Thursday night Orioles game thread: vs Red Sox, 7:35

Both the Orioles and Red Sox are in the midst of a tough stretch. The O’s are losers of four straight, while the BoSox won on Wednesday but had dropped nine in a row prior to that. Someone’s luck will have to turn around during this four-game set at Camden Yards this weekend.

It will be Asher Wojciechowski’s turn on the mound for the good guys. If his first four starts of the season are any indication, don’t expect to be blown away by what the long-haired hurler can do on the mound. But he will probably throw four or five innings and give the O’s a chance to win the game by the time he is pulled.

Nathan Eovaldi will take the ball for the Red Sox. The hard-throwing right-hander had some success against the Birds on Opening Day, allowing just one run on five hits, one walk and four strikeouts over six innings. He has not been quite as good since then, with his latest performance being a complete disaster. Eovaldi was touched up for eight runs on nine hits, two walks and three strikeouts against the Yankees in 5.1 innings of work on Saturday.

This is mostly the same Red Sox team from which the O’s took two out of three late last month. They largely owe their 7-18 record to their league-worst pitching staff. The unit owns a 6.22 ERA, 5.36 FIP and -0.9 fWAR. They are striking batters out at a fine rate (8.83 K/9), but it’s ruined by their 4.40 walks per nine innings and 1.63 WHIP.

Brandon Hyde’s lineup does not feature Chance Sisco for the first time in nearly a week. Thankfully, it excludes Chris Davis from a second straight start as well. The first baseman’s three-strikeout performance on Wednesday didn’t do much to instill confidence in his manager.

Orioles lineup:

1. 2B Hanser Alberto
2. RF Anthony Santander
3. 1B Renato Nunez
4. C Pedro Severino
5. 3B Rio Ruiz
6. LF Pat Valaika
7. DH Dwight Smith Jr.
8. CF Cedric Mullins
9. SS Andrew Velazquez

RHP Asher Wojciechowski