The Chicago Cubs are one of the most storied franchises in MLB history. The Baltimore Orioles have developed one of the proudest histories in the sport since their inception. This weekend, the two historic franchises will meet for a series at Wrigley Field.
Interestingly enough, the Cubs and Orioles have met a total of 16 times in their history, all since 2003, thanks to interleague play. The Cubs hold a slight edge in the series, winning 10 of the 16 games, though the Birds have won three of the last four, all in 2022.
This series will also see former O’s fan favorite, Trey Mancini. Many fans were happy to see Mancini win a World Series, though he will hold a special place in Birdland.
The Orioles come into the series having won six of their last seven and 18 games over .500. The Cubs come in having won their last two series as they try to climb back into the postseason picture.
Cole Irvin will open the series for the Orioles as he makes his second start since being recalled from Triple-A Norfolk. In his last outing, he went 5.1 innings, allowing one earned run against the Royals.
Following Irvin will be Kyle Gibson and Dean Kremer, both of whom look to continue their string of strong performances. As for the Cubs, they will send embattled veteran Kyle Hendricks to the mound to open the series. He will be followed by a TBD pitcher and Jameson Taillon to close it out.
BATTERY ❌-FACTOR
The Orioles are building something special this year. From the great start to the strong play and players taking turns as the star support, it has become a fun team to watch.
One of the unsung heroes of the team has been outfielder Austin Hays, who has quietly put together an All-Star type of season that has him leading the team in OPS (.851), average (.306), runs (36), tied in hits (70) and slugging percentage (.507).
With his strong defensive presence, it’s his offense that will be a factor in the series. Whether batting from the lead-off spot or the middle of the order, it will be Austin Hays as the catalyst to help determine the outcome of the series. As he goes, so goes the O’s, and Hays can help build his All-Star case with a stand-out series.
GAME 1 STARTING LINEUPS
Baltimore Orioles (43-25): Managed by Brandon Hyde
1. Gunnar Henderson 3B
2. Adley Rutschman C
3. Anthony Santander RF
4. Ryan O’Hearn 1B
5. Austin Hays LF
6. Aaron Hicks CF
7. Adam Frazier 2B
8. Ramón Urías DH
9. Jorge Mateo SS
SP. Cole Irvin LHP (1-2, 7.85 ERA)
Chicago Cubs (30-37): Managed by David Ross
1. Nico Hoerner 2B
2. Dansby Swanson SS
3. Christopher Morel CF
4. Seiya Suzuki RF
5. Yan Gomes DH
6. Trey Mancini 1B
7. Patrick Wisdom LF
8. Miguel Amaya C
9. Nick Madrigal 3B
SP. Kyle Hendricks RHP (1-2, 3.09 ERA)
Game one will start Friday at 2:20 p.m. EST, followed by a 2:20 p.m. EST start Saturday and a 1:05 p.m. EST start on Sunday. Will the O’s fly through Wrigley with another series victory, or will the Cubs continue their march back into contention?
How do you see this series playing out? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, Twitter and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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