For the second straight day, the start of the Orioles’ game has been delayed.
On Friday, the holdup was only two minutes as starting pitcher Corbin Burnes waited for the cleat cleaner to be delivered to the mound. On Saturday, a more traditional (and lengthier) delay commenced, pushing back the start of the Orioles’ game against the Boston Red Sox to 8:20 p.m. because of rain in Baltimore.
The contest at Camden Yards was originally scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Rain began falling at Oriole Park at approximately 6:40 p.m.
The rainy weather in Baltimore this weekend isn’t expected to impact the ability of the Orioles and Red Sox to finish their four-game series. Rain is also in the forecast Sunday, making it difficult to have a doubleheader. That makes it highly likely Saturday’s game is played.
Almost all Saturday games at Camden Yards begin at 4:05 p.m., a change from previous years. But this one was scheduled for 7:05 p.m. to prevent a conflict downtown with the neighboring Ravens, who hosted the Atlanta Falcons at M&T Bank Stadium at noon. The Ravens won, 13-12, behind a strong performance from backup quarterback Josh Johnson, who completed all 11 of his pass attempts for 120 yards and a touchdown to rookie wideout Dayton Wade.
The Orioles (72-51) and Red Sox (64-57) split the series’ first two games. Baltimore won Thursday, 5-1, behind another gem from trade acquisition Zach Eflin and a homer from Gunnar Henderson. Boston won Friday, 12-10, by tagging Corbin Burnes for a career-high eight runs, homering twice off the struggling Craig Kimbrel and staving off a comeback attempt from Jackson Holliday (4-for-5) and the Orioles’ offense.
A win Saturday would move Baltimore back into a tie atop the American League East after the New York Yankees lost, 4-0, to the Detroit Tigers earlier in the afternoon. The clubs have been tied or within one game of each other for 21 straight days.
Before the game, sophomore right-hander Grayson Rodriguez played catch for the first time since suffering his shoulder muscle injury. He took 10 days off throwing, and Saturday’s session was his expected date to return to playing catch.
Manager Brandon Hyde said pregame that catcher Adley Rutschman, who is out of the lineup for the second straight night, is “feeling a little better” after experiencing lower back discomfort before Friday’s game.
After the delay ends, Cade Povich will take the mound after the left-hander was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk earlier in the day. Povich, the Orioles’ top pitching prospect, has a 3.48 ERA in Triple-A but a 6.27 mark across eight starts in the majors this season. Red Sox right-hander Brayan Bello (4.97 ERA) is starting for Boston.
Albert Suárez (3.39 ERA), who was originally scheduled to start Saturday, will take the mound Sunday opposite right-hander Kutter Crawford (4.21 ERA) before the Orioles travel to New York to take on the Mets in a three-game series beginning Monday.
Saturday’s lineup features the surging Holliday in the No. 6 hole and James McCann catching again. Here’s Baltimore’s lineup:
1. Colton Cowser, LF2. Anthony Santander, DH3. Gunnar Henderson, SS4. Ryan O’Hearn, RF5. Ryan Mountcastle, 1B6. Jackson Holliday, 2B7. Cedric Mullins, CF8. Ramón Urías, 3B9. James McCann, C
Here’s Boston’s lineup:
1. Jarren Duran, CF2. Rob Refsnyder, RF3. Tyler O’Neill, LF4. Rafael Devers, 3B5. Danny Jansen, C6. Romy González, 2B7. Triston Casas, 1B8. Connor Wong, DH9. Ceddanne Rafaela, SS
This article will be updated.