Vanessa: Pete Alonso walked off the field at Citi Field to a standing ovation from the very fans who sent him packing last December. He hit another home run against his old team, and the Baltimore Orioles completed a massive sweep. But here is the reality check: with Jackson Holliday just placed on the ten-day IL for wrist inflammation, can this roster survive the final push? That is what we are breaking down right now.
Nick: It was a great win, Vanessa. Seven-one. Clean. But when you look at the injury report coming out of New York, it is staggering. We are talking about multiple arms on the fifteen-day list, plus the loss of Holliday. It forces us to look at exactly who is available for tomorrow night’s series against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Vanessa: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network! I’m Vanessa, and joining me is Nick. Today we are previewing the Baltimore Orioles’ upcoming series against the Milwaukee Brewers starting tomorrow night. We’ll look at the pitching matchups, analyze the bullpen depth with so many guys out, and discuss how Pete Alonso is handling the spotlight in New York.
Nick: Right. And remember, back on September fifteenth, I predicted the Orioles would sweep the Mets. Well, looking at that seven-one final score, I guess I got lucky there. Dylan Beavers also had that multi-hit game we talked about. So, two-for-two on predictions. Now, let’s get into the actual work for the Brewers series.
Vanessa: We did have some tough luck earlier in the week with that eight-one loss to Toronto, but this sweep feels like momentum. However, the standings tell a different story. The Orioles sit at seventy-five and seventy-eight, fifth in the AL East. They aren’t clinching anything yet, but every win matters as we head toward September’s end.
Vanessa: Let’s start with Segment One: The Series and the Pitching Probables. Tomorrow night, the Milwaukee Brewers come to Camden Yards. The game is scheduled for ten o’clock Eastern time. We don’t have the confirmed starters yet, but we know who is healthy enough to throw.
Nick: Correct. And that is where the injury report becomes critical. Chris Bassitt is on the active roster as a starter. Trevor Rogers is there too. Brandon Young is listed as a starter. But Shane Baz? He is day-to-day. If Baz doesn’t go, the rotation takes a serious hit.
Vanessa: And we already know Jackson Holliday is out. He was placed on the ten-day IL on Wednesday with left wrist inflammation. That hurts the lineup, obviously. But in terms of pitching, who else is missing?
Nick: It’s a laundry list, Van. Cionel Perez is on the fifteen-day IL. Devin Williams is there too. Daniel Duarte is out for fifteen days. Robert Stock is also on the fifteen-day IL. Ryan Helsley is on the sixty-day IL. This is not a small number of relievers missing.
Vanessa: That is a lot of names. So if Shane Baz is day-to-day and potentially unavailable, and we have four or five relievers on the IL, who is actually going to pitch tomorrow night?
Nick: You look at the remaining arms. Yennier Cano is there. Luis De Leon is active. Rico Garcia is ready. Codi Heuer, Alex Hoppe, Andrew Kittredge, Anthony Nunez, Cam Sanders, Josh Walker, Grant Wolfram. These are the guys left to fill the holes. It’s a test of depth.
Vanessa: So the managerial decision tomorrow will be huge. Do they lean on the veterans like Bassitt, or do they try to stretch someone like Brandon Young? With the ABS challenge system tracker showing how much umpire decisions matter this season, getting the right arm on the mound is even more crucial.
Nick: Exactly. And if they have to use multiple innings from those relief arms, watch the pitch counts closely. You don’t want to burn out Andrew Kittredge or Alex Hoppe in a garbage-time game, but you also can’t afford to lose.
Vanessa: It’s a delicate balance. The Brewers are coming in hot, and the Orioles need to show they can compete without their usual depth. Let’s move to Segment Two: Key Hitters and Bullpen Questions, plus injuries.
Nick: Speaking of competition, let’s talk about the offense. Pete Alonso continues to shine. In that seven-one win over the Mets, he homered in the first inning. A solo shot. And the crowd gave him an ovation because he used to play for them. It’s a unique moment.
