Tuesday night Orioles game thread: vs. Red Sox, 7:05

You could just imagine what Red Sox fans were thinking in the moments after their team was swept by the Yankees over the weekend, and fell into second place in the American League wild card race.

“No problem. We’ve got the Orioles up next, we’re fine.”

The Orioles have shown the Yankees this year that they, too, have some teeth. Wouldn’t it be nice to remind the Sox as well?

The pitching matchup tonight, though, isn’t the most advantageous for the Birds. Chris Sale goes for the Sox, and he takes a 5-0 record and 2.57 ERA to the mound with him. Sale has pitched twice against the O’s, and in those two appearances he’s thrown 10 innings while allowing three earned runs and striking out one.

For his career, Sale is 10-2 with a 2.57 ERA and 142 strikeouts in 101 innings against Baltimore.

His opponent will be Bruce Zimmermann, who is 4-4 with a 4.83 ERA. It’s a welcome back party of sorts, as this will be Zimmermann’s first outing with the big club since he pitched against the Rays on June 13.

He’s pitched twice against the Red Sox, each time going six innings while allowing three earned runs, though those games came on April 4 and 10, respectively.

Red Sox lineup

1. Enrique Hernandez CF

2. Hunter Renfroe RF

3. Rafael Devers 3B

4. Xander Bogaerts SS

5. J.D. Martinez DH

6. Kyle Schwarber LF

7. Bobby Dalbec 1B

8. Jose Iglesias 2B

9. Christian Vazquez C

LHP Chris Sale

Orioles lineup

1. Cedric Mullins CF

2. Ryan Mountcastle 1B

3. Austin Hays RF

4. Trey Mancini DH

5. Pedro Severino C

6. Ryan McKenna LF

7. Pat Valaika SS

8. Jahmai Jones 2B

9. Kelvin Gutierrez 3B

LHP Bruce Zimmermann