Wednesday night Orioles game thread: at Red Sox, 7:30

Now that the playoffs are officially, completely, mathematically out of reach, the Orioles can focus on their next objective: Closing out the season with something more than a limp to the finish line.

A good way to go about doing that would be evening up the current series with the Red Sox, which began with an 8-3 loss last night at Fenway Park.

The Orioles have reason to believe the guy taking the mound can help. Dean Kremer has looked excellent so far in his rookie season, and takes a 1-0 record and 1.69 ERA into Boston. He’s reached five innings in each of his three starts, allowing one run in all three, and striking out 20 in 16 innings.

Not bad. Very not bad. In fact, that’s pretty good.

He’s going against Nathan Eovaldi, the hard-throwing righthander who’s 3-2 with a 4.25 ERA. He’s been downright mean to Orioles hitters, however, winning both starts while allowing a total of two runs and 10 hits in 13 innings. He gave up one run in six innings in the season opener on July 24, and held the O’s to one run in seven innings while striking out six on Aug. 20.

Orioles lineup

1. Cedric Mullins CF

2. DJ Stewart LF

3. Ryan Mountcastle 1B

4. Renato Nunez DH

5. Chance Sisco C

6. Austin Hays RF

7. Rio Ruiz 3B

8. Pat Valaika 2B

9. Ramon Urias SS

RHP Dean Kremer

Red Sox lineup

1. Alex Verdugo RF

2. Rafael Devers 3B

3. Xander Bogaerts SS

4. J.D. Martinez DH

5. Jackie Bradley CF

6. Kevin Plawecki C

7. Bobby Dalbec 1B

8. Michael Chavis LF

9. Christian Arroyo 2B

RHP Nathan Eovaldi