Vanessa: It really is. Remember back on September fifteenth, we talked about whether Pete would get his first hit as an Oriole. Well, he’s past that now. He’s driving the line. But with Gunnar Henderson and Jackson Holliday dealing with injuries, who steps up?
Nick: Well, Holliday is on the ten-day IL now. So that opens things up. Who is at second base? Jeremiah Jackson is there. Jose Barrero is at shortstop. On the infield corners, you have Christian Encarnacion-Strand at third, Coby Mayo is also an option there. Pete Alonso at first.
Vanessa: And in the outfield, we have Colton Cowser in center, Rece Hinds in right, and Heston Kjerstad or Dylan Beavers in left. Leody Taveras is also an option in center. It’s a crowded outfield, which is good for flexibility.
Nick: Right. And remember, Dylan Beavers had that multi-hit game against the Mets. We predicted that back on the fourteenth, and it happened. So Beavers is a guy to watch. He’s playing left field, but he can contribute at the plate.
Vanessa: Beavers is having a solid year. But let’s talk about the bullpen again, because the injuries are impacting them hard. Devin Williams, Cionel Perez, Daniel Duarte, Robert Stock. All on the fifteen-day IL. Plus Shane Baz day-to-day.
Nick: It’s severe. And then you have Luis Robert Jr. on the ten-day IL. Blaze Alexander on the ten-day IL. Christian Franklin on the ten-day IL. Jorge Polanco on the sixty-day IL. Ryan Helsley on the sixty-day IL. This is a roster that is being tested.
Vanessa: So when we look at the Brewers series, we aren’t looking at a full-strength squad. We’re looking at guys like Yohel Pozo and Carlos Narvaez catching. Samuel Basallo behind the plate. The catchers are getting extra reps.
Nick: And the pitchers. If Chris Bassitt starts, he needs to go deep. Because if he gets pulled, who is left? You have Trevor Rogers. You have Brandon Young. And then the long men from the bullpen. It’s a gamble.
Vanessa: It’s definitely a gamble. The Orioles finished the sweep in New York, but can they maintain that energy against Milwaukee? Let’s move to Segment Three: Keys to the Series and a Bold Prediction.
Nick: Okay, bold prediction time. I think the Orioles take two of three from the Brewers. Not a sweep, but two wins. Why? Because Pete Alonso is in a groove, and Dylan Beavers is providing that extra offensive punch we saw in New York.
Vanessa: I like that. Two out of three. But I think the key is the bullpen management. If they can save one of those remaining arms—maybe Andrew Kittredge or Alex Hoppe—for a late-inning save, they can close out games even if the starters don’t go six innings.
Nick: Agreed. The key is plate discipline. Against the Brewers, you want to see Gunnar Henderson and Pete Alonso work the counts. Even with Holliday out, the top of the order needs to be consistent. High OBP is going to be the difference maker.
Vanessa: High OBP and smart pitching. That’s the formula. The Orioles have shown resilience. They swept the Mets despite the odds. Now it’s about keeping that momentum alive at home.
Nick: One more thing. Watch the defensive positioning. With guys like Rece Hinds and Colton Cowser, the outfield speed is there. If the Brewers try to bunt or lay down a sacrifice, those guys need to be alert.
Vanessa: Alright, folks, that’s our preview. The Orioles host the Brewers tomorrow night. We’ve talked pitching depth, Pete Alonso’s heroics, and the injury hurdles. Before we go, I want to ask you something directly. Our show is completely free, with no ads and no paywall. Your support keeps that promise alive. Please consider chipping in via the link in the episode description. It helps us keep bringing you daily coverage without compromising our independence.
Nick: Thank you for listening. Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you get your podcasts. Share this with a fellow Oriole fan. Let’s keep this community growing.
Vanessa: Go O-Rioles! See you tomorrow!