The confidence level hasn’t been at a preferred level for the Baltimore Orioles in recent weeks even as they’ve maintained a high enough clip to contend for the top spot in the American League East.
Getting that confidence to rise a few ticks is among their areas of emphasis this week during a six-game homestand.
The second of those games comes Tuesday night against the Chicago White Sox, whom the Orioles routed 13-3 on Monday.
“This second half, we haven’t had many (games) like this,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “Hopefully this gives our offense and hitters some confidence. You start seeing your numbers improve a little bit on the board, you come to the park a little differently the next day.”
It’s far from gloomy for the Orioles (80-59), who have won three of their last four games and have what would seem to be the luxury of taking on the MLB-worst White Sox (31-108) a couple of more times this week.
Baltimore trailed 2-0 in the series opener before the offense got cranked up and the pitching settled in. Chicago didn’t have any answers for the Orioles’ lineup.
“Once we kind of got into that bullpen, the bats were really good,” Hyde said.
The White Sox have lost 11 consecutive games, their third stretch this year with a losing streak at a double-figure length.
“We had some good at-bats early, but we didn’t capitalize on some of our opportunities,” White Sox interim manager Grady Sizemore said. “It wasn’t our best game. We have to be better, especially against this team.”
While the White Sox are searching for any hints of positivity, the Orioles are in a different mode. Hyde is trying to make the necessary tweaks to push his club to a better spot.
In that vein, shortstop Gunnar Henderson has returned to the leadoff spot in the batting order. He delivered a first-inning home run Monday for his 34th long ball of the year.
“Back in the leadoff spot, did a great job of getting the momentum back on our side,” Hyde said.
Outfielder Austin Slater has given the Orioles a boost as an extra outfielder. In Monday’s case, it gave Anthony Santander a chance to take a break from playing in the field after the team returned from trips to Los Angeles and Colorado.
“I wanted to get Santander off his feet from playing the outfield,” Hyde said.
For Tuesday’s game, both teams will send rookies to the mound.
The Orioles have left-hander Cade Povich (1-7, 6.58 ERA) ready for his 12th start. He was dinged for five runs and 10 hits in 3 1/3 innings Thursday by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Baltimore has lost five of the last six games in which Povich has pitched.
The White Sox will counter with right-hander Nick Nastrini (0-6, 7.04 ERA), who last week turned in a strong outing in his first game back in the majors since early June. He held the Texas Rangers to one run in six innings last Thursday, but still took the loss.
–Field Level Media