Orioles aim – Coming off a 2-2 series swing over the Dodgers, the Orioles open a three-game set against the last-place Angels at The Big A tonight. The matchups feature Kyle Bradish vs Sam Aldegheri, Shane Baz vs an as-yet unannounced opponent, and Trey Gibson against a sta
The Orioles know exactly what they’re walking into: a three-game stretch that looks like a chance to cash in, and a test of whether they can resist relaxing into cruise control.
Baltimore enters the set after taking two out of three from the Dodgers. a talented team. including a Sunday win that looked convincing. The bullpen’s back end is a little harder to feel confident about—Ryan Helsley is working his way back from injury. Still, the Orioles believe they can win any game if the offense swings like it did yesterday.
Baltimore also has a target hanging over the series. On paper, it’s a golden opportunity to take care of business and climb toward the elusive .500 mark. That part matters, especially after the way the Orioles traded close games with the Dodgers before the turnaround to Sunday.
The opponent is the last-place Angels, sitting firmly at 32-47 in the AL West. But “last place” doesn’t mean “easy.” The Angels topped the Athletics 9-7 yesterday after posting a 7-0 win the day prior—proof they can put together a strong stretch when their timing clicks.
Their lineup will be missing Mike Trout. who’d been healthy and playing like one of baseball’s best before the Angels placed him on the injured list with a hamstring strain last week. The team is also dealing with another absence: former Oriole Grayson Rodriguez is on the injured list with low-back inflammation.
Monday’s game also brings a familiar face back to The Big A. Taylor Ward will return after spending his entire career with the Angels before being shipped to Baltimore over the offseason.
Game 1: Monday, June 22, 9:38 pm
RHP Kyle Bradish (4-7, 4.00 ERA) vs LHP Sam Aldegheri (2-2, 4.50 ERA)
Kyle Bradish gets the opener, and it’s an opportunity to tighten things up fast. The right-hander has had ups and downs early in the season. but he’s been the pitcher the Orioles have needed lately. In his last start against Seattle. Bradish pitched into the eighth inning. and another deep run could do more than just save the bullpen—it could set the tone for Baltimore over the next three days.
Sam Aldegheri is a 24-year-old lefty, born in Verona, Italy. This season, he’s made six appearances and has only started three of them. He’s also yet to complete six innings. which gives the Orioles a plausible path to wear down the Angels bullpen. That bullpen ranks 25th in the league with a 4.65 ERA.
Game 2: Tuesday, June 23, 9:38 pm
RHP Shane Baz (4-7, 4.04 ERA) vs TB
Shane Baz lines up for Game 2 with nearly identical numbers to Bradish’s counterpart—his record and ERA are close enough to keep expectations steady. Baz took the loss in his last outing despite holding Seattle to three earned runs over seven innings.
The former Ray has already completed six innings or more in seven starts this season. If Tuesday’s rhythm looks like his usual pattern, it gives Baltimore a chance to keep the pressure on without needing to lean too hard on the late-inning workload.
The Angels have not yet announced starters for either Tuesday or Wednesday.
Game 3: Wednesday, June 24, 4:07 pm
RHP Trey Gibson (1-2, 5.81 ERA) vs TBD
Wednesday’s matchup turns to Trey Gibson, who’s getting at least one more opportunity to start for the Orioles this week. Dean Kremer and Cade Povich kicked off rehab assignments over the weekend, but it’s still unclear how long Kremer will need before rejoining the rotation.
Gibson, meanwhile, is still figuring out the big league level as a rookie, but there’s enough substance in his outing patterns to keep the Orioles believing. His last start against the Dodgers included a few early runs, yet he settled down and still managed five innings of three-run ball.
The Orioles seem comfortable with how the moment sits on Gibson’s shoulders. The MASN booth loves to point out that the situation rarely looks too big for him. Baltimore believes he’s a player who can help this team for years to come. and Wednesday’s game offers another clear stage to show what he’s made of against a struggling Angels team.
Orioles Angels Dodgers Mike Trout Ryan Helsley Taylor Ward Kyle Bradish Sam Aldegheri Shane Baz Trey Gibson Grayson Rodriguez