Saturday Orioles doubleheader game thread: vs. Toronto, 4:35

Good afternoon, O’s fans! It’s time for lots of baseball—maybe even some good baseball if the pitching holds up for fourteen innings today.

Last night’s Game 1 of this four-game stand against the Blue Jays was fun. Brandon Hyde got in a salty shouting match with Jays’ starter Robbie Ray. Jon Heyman called it embarrassing. What I think is embarrassing is for a Cy Young candidate to lose to the second-worst team in baseball and then try to insinuate that they’re cheating. Keep it classy, Toronto.

It helps that this Orioles team is actually pretty watchable these days, rebounding from a lousy 4-21 record in the month of the August to a winning record so far in September. Several O’s hitters are helping this team finish strong by getting hot this month: Mountcastle, Mullins, Hays and maybe Santander, as well.

Unfortunately, an already-strapped pitching staff has gotten thinner due to injury: Matt Harvey and Jorge López are done for the season, and Hunter Harvey and Bruce Zimmermann don’t seem to be returning anytime soon.

That’s why the Orioles didn’t announce today’s starters until three hours before Game 1. And it’s why the team’s second-least valuable pitcher (after Adam Plutko, now down in Triple-A) is getting the start in Game 1. Yes, Dean Kremer and his -0.6 WAR and 7.25 ERA are getting a second chance. A month ago, the Orioles sent Kremer down to Triple-A, where he has a none-too-exciting 5.40 ERA. But his ERA is down to 3.81 in his last eight starts. That’s an improvement! Many people are high on Kremer’s potential, so let’s see if he can make a case for his place in the rotation in 2022.

On the bump for Toronto is lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu, whom the Jays had originally slated to start Sunday. Ryu is 3-1 in four starts against the Orioles this year, with a 3.33 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 7.4 K/9, and 2.50 K/BB. His last time facing the Orioles, on August 31, he allowed three runs over six innings in an eventual loss.

In Game 2, the Orioles are going with lefty Keegan Akin, who’s got a 3.43 ERA in his last four starts. The Jays are starting righty Thomas Hatch, who’s spent most of the year in the minors, with just one MLB start this year, a loss to Boston. So you’re saying there’s a chance?

Let’s go O’s!

Orioles lineup (Game 1)

1. Austin Hays LF
2. Ryan Mountcastle DH
3. Trey Mancini 1B
4. Anthony Santander RF
5. Ramón Urías 2B
6. Pedro Severino C
7. Ryan McKenna CF
8. Kelvin Gutiérrez 3B
9. Richie Martin SS

Dean Kremer RHP

Blue Jays

1. George Springer DH
2. Marcus Semien 2B
3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 1B
4. Bo Bichette SS
5. Teoscar Hernández RF
6. Corey Dickerson CF
7. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. LF
8. Jake Lamb 3B
9. Danny Jansen C

Hyun Jin Ryu LHP