Sunday afternoon Orioles game thread: at Reds, 1:05pm ET
· Yahoo Sports
Probable pitchers: RHP Kyle Bradish (5-8, 3.77 ERA, 96 Ks) vs. LHP Nick Lodolo (2-2, 5.05 ERA, 42 Ks)
Where to watch: Peacock
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The Orioles head into today’s finale of their Independence Day weekend series vs. the Reds looking for a couple of things. First, Baltimore is looking to complete only their third series sweep of the season, and their first one since sweeping the Rays at Camden Yards in May. Second, if they can complete the win, it’ll give the O’s their first four-game winning streak of the season. The often inconsistent Orioles have had six previous attempts at extending their winning streak to four, going 0-6 in those games with a combined -22 run differential.
And yet, since hitting their rock bottom of nine games below .500 after Tuesday’s loss to the White Sox, this has looked like a different Orioles team. They avoided a sweep in their series finale against Chicago, winning 6-1 behind a strong outing from Dean Kremer and a ruthlessly efficient offense.
The O’s followed that up with a 3-0 win in Cincinnati on Friday, as a rejuvenated Trevor Rogers combined with Rico Garcia, Yennier Cano and Tyler Wells combined for Baltimore’s second shutout of the season. Last night the offense stole the headlines, as a three-run homer from Samuel Basallo and multi-hit days from Adley Rutschman and Pete Alonso powered the O’s to an 8-5 win.
Carrying the hopes of Birdland this Sunday is former ace Kyle Bradish. The 29-year-old right-hander has had the highest highs of any Orioles starter this season, but is still searching for a measure of consistency in his first full season back after Tommy John surgery. On the Orioles’ recent West Coast swing, Bradish put together a two-start stretch against the Mariners and Angels where he tossed 15.2 innings, allowed only 11 hits, one run and punched out 21. However, in his most recent outing vs. the Nationals, he struggled with command, walking five in four innings while giving up four runs in an eventual 6-4 loss.
Bradish has faced the Reds one time previously, a 6-2 Orioles win at Great American Ballpark during his rookie season of 2022. That start was Bradish’s first back in the big leagues after a six-week demotion to Norfolk, and he rewarded the Orioles’ renewed faith in him by posting a line of 5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 0 BB and 7 Ks. Bradish has typically been strong against National League opposition, posting a 2.97 career ERA with a .217 BAA and 130 Ks in 121.1 innings against the senior circuit.
Opposing the Orioles’ right-hander is 28-year-old southpaw Nick Lodolo. After posting a career year in 2025, Lodolo started this year on the IL with a finger blister and has struggled to replicate last season’s form since his return in May. The former first-round pick out of TCU has been stronger of late, pitching nine shutout innings across two different starts vs. the Brewers in his latest outings.
The Cincinnati southpaw has