Sunday afternoon Orioles game thread: vs. Red Sox, 1:05

After last night’s 11-6 drubbing at the hands of the Red Sox — which you can read about here, courtesy of Stacey — the Orioles look to get back on track today in the third game of this four-game series.

Baltimore will send young right-hander Dean Kremer to the mound. Kremer, who’s made five starts for the O’s this year and had a brief stint at the Alternate Training Site in Bowie in April, is still looking for his first win. He carries a 6.43 ERA, 5.25 FIP, and 1.62 WHIP into this afternoon’s matchup. While he is averaging 9.4 K/9 in 2021, Kremer has also been prone to the long ball, averaging 2.1 HR/9.

Kremer will look to build on the success of his most recent start, when he allowed one run over six innings against the Mariners in Seattle.

The Red Sox will counter with right-handed starter Nick Pivetta, who they acquired from the Phillies last summer. He only allowed two runs over 10 innings (two starts) with the Red Sox in 2020.

In six starts with Boston this season, Pivetta is 4-0 with a 3.23 ERA, 3.33 FIP, 1.30 WHIP, and 9.7 K/9. The Orioles would do well to exhibit patience against Pivetta, considering that he’s allowing 5.6 BB/9 so far this year. And unlike Kremer, Pivetta has excelled at keeping the ball in the park, as evidenced by his minuscule 0.3 HR/9.

Orioles lineup

1. Cedric Mullins CF
2. Austin Hays LF
3. Trey Mancini DH
4. DJ Stewart RF
5. Ryan Mountcastle 1B
6. Freddy Galvis SS
7. Pedro Severino C
8. Rio Ruiz 3B
9. Pat Valaika 2B

Dean Kremer RHP

Red Sox lineup

1. Marwin Gonzalez 2B
2. Alex Verdugo CF
3. J.D. Martinez DH
4. Xander Bogaerts SS
5. Rafael Devers 3B
6. Hunter Renfroe RF
7. Bobby Dalbec 1B
8. Franchy Cordero LF
9. Kevin Plawecki C

Nick Pivetta RHP