early. The Red Sox have gotten their act together since a poor start to the season. Coming into Monday night’s game, the defending World Series champs have won three in a row and six of their last seven. They now come to Baltimore for three games against the last-place O’s. Mark previewed the entire series earlier today.

John Means is first up on the mound. This will be the second time he has started against the Red Sox this season. His previous outing against them resulted in five innings during which he allowed just one run. Pretty good stuff.

His most recent start came against the White Sox, and was not as successful. That day he served up four runs over five innings and ballooned his season ERA by more than a run. It was the second time he had to face that lineup this season.

Means is a rookie with plenty left to learn. By this point, opposing lineups have a useful scouting report on him. He now needs to show how well he can make adjustments at the big league level.

Orioles lineup

1. Jonathan Villar, 2B
2. Trey Mancini, RF
3. Dwight Smith Jr., LF
4. Renato Nunez, DH
5. Rio Ruiz, 3B
6. Stevie Wilkerson, CF
7. Chris Davis, 1B
8. Pedro Severino, C
9. Richie Martin, SS

LHP John Means

Red Sox lineup

1. Mookie Betts, RF
2. Xander Bogaerts, SS
3. J.D. Martinez, LF
4. Michael Chavis, 2B
5. Rafael Devers, DH
6. Christian Vazquez, C
7. Steve Pearce, 1B
8. Eduardo Nunez, 3B
9. Jackie Bradley Jr., CF

RHP Josh A. Smith