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The Orioles are 0-5 against the White Sox this season. Last night, they lost 12-1, issued eight walks, went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position, and had to use a position player to pitch (and he was the only one who didn’t allow a run).
Things can only get better from here, right?
Well, maybe not. Tonight’s starting pitching matchup of Lucas Giolito versus Thomas Eshelman is heavily favored against the Orioles. Then again, any pitching matchup of [a halfway decent opposing starter] versus [literally any O’s starter] is heavily favored against the Orioles, so what’s new?
Brandon Hyde is shaking up the Birds lineup a bit, in much the same way one might rearrange deck chairs on the Titanic. DJ Stewart, who’s found himself the odd man out in the crowded O’s outfield, makes just his third start in the last 10 games. Austin Wynns and Domingo Leyba, who were on the bench last night, get starts today, and Kelvin Gutierrez is in the lineup again after a successful first start with the Orioles last night, in which he had two hits and made some nifty defensive plays.
Will any of it matter, or will the O’s just go through the motions until the All-Star break? Let’s find out together.
Orioles lineup:
CF Cedric Mullins
DH Trey Mancini
RF Anthony Santander
1B Ryan Mountcastle
LF DJ Stewart
SS Ramon Urias
2B Domingo Leyba
3B Kelvin Gutierrez
C Austin Wynns
RHP Thomas Eshelman
White Sox lineup:
SS Tim Anderson
DH Yoan Moncada
1B Jose Abreu
CF Brian Goodwin
LF Andrew Vaughn
2B Leury Garcia
RF Gavin Sheets
3B Jake Burger
C Zack Collins
RHP Lucas Giolito