The Los Angeles Dodgers last visited Baltimore in 2019 and have only been to Camden Yards three times since the inception of interleague play.
Coming into their three-game series against the Orioles at Camden Yards, the Dodgers have won six of their last seven and look to get back to their winning ways after falling to the New York Mets Sunday night.
For the O’s, they are currently the hottest team in baseball with an eight-game winning streak, pulling within a game of the once thought uncatchable Tampa Bay Rays.
The Orioles will send rookie Grayson Rodriguez to the mound to open the series, his first big league start since May 26. For the Dodgers, they will send rookie Emmet Sheehan to the mound. What connects these rookies more than the game they will share is that they were born a day apart in 1999.
After Rodriguez, the Orioles will send Tyler Wells and Dean Kremer to close the series. The Boys in Blue will have rookie Michael Grove and lefty Julio Urías follow Sheehan for the series.
The Orioles hold a 10-9 record against the Dodgers, including a sweep of the 1966 World Series.
ROSTER MOVES
The Orioles made a couple roster moves prior to the start of this series.
As we know, the club has officially recalled right-hander Grayson Rodriguez from Triple-A Norfolk to make the start tonight. Rodriguez, in seven starts with the Tides since his demotion, posted a 1.69 ERA with 54 strikeouts in 37.1 innings.
In order to make room for Rodriguez, right-hander Eduard Bazardo was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. The 27-year-old Venezuelan native appeared in three games out of the O’s bullpen, giving up four earned runs on six hits, with one strikeout in 2.1 innings of work. That comes to a 15.43 ERA and 2.57 WHIP.
With Rodriguez coming back into the O’s rotation, left-hander Cole Irvin will move to the bullpen, primarily used as a long relief option for O’s manager Brandon Hyde.
BATTERY ❌-FACTOR
The Orioles are currently on an eight-game winning streak, best in the majors and a season-high, as they enter their series with the Dodgers. A big part of that streak has been the starting pitching.
Over this streak, Oriole starters are 6-0 with a 2.42 ERA. Even more so, they have pitched six or more innings in each start, except one, while allowing two or fewer runs in seven of the eight starts.
It is for that reason that for the series to lean in Baltimore’s favor, the starters will be the BATTERY ❌ -FACTOR.
Their ability to pitch deep into the game, limit damage and avoid overusing the bullpen will go a long way towards determining the series, especially when battling the bats of Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and J.D. Martinez.
GAME 1 STARTING LINEUPS
Los Angeles Dodgers (53-39): Managed by Dave Roberts
1. Mookie Betts 2B
2. Freddie Freeman 1B
3. Will Smith C
4. Max Muncy 3B
5. J.D. Martinez DH
6. David Peralta LF
7. Jason Heyward RF
8. Chris Taylor SS
9. James Outman CF
SP. Emmet Sheehan RHP (2-0, 4.35 ERA)
Baltimore Orioles (57-35): Managed by Brandon Hyde
1. Gunnar Henderson SS
2. Adley Rutschman C
3. Anthony Santander RF
4. Ryan O’Hearn 1B
5. Ryan Mountcastle DH
6. Aaron Hicks CF
7. Colton Cowser LF
8. Ramón Urías 3B
9. Adam Frazier 2B
SP. Grayson Rodriguez RHP (2-2, 7.35 ERA)
The first pitches are slated for 7:05 p.m. EST Monday and Tuesday, with the series finale scheduled for 1:05 p.m. EST on Wednesday.
Will the Orioles maintain their winning streak and current dominance, or will the Dodgers slow the Birds down? It all starts Monday night in the battle of division leaders.
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!
Represent The Baltimore Battery and show off your fandom with our official merchandise! Reasonably-priced attire made just for you! Visit our official shop site by clicking here!
Like Stephen’s content? Follow him on X – @SRJHeckman, and listen to the official podcast of The Baltimore Battery, The Final Strike, anywhere you get your podcasts!
THE BALTIMORE BATTERY 
Leave a comment