Vanessa: Rece Hinds couldn't see the ball. The sun was in his eyes, the fly ball dropped, and suddenly the Milwaukee Brewers are staring down a sweep against the Baltimore Orioles. It is 1-0 after Saturday night, and the momentum has shifted entirely to Wisconsin.
Nick: And that is just one play in a series where the Orioles have been fighting an uphill battle on two fronts: the scoreboard and the injury report. We talked about this yesterday, Vanessa, but the reality is setting in now that the lineup is decimated.
Vanessa: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network, your daily source for everything Baltimore Orioles. I’m Vanessa, and I’m joined by Nick. Today is September 20th, 2026. If you missed our earlier looks at this series, we predicted the O’s would win two out of three, and then split the series. Well, things have gotten tighter.
Nick: Right. And honestly, looking at the roster right now, I’m not sure those predictions hold much water unless something changes dramatically tonight. We’ve got Jackson Holliday on the 10-day IL, Blaze Alexander there too, and Ryan Mountcastle is still out on the 60-day list.
Vanessa: It’s a heavy list, Nick. But before we dive into the injuries, let’s lay out what we’re covering today. First, we’ll break down the pitching matchup for tonight’s Game Three. Second, we’ll look at who is actually hitting for Baltimore right now with so many guys missing. And third, we’ll give you our keys to the series and a final prediction.
Nick: Sounds like a plan. Because if Rece Hinds can’t hit a pop-up in daylight, we need to know who is stepping up in the order. Let’s get into it.
Vanessa: Okay, Segment One. The pitching. Tonight is Game Three. The Brewers are 97 and 58, first in the NL Central. They are tied for a team record with their 97th win. The Orioles are 75 and 80, fifth in the AL East. Who is on the mound for Baltimore?
Nick: So here is the situation. Chris Bassitt started Game One. We predicted he would go at least six innings, and he did exactly that. Trevor Rogers took the ball for Game Two. He got shelled in that 6-5 loss on Friday, where Jackson Chourio hit a three-run homer and Sal Frelick singled in the go-ahead run in the 10th.
Vanessa: That 10-inning thriller was brutal. So who is starting tonight? The rotation options are limited because Shane Baz is day-to-day, Bryse Wilson is on the 15-day IL, and Grant Anderson is also on the 15-day IL.
Nick: Correct. You have Brandon Young available as a starter. He’s listed on the roster. Given that Rogers struggled in Game Two and the bullpen is depleted, you might see them turn to Brandon Young or potentially shuffle the relief arms. But looking at the probables, it’s a tough spot.
Vanessa: And the Brewers’ starter? They are riding high off that 1-0 shutout win where the only run came on a defensive miscue involving Hinds. Their offense is clicking. Chourio and Frelick are names we need to watch.
Nick: Exactly. The Brewers are playing with house money almost. They are securing home field advantage. For Baltimore, this game is about survival. If they lose this, it’s a sweep. The ABS challenge system tracker shows the league is watching these matchups closely, but tonight is purely about damage control.
Vanessa: So, Bassitt pitched well, Rogers got burned, and now we’re looking at a back-of-the-bullpen decision or a young arm like Brandon Young. That’s a huge pressure cooker for the Orioles staff. Let’s talk about the other side of the ball.
Nick: Segment Two. Injuries and Offense. Vanessa, look at this list. It’s staggering. Jackson Holliday is out. Blaze Alexander is out. Luis Robert Jr. is on the 10-day IL. Pete Alonso is there, thank goodness, but the rest of the infield is in flux.
Vanessa: And the outfield? Dylan Beavers was supposed to be the guy providing multi-hit performances. We predicted that yesterday. Is he playing? He’s listed as LF on the roster, but we need to confirm his status against a Brew Crew defense that isn’t going to make any more errors.
Nick: Beavers is in the lineup. Colton Cowser is in CF. Rece Hinds is in RF, despite that eye issue. He had the ball drop, but he’s still playing. The question is plate discipline. Without Holliday, who is driving the RBI count? Pete Alonso has been hot. We predicted he would continue his streak against the Mets, and he carried that heat into this series.
Vanessa: Alonso is at first base. Gunnar Henderson is at shortstop. Jose Barrero is there too. Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Coby Mayo are splitting time at third. It’s a patchwork job. How do you expect them to score runs against a Brewers team that just held them to zero runs on Saturday?
Nick: They have to manufacture runs. Launch angle won’t save them here; they need contact. They need to exploit platoon splits. The Brewers’ bullpen has been strong, but Felix Bautista is activated! Remember that headline? The Orioles activated reliever Felix Bautista after a 14-month absence following shoulder surgery.
Vanessa: Oh, wait. Bautista is activated. Does that mean he’s pitching tonight? Or is he just back on the roster for future games?
Nick: He’s activated to the roster, but using him tonight as a closer is unlikely given the 14-month layoff. However, having him in the mix helps Yennier Cano, Luis De Leon, Rico Garcia, Alex Hoppe, Andrew Kittredge, Anthony Nunez, Cam Sanders, Josh Walker, and Grant Wolfram. The bullpen depth is critical now.
Vanessa: So Bautista is a safety net for the future, but tonight, it’s on Cano, De Leon, and the rest of that group to keep the game close so the hitters can wake up. And don’t forget, Trey Mancini signed a one-day deal and retired. A bittersweet moment for the organization.
Nick: Trey Mancini retiring is a big deal. But right now, the focus is on keeping the season alive. If they lose tonight, the season ends. The stakes are absolute maximum.
Vanessa: Before we get to our final thoughts, I want to take a quick second to ask for your help. This show runs on your support. Every coffee you buy helps us cover the cost of daily research, editing, and keeping the feed running without ads. Please consider chipping in via the link in the episode description.
Nick: We appreciate every single one of you. It keeps the baseball coming to you every day. Thanks for listening.
Vanessa: Okay, Segment Three. Keys to the series and our bold prediction. We’ve seen the Brewers tie a team record with their 97th win. They are confident. They are playing at home in Milwaukee? No, wait, the Brewers are visiting Baltimore. The game is at Camden Yards.
Nick: Right, Milwaukee is at Baltimore. The sun is a factor here. Rece Hinds lost a fly ball in the sun. If the lighting conditions are poor again, that’s a key. The Orioles need to avoid defensive mistakes. That is Key Number One.
Vanessa: Key Number Two: Pete Alonso needs to drive the lineup. He’s the only consistent bat we have with Holliday, Alexander, and Mountcastle gone. If Alonso doesn’t produce, the Orioles don’t score.
Nick: Agreed. And Key Number Three: The bullpen must limit extra-base hits. The Brewers have Chourio and Frelick. If they get early runs, the Orioles’ thin lineup can’t catch up. We predicted a split earlier, but now? Now I think the Brewers take this.
Vanessa: So my bold prediction: The Brewers complete the sweep. They win tonight. The Orioles’ injuries are too great, and the Brewers are riding a wave of momentum. 1-0 last night, 6-5 the night before. They are finding ways to win.
Nick: I’m sticking with the sweep. The ABS challenge system will reflect the Brewers’ dominance. It’s a tough pill to swallow for Baltimore fans, but the data points to Milwaukee taking all three.
Vanessa: There you have it. A sweep looms over Camden Yards. The Brewers are looking to seal the deal, and the Orioles are fighting a war on two fronts. Make sure to subscribe, rate, and review the Beatline Podcast Network wherever you listen.
Nick: Keep your eyes on Pete Alonso and the defense. Avoid the sun, and try to manufacture some runs. It’s going to be a long night.
Vanessa: Thanks for joining us. Go Orioles, even if we aren’t winning today. We’ll see you tomorrow for another episode.