Orioles chase momentum as Baz meets Early

Baltimore manager Craig Albernaz says the Orioles are seeing rewards for relentless work as Shane Baz faces Connelly Early in Tuesday’s opener at 6:45 p.m. Orioles hitters are stacked against Early’s pitching, while Boston counters with a lineup shaped for run

When Baltimore manager Craig Albernaz looks at what’s happening right now, he doesn’t point to one swing or one highlight. He points to the grind.

“We were playing the baseball that we’re capable of,” Albernaz said. “Just all the work that these guys have been putting in relentlessly every day, we’re starting to see the rewards now, and against some really good teams. It’s been fun to watch.”

That sense of momentum lands on Tuesday with a matchup built around two starting pitchers who will set the tone early. LHP Connelly Early will take the mound for the Red Sox in Tuesday’s opener, and RHP Shane Baz will counter for the Orioles.

First pitch is scheduled for 6:45 p.m., with NESN carrying the TV broadcast and WEEI-FM 93.7 on radio.

Orioles (28-32) at Fenway starters
Ward LF, Henderson SS, Rutschman C, Alonso 1B, Basallo DH, Mayo 3B, O’Neill RF, Taveras CF, Alexander 2B.

Pitching: RHP Shane Baz (2-5, 4.48 ERA)

Red Sox (25-33) at the plate
Duran LF, Rafaela CF, Abreu RF, Contreras 1B, Yoshida DH, Gasper C, Kiner-Falefa 2B, Mayer SS, Durbin 3B.

Pitching: LHP Connelly Early (5-2, 2.95 ERA)

The history behind the matchup comes with specifics. Early faced the Orioles for the first time in his career on April 26, recording the win while allowing just a pair of solo home runs on four hits through 6⅔ innings.

Early’s most recent outing also reads like a statement. He tossed seven scoreless innings in an 8-0 win over the Braves his last time out on May 27.

For Baltimore, Baz’s numbers against Boston tilt toward the Orioles. Baz is 3-1 with a 2.64 ERA in five career starts against the Red Sox. One recent start matters. too: he recorded a season-high nine strikeouts in seven innings of one-run ball against the last Tuesday. marking his third straight start working at least six frames and his second straight allowing just one run.

What each team has been doing lately is just as revealing. The Red Sox have scored at least three runs in 11 of their last 14 games.

And there’s a closer layer that doesn’t fade in the background. Aroldis Chapman has converted each of his last 27 save opportunities. It is the third-longest streak of successful save chances in franchise history, with saves becoming official in 1969. The longer streaks are Tom Gordon’s 54 from April 19, 1988 to May 31, 1999, and Koji Uehara’s 31 from July 9, 2013 to June 16, 2014.

One season snapshot also points to the way Boston’s starters have been functioning. Excluding openers, Red Sox starting pitchers have allowed three or fewer earned runs in 22 of their last 28 games.

Head-to-head notes show how both sides are entering the game at the plate. Orioles vs. Early: Blaze Alexander 0-2, Pete Alonso 0-3, Samuel Basallo 2-3, Gunnar Henderson 1-3, Jeremiah Jackson 0-2, Tyler O’Neill 0-3, Adley Rutschman 1-3, Taylor Ward 0-2.

Red Sox vs. Baz: Wilyer Abreu 2-8, Willson Contreras 0-2, Jarren Duran 2-14, Mickey Gasper 0-3, Isiah Kiner-Falefa 1-4, Marcelo Mayer 1-2, Carlos Narváez 1-5, Ceddanne Rafaela 2-6, Connor Wong 0-5, Masataka Yoshida 0-5.

The game’s turning point could come down to simple execution early—if Early’s ability to limit damage holds. Boston’s lineup has been finding ways to score at least three runs in a steady stretch. If Baz keeps stacking innings the way he has in his recent work. the Orioles will be able to lean on the comfort of a bullpen that has made every late lead count. In a matchup like this. it’s the work Albernaz talked about—relentless daily preparation—meeting the kind of matchup numbers that don’t leave much room for guesswork.

Field Level Media information was used in this story.

Orioles Red Sox Shane Baz Connelly Early Craig Albernaz MLB NESN WEEI-FM 93.7 lineups game preview