Saturday's middle game of the series lines up rough for the Orioles. First pitch is 7:10 PM PT at Dodger Stadium, and Baltimore is rolling in on a 3-game skid after getting shoved around by the Padres at home and dropping the opener in Seattle 3-1.
The pitching matchup is the whole story here. The Orioles are down Chris Bassitt (back), Dean Kremer (quad), Cade Povich (elbow), and Zach Eflin (Tommy John) — that's basically the front half of any normal rotation. Whoever Baltimore runs out Saturday is doing it on patchwork rest, and the Dodgers' lineup is not the spot you want to be improvising against.
Los Angeles is 47-27 and just took the first 2 of a homestand against Tampa, including a 1-0 grinder Tuesday night. The bats have been quiet in spots, but the run prevention has carried — and when you're playing a team averaging under 3 runs in its last 5, you don't need much. Ryan Mountcastle (foot) is still out for Baltimore, Jordan Westburg is done for the year post-Tommy John, and the lineup leans hard on the same handful of guys every night.
- Day-To-DayJhonkensy Noel RF — Noel was placed on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Norfolk on Monday with left wrist inflammation, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.
- Day-To-DayLevi Wells P — Wells underwent successful core-muscle surgery Thursday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
- Day-To-DayRichard Guasch SP — no
- Day-To-DayWill Robertson LF — The Orioles reassigned Robertson to minor-league camp Wednesday, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.
- 10-Day-ILDylan Beavers RF — Beavers (oblique) is expected to begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Chesapeake on Thursday, Andy Kostka of TheBanner.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILChris Bassitt SP — Bassitt (back) received a facet injection to his lower back Friday, and he's set to begin his throwing progression, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILCade Povich SP — Povich (elbow) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Double-A Chesapeake this week, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILDean Kremer SP — Kremer (quadriceps) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk this week, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
- Day-To-DayChris Campos SP
- 10-Day-ILTeoscar Hernandez LF — Hernandez (hamstring) is expected to ramp up his baseball activities this week, and if all goes well, he could be sent out on a rehab assignment by the weekend, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.
- 10-Day-ILWill Smith C — The Dodgers will place Smith (neck) on the 10-day injured list Thursday, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
- 10-Day-ILEnrique Hernandez 1B — Hernandez is expected to be out for 6-to-8 weeks after sustaining a "significant tear" of his left oblique during Tuesday's 15-6 win over the Rockies, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
- 15-Day-ILBrock Stewart RP — Stewart (foot) will begin a rehab assignment at Single-A Ontario on Friday.
- 60-Day-ILTyler Glasnow SP — Glasnow (back) has yet to resume throwing, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.
- 60-Day-ILEdwin Diaz RP — Diaz (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session this week, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
- 60-Day-ILBlake Snell SP — Snell (elbow) began playing catch Friday, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports.
On the Dodgers' side, the IL is also stacked — Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Gavin Stone, Bobby Miller, Edwin Diaz, Evan Phillips — but they've patched it with Yamamoto, Ohtani on the mound, and a six-man setup that's kept the staff fresh. Teoscar Hernandez (hamstring) could ramp toward a rehab assignment this weekend per Jack Harris of the California Post, but he won't be in the lineup Saturday.
Bottom line on Saturday's series opener-plus-one: the Orioles are a sub-.500 team flying cross-country into the hottest stadium in baseball with no rotation and no Mountcastle. The Dodgers don't need to be sharp to win this. They just need to be themselves.