The Baltimore Orioles continue their road trip as they make their way to the Longhorn State to take on the Texas Rangers. The Orioles come into this series after losing two of three games to Cincinnati over the weekend and battling Boston at the bottom of the AL East standings. Meanwhile the Rangers are fresh off a weekend series in which they took two of three from the Angels and firmly placed themselves in third place in the AL West. On the mound on Tuesday night will be a pair of right-handers as the Orioles Jordan Lyles (7-8, 4.56) battles the Rangers Spencer Howard (2-2, 5.93). First pitch is scheduled for 805pm EST.
Despite a tough weekend in Cincinnati, the Orioles are still light years ahead of the team's output in recent seasons. In fact, the Orioles came into this series just one game back of their win total for the entire 2021 season. Baltimore's resurgence is in part due to the team's improved pitching this season. The biggest improvement is in the team's pen, which ranks 4th in ERA in baseball at 3.05 thus far this season. The team's 28 saves is 12th best in baseball. On Monday night in Texas, Orioles starter Spencer Watkins went six innings and allowed five hits and a run in leading the Orioles to a 7-2 win. Cedric Mullins led the offensive attack by going 2-for-4 with a home run and three runs scored and 2 RBI for the Birds.
BRING OUT THE BROOM pic.twitter.com/xK3a1gY3Tk
— The Oriole Bird (@OrioleBird) July 10, 2022
The Orioles have stood pat thus far during the trade deadline talk. Rumors continue to swirl that the Orioles could move on from a few veterans, specifically long-time Oriole Trey Mancini. Several teams are scouting the affordable Mancini as a potential right-handed bat to add to their lineup. The versatile Mancini can play both outfield or 1B for any potential suitors. As of this writing, the Orioles did, in fact, move Mancini as they traded him to the Houston Astros late on Monday afternoon. On the mound for the Birds on Tuesday night will be Jordan Lyles. Lyles leads Baltimore in starts, innings, quality starts, strikeouts and wins this season. In the month of July, Lyles went 3-1 with a 3.58 ERA in six starts. He has not faced the Rangers yet this season.