Reds look to show issues round towards streaking Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles and Cincinnati Reds have similar records as they go into Sunday afternoon’s series finale in Cincinnati.

They’re trying to set themselves up for a good final week prior to the All-Star break.

It hasn’t been easy for Reds manager Terry Francona’s team, which has dropped six of its last seven games.

Meanwhile, the Orioles try to stretch their winning streak to four games after winning the first two games of the series by three-run margins. Saturday night’s 8-5 decision came despite Cincinnati building an 11-10 edge in hits.

Both teams had something positive to digest Saturday when members of their clubs were selected for the All-Star Game.

Baltimore catcher Adley Rutschman was named an All-Star for the American League despite landing on the injured list twice this season.

“It’s been a goal of mine to go to the All-Star Game and to be able to get back there, so I feel very blessed,” said Rutschman, who also was selected in 2023 and 2024.

Rookie catcher Samuel Basallo, who also fills the designated hitter slot for some games, has homered in each of the past two games for the Orioles.

Cincinnati’s All-Stars are infielder Sal Stewart and pitcher Chase Burns on the National League side.

“I’m obviously shocked because I just didn’t expect this,” said Stewart, a rookie who’s batting .254 with a team-high 17 home runs.

The Orioles will send right-hander Kyle Bradish (5-8, 3.77 ERA) to the mound Sunday in an effort to complete a series sweep. He had a personal two-game winning streak end when he gave up four runs (three earned) in last Sunday’s 6-4 home loss to the Washington Nationals. He has won his last two road outings.

With 96 strikeouts, Bradish is in range to reach the 100-strikeout mark for the first time since his career-high mark of 168 in 2023.

Bradish has faced the Reds only once in his career, allowing two runs in five innings in a no-decision as a rookie in 2022.

Baltimore’s pitchers have done the job so far in this series. Other than Cincinnati’s three-run second inning Saturday, the Reds have managed just single runs in two of the other 17 innings.

“We have really good pitching,” Orioles first-year manager Craig Albernaz said. “I’m biased, obviously.”

Francona said that the Reds’ starting rotation has been altered with Rhett Lowder taking a spot in the bullpen. The right-hander came through with three shutout innings in Saturday night’s game. So there’s still more to sort out.

“When we get to next Sunday, we’ll see where we’re at and map it out from there,” Francona said. “We’re not trying to make Lowder a bullpen guy. We’re trying to figure out ways to protect our staff, win games and get through this next week.”

Cincinnati has lined up left-hander Nick Lodolo (2-2, 5.05) as its starting pitcher for the series finale. He’s unscored upon in his last two starts covering a total of nine innings.

The Reds went 0-5 in Lodolo’s five June starts, though he was charged with a loss in only one of those. In two career starts against the Orioles, he’s 0-1 with a 4.09 ERA covering 11 innings.

–Field Level Media