Sunday afternoon Orioles game thread: at Red Sox, 1:05 PM

A week ago, fresh off an exhilarating walkoff victory against the Astros, the 39-win Orioles set out on a seven-game road trip, hoping a little bit of momentum was on their side.

Today is the seventh and final game of that road trip. The Orioles still have 39 wins. So, about that “momentum” thing...

The Orioles have fared about as you might expect a rebuilding club to fare against two AL East powerhouses: they’ve been utterly uncompetitive. In their four losses to the Yankees and two to the Red Sox, the O’s have been outscored 46-22. They’ve gotten zero quality starts, and only one starter has even pitched six innings. Along the way, they’ve clinched another losing season, they’ve broken the franchise record for home runs allowed, and they’re six gopher balls away from setting the major league mark.

Will that record fall today? It’s unlikely, but not impossible. The Orioles have had seven games this year in which they’ve coughed up six or more homers, including one against the Red Sox on June 14 at Camden Yards. They’ve yet to allow more than two in a game at Fenway Park this year, but hey, there’s a first time for everything. Let’s see what Ty Blach, making his second start as an Oriole, has in store.

Meanwhile, Nathan Eovaldi will start for the Red Sox for the first time since April 17, moving back into the rotation after initially returning from the IL as a reliever. Chris Davis is the only Oriole with more than five career plate appearances against Eovaldi, hitting two home runs.

Orioles lineup:

SS Jonathan Villar
DH Trey Mancini
RF Anthony Santander
3B Renato Nunez
LF Jace Peterson
2B Hanser Alberto
1B Chris Davis
CF Stevie Wilkerson
C Chance Sisco

LHP Ty Blach