Hoping that the homer Hydration Station gets some use tonight against the Twins’ Chris Paddack.
So, Birdland, that was kind of fun! On Monday night, in Game 1 of a three-game homestand against Minnesota, we got an early Catch of the Year contender, a trio of long balls, a new homer Hydration Station, and a win. Let’s do it again, shall we?
Tonight’s starter, Grayson Rodriguez, has been lights-out over his first three outings, with a 2-0 record, a 2.50 ERA, and 21 strikeouts in 18 innings. His only weakness has been the home run ball: he’s allowed three so far. With outfielder Max Kepler and two former No. 1 picks in Carlos Correa and Royce Lewis are all on the 10-day IL, a battered Twins lineup is lacking a lot of its usual thump in the middle of the order. I know Rodriguez would welcome the stiff competition, but he’ll have to make do somehow.
The only current Twin Rodriguez has faced is former Ray Manuel Margot, who is 1-for-5 against the young right hander.
Meanwhile, the O’s get another right hander tonight in 28-year-old Chris Paddack. The Texas native hasn’t seen a lot of action since joining the Twins ahead of the 2022 season: another casualty of the Tommy John pandemic, he appeared in just seven games over his first two seasons with Minnesota.
Paddack appears to be healthy in 2024, although the numbers haven’t been great: he’s got a 4.15 ERA and 1.85 WHIP over two starts totaling 8.2 IP. Though it’s early, Paddack is struggling to provide length, and his home run rate is elevated, at 2.08 HR/9, plus he’s allowed an average of nearly 12 ½ hits per game.
A handful of Orioles have faced him, only Anthony Santander more than three times: he’s 2-for-6 with one RBI.
Orioles Lineup
- Gunnar Henderson (L) SS
- Adley Rutschman (S) DH
- Ryan O’Hearn (L) 1B
- Anthony Santander (S) RF
- Cedric Mullins (L) CF
- Colton Cowser (L) LF
- Jordan Westburg (R) 3B
- Jackson Holliday (L) 2B
- James McCann (R) C
RHP Grayson Rodriguez
Twins Lineup
- Edouard Julien (L) 2B
- Ryan Jeffers (R) DH
- Alex Kirilloff (L) 1B
- Byron Buxton (R) CF
- Trevor Larnach (L) LF
- José Miranda (R) 3B
- Willi Castro (S) SS
- Manuel Margot (R) RF
- Christian Vázquez (R) C
Starting pitcher: RHP Chris Paddack