Vanessa: Pete Alonso hit his 30th homer on Friday, and then the Orioles went and lost the series finale to the Rays. Now they're packing for St. Louis. What's next for this banged-up Birds squad?
Nick: They're 63-68, fifth in the AL East, and the injuries just keep piling up. But there's still baseball to play, and a trip to face the Cardinals could be just what this lineup needs.
Vanessa: Welcome back to Beatline, Orioles fans! I'm your host Vanessa, and as always, joined by the sharpest mind in the game, Nick. We've got a packed show today.
Nick: Let's get into it. We'll break down the series loss to the Rays, look ahead to the Cardinals, and give you our keys to the series plus a bold prediction.
Vanessa: First, let's recap what happened yesterday. The Orioles fell to the Rays 3-1, failing to complete the sweep. Nick Martinez spun six innings of one-hit ball for Tampa. That stung.
Nick: It was a tough one. But hey, we did win the series, and Alonso got his 30th bomb on Friday. Silver linings.
Vanessa: Now, we turn the page to St. Louis. The Birds open a two-game set against the Cardinals on Tuesday night. What should we expect?
Nick: We'll dig into the pitching matchups, the banged-up lineup, and the bullpen concerns. Plus, we'll make our bold prediction for the series.
Vanessa: Stick with us, because we're just getting started.
Vanessa: Alright Nick, let's talk about the series we just played. The Orioles took two of three from the AL East-leading Rays. That's a big deal. But that finale was rough.
Nick: You're right. Losing 3-1 after winning the first two is a missed opportunity. But you have to credit Nick Martinez. He was dealing. One hit over six innings.
Vanessa: And Junior Caminero and Chandler Simpson came through with RBI singles in the sixth. That was the difference.
Nick: Exactly. The Rays are a good team. They're 76-53 for a reason. But we showed we can compete with them. That's the takeaway.
Vanessa: Now, let's look ahead to St. Louis. The Cardinals are at home, and the Orioles are on the road. What do you see in this matchup?
Nick: Well, we don't have official probables yet, but we'll likely see a couple of our starters. The Cardinals have a solid rotation, but their offense has been up and down.
Vanessa: Our guys are coming off a series where they scored five and three runs. The bats seemed to wake up a bit. Can they keep that going on the road?
Nick: I think so. The key is getting production from the top of the lineup. Gunnar Henderson and Jackson Holliday need to set the table. If they get on base, good things happen.
Vanessa: And of course, Pete Alonso is a threat every time he steps to the plate. He's got 30 homers now. That's a big bat in the middle of the order.
Nick: Absolutely. Alonso is a difference-maker. He can change a game with one swing. The Cardinals have to be careful with him.
Vanessa: So, pitching-wise, who do you think gets the ball on Tuesday?
Nick: I'd look for Trevor Rogers to take the mound. He had a strong outing on Friday, striking out six in seven innings. He could be the guy.
Vanessa: That would be a big start for him. And then maybe Chris Bassitt or Kyle Bradish for game two. We'll see how the rotation lines up.
Nick: Right. It's a short series, so every start matters. We need quality innings from our starters to keep the bullpen fresh.
Vanessa: Alright, let's take a quick break. When we come back, we'll get into the hitters and the bullpen questions.
Vanessa: Welcome back. We're talking Orioles baseball, and there's a lot to unpack. Nick, the lineup has been banged up all season. Who's missing right now?
Nick: It's a long list. Ryan Mountcastle and Jordan Westburg are on the 60-day IL. Felix Bautista, our closer, is also on the 60-day. That's a huge blow to the bullpen.
Vanessa: And we've got Blaze Alexander on the 10-day, plus Cole Sulser and Griffin Jax on the 15-day. The pitching staff is stretched thin.
Nick: It's tough. But guys like Yennier Cano and Andrew Kittredge have stepped up. They've been solid in high-leverage spots.
Vanessa: Let's talk about the bats. Colton Cowser has been a bright spot in center field. And Leody Taveras has been contributing since coming over.
Nick: Yeah, Cowser has really come into his own. He's got pop and plays great defense. And Taveras had that automatic runner situation in the 10th on Saturday. He scored the winning run.
Vanessa: That was a big win. Dylan Beavers with the pinch double to walk it off. That was exciting.
Nick: It was. Beavers has been clutch off the bench. That's a good sign for the depth.
Vanessa: Now, the Cardinals' lineup. Who should we be worried about?
Nick: They've got some dangerous hitters. Nolan Arenado is always a threat, and Paul Goldschmidt can still rake. We'll need to pitch carefully to them.
Vanessa: And their bullpen has been decent. We can't afford to fall behind early.
Nick: Absolutely. We need to get to their starters early and put pressure on their relievers. That's how we win.
Vanessa: One thing I want to touch on: the ABS challenge system. It's been a storyline this season. How do you think it's affected the game?
Nick: It's added a new layer of strategy. Managers have to decide when to challenge, and catchers have to frame pitches differently. It's been interesting to watch.
Vanessa: Do you think it's helped or hurt the game?
Nick: I think it's helped. It gets the calls right, and it adds drama. But it can slow the game down. It's a trade-off.
Vanessa: Alright, let's move to the keys to the series. What does Baltimore need to do to win these two games in St. Louis?
Vanessa: We're back. Time for our keys to the series and a bold prediction. Nick, what are the most important factors for the Orioles?
Nick: First, starting pitching. We need our starters to go deep and keep the game close. If we can get six or seven innings from the starter, we have a chance.
Vanessa: And the bullpen. With Bautista out, it's been a concern. But guys like Cano and Kittredge need to hold leads.
Nick: Exactly. The bullpen has to be sharp. We can't afford to give up late-inning leads.
Vanessa: And on offense, we need to be aggressive on the bases. Create some chaos.
Nick: Absolutely. We saw the Cardinals' defense struggle at times. If we can put pressure on them, we can force mistakes.
Vanessa: Now, for our bold prediction. Nick, you go first.
Nick: I'm going to say the Orioles split the series. They win the first game behind a strong start from Trevor Rogers, but drop the second game in a close one.
Vanessa: That's a solid take. For me, I'm feeling greedy. I think the Orioles sweep the Cardinals and Pete Alonso hits a homer in each game.
Nick: Bold indeed. Alonso has been hot, so it's possible. But sweeping on the road is tough.
Vanessa: We'll see. I'm feeling optimistic. The offense is starting to click, and the pitching has been decent.
Nick: I hope you're right. A sweep would be huge for the team's confidence.
Vanessa: Alright, that's our show for today. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review the Beatline Podcast. Share it with your fellow Orioles fans.
Vanessa: Thanks for listening! We'll be back with more Orioles coverage. Until then, let's go O's!
Nick: Go O's!