A person could almost be tempted, after having watched the last two Orioles games, into believing that maybe this season will be okay if they can get the starting rotation figured out. Tomoyuki Sugano and Cade Povich each looked good overall and the O’s played two competitive games in a row. They still lost the first one, because there are other problems to be solved, but getting six innings that don’t suck most nights would be a great start to sorting it all out.
Can Brandon Young keep that feeling rolling this afternoon in his second major league start? (Charlie Morton looms later tonight. He’s not my immediate problem because I don’t have to recap that game. Sorry, Stacey.) This could end up being the last start of his audition, because Kyle Gibson will be returning on May 1, so he might start the game the next time this turn comes up in the rotation on Friday. That would likely mean Young returning to Triple-A Norfolk for the time being.
Notably, the below lineup does not include Tyler O’Neill, who was also not in Thursday’s lineup due to continuing neck issues. The Orioles placed O’Neill on the injured list ahead of the game, recalling outfielder Dylan Carlson from Norfolk.
O’Neill going on the injured list at some point in the season was close to guaranteed given his career track record. It is one more thing about the 2025 Orioles where one has to wonder if Mike Elias talked himself into some too-clever solution.
Orioles lineup
- Cedric Mullins – CF
- Gunnar Henderson – SS
- Jordan Westburg – DH
- Ryan O’Hearn – 1B
- Heston Kjerstad – LF
- Ramón Urías – 3B
- Jackson Holliday – 2B
- Gary Sánchez – C
- Ramón Laureano – RF
Colin Selby is on the taxi squad for the Orioles, which probably means he’ll be the extra man allowed on the roster for the doubleheader day. It pretty much has to be a pitcher because, with the rookie Young starting the first game and the disastrous veteran Morton starting the second game, the Orioles are likely to need a bunch of relievers today. That move will be announced between games.
Tigers lineup
- Kerry Carpenter – DH
- Gleyber Torres – 2B
- Zach McKinstry – RF
- Riley Greene – LF
- Spencer Torkelson – 1B
- Jace Jung – 3B
- Dillon Dingler – C
- Trey Sweeney – SS
- Javier Báez – CF
Dillon Dingler. Hee!
The starting pitcher for the Tigers is Casey Mize, who has a 2.22 ERA so far this season. That’s not funny for the Orioles at all. Young could pitch well and the O’s will still face an uphill climb today and for this whole series because the Tigers rotation has been great up to this point in the season.
