These Birds fly north of the border for the first time all season to begin a four-game set against the division rival Blue Jays.
A long stretch against the AL East is only just beginning. The Orioles’ second of three consecutive intra-division sets kicks off tonight in Toronto.
This series comes with the added storyline of a debut. Connor Norby got called up to the big leagues for the first time ever earlier today. It was a complementary move to Jorge Mateo’s trip to the seven-day IL for concussion symptoms.
This is a big deal! First, Mateo going to the IL is a blow to these Orioles. Mateo has found his groove this season, making the everyday second base role his own. He won’t be easy to replace, and hopefully his stay on the IL will be brief.
Norby has an opportunity here that many were unsure he would ever get. The call up of Jackson Holliday back in April had the potential to close off Norby’s path to big league playing time with the Orioles. Holliday is a top prospect that most analysts expect to be an all-star for the next decade. It was perfectly reasonable to think he would come up and establish himself. Maybe Norby could have found a route via a utility role or maybe in the outfield, but nothing was guarantee.
Instead, Holliday struggled…badly. After two weeks he was back in Norfolk. Meanwhile Norby continued to do what he always has: hit. He has a .286/.374/.510 batting line at Triple-A this season. The guy knows how to swing the stick.
Defense is more of a question for Norby. Second base is his natural position, but he does not get rave reviews for his work there. He also boasts corner outfield flexibility. That won’t matter too much if he hits enough. The Orioles will find room for the righty in a lineup that can sometimes feel lefty-heavy.
The person in the organization that may need to worry the most if Norby does well isn’t Mateo or Holliday, though. It’s Ramón Urías. The Gold Glove winner has seen his bat pick up recently (5-for-9 in his last four games), but who knows if that’s enough to make up for what has largely been an abysmal season so far (83 OPS+).
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Norby is here, and he is starting. He will need to play well before any other scenarios matter.
Orioles lineup
- Gunnar Henderson, SS
- Adley Rutschman, C
- Ryan Mountcastle, 1B
- Ryan O’Hearn, DH
- Anthony Santander, RF
- Jordan Wesburg, 3B
- Colton Cowser, CF
- Austin Hays, LF
- Connor Norby, 2B
RHP Grayson Rodriguez (5-2, 3.53 ERA)
Blue Jays lineup
- Davis Schneider, 2B
- Danny Jansen, C
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B
- Daniel Vogelbach, DH
- Bo Bichette, SS
- George Springer, RF
- Daulton Varsho, LF
- Isiah Kiner-Falefa, 3B
- Kevin Kiermaier, CF
RHP Kevin Gausman (5-4, 3.75 ERA)