Take care of business, and it will all fall into place. After sweeping the Washington Nationals, currently a four-game winning streak, the Orioles are one game away from clinching the AL East and the No. 1 seed in the playoffs.
Standing in the way of that title and seeding is AL East rival, the Boston Red Sox. The Orioles will welcome Boston for a four-game set to close the regular season and the homestand.
The Orioles have secured a winning record against every team in the AL East except the Red Sox, though they currently are 5-4 against Boston this year. The O’s also can clinch their first 100-win season since 1980, when they went 100-62.
The Birds will send Dean Kremer (12-5, 4.25 ERA), John Means (1-1, 2.60 ERA) and two TBD pitchers to close out the season. For Boston, they will send Chris Sale (6-4, 4.42 ERA), Nick Pivetta (9-9, 4.25 ERA), Kutter Crawford (6-8, 4.23 ERA) and Tanner Houck 5-10, 5.31 ERA) to close the season.
The Orioles activated first baseman Ryan Mountcastle before yesterday’s game, and closer Félix Bautista threw a simulated game a few days ago. Be on the lookout to see if and when both players make their comeback before the postseason.
BATTERY ❌-FACTOR
There is only one thing and one thing only that can be the final BATTERY ❌-FACTOR of the regular season. That one thing, win a game and lock up the division.
With one victory, the Orioles will secure the No. 1 seed and home field advantage throughout the American League postseason. They will also assure themselves the AL East and a five-day bye before having to play their first playoff game.
Win one game, then start preparing for the postseason by getting players healthy, pitchers rested and the bullpen ready for the biggest moment in Baltimore baseball in almost a decade.
GAME 1 STARTING LINEUP
Game one has a start time of 6:35 p.m. EST. Game two will start at 7:05 p.m. EST, and game three with a start of 7:15 p.m. EST and will be on FOX. Sunday, the final regular season game of the season will start at 3:05 p.m. EST.
The Orioles have four chances to wrap it up. Will they bring an AL East title to Baltimore for the first time since 2014 and lock up the No. 1 seed? Or, will Boston play spoiler in the final series of the season?
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 (X) and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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