Houston Astros coach Dusty Baker set his rotation for the upcoming three-game series against the visiting Baltimore Orioles on Thursday, providing the first look at their shortened five-man rotation.
Right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. will start the start against the Orioles on Friday, and will be followed by right-handers Jose Urquidy and Justin Verlander.
Left-hander Framber Valdez and right-hander Luis Garcia will be next, while right-hander Cristian Javier will miss his turn in the rotation. Garcia got the victory on Thursday when the Astros they beat the Minnesota Twins 6-3 to complete a three-game sweep.
Although Baker didn’t commit to keeping Javier in the bullpen, the 25-year-old Dominican is the best option to switch between roles. He is 7-8 with a 2.88 ERA in 19 starts this season, and has pitched 11 1/3 scoreless innings in four relief appearances, striking out 17 and walking just two.
“We’re trying to preserve our starters and put them in some type of rotation,” Baker said of the change from a six-man rotation. “The fact that we kind of don’t know how far Lance is going to go, we may need someone (to work long relief on Friday). These guys are throwing a lot lately.
“We’re doing what we can to mix and match and win games.”
McCullers (1-1, 2.45 ERA) will make his third start after missing the first 114 games of the season with a right hamstring strain sustained last postseason.
He pitched six straight innings in his season debut against the Oakland Athletics allowing two hits and four walks while recording five strikeouts in an 8-0 victory on August 13.
McCullers gave up three runs on seven hits and three walks with six strikeouts in five innings in a 6-2 loss against the Atlanta Braves August 19. After throwing 81 pitches against AthleticsMcCullers threw 91 pitches against Atlanta.
McCullers is 3-0 with a 3.46 ERA in six career appearances (four starts) against Baltimore. He has not faced the Orioles since 2018, when he shut them out for 1 1/3 innings in two relief appearances.
Rookie right-hander Kyle Bradish (1-5, 6.25 ERA) has the starting assignment for the Orioles. He produced his third career start without issuing a walk against the Boston Red Sox on Saturday, allowing three runs on nine hits with six strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings in a 4-3 loss.
He has worked at least five innings in four of his last five starts and is 1-1 with a 6.18 ERA on the road.
Bradish will face the Astros for the first time in his career.
The Orioles he came off the canvas Thursday with two outs and two strikes in the ninth inning and capped the rally in the eleventh for a 4-3 victory over visiting Chicago White Sox .
Engaged in the fight for the wild-card of the League Americanlos Orioles got a dramatic home run from Kyle Stowers to send the game into overtime, the first home run of his career against closer Liam Hendriks of Chicago.
The explosion occurred after the left fielder of White SoxAdam Engel, will drop a foul ball off Stowers, a ball that should have been the last out.
“I just knew I had another chance,” Stowers said. “That’s all you can ask for”
The victory provided a good send-off as the Orioles they begin a six game swing through Houston y Cleveland.
“We are facing two of the best teams in the world,” said the coach of OriolesBrandon Hyde. “We know how good it is Houston. Hopefully we can play some good baseball on this road trip.”
— Field Level Media
Baltimore Orioles
Houston Astros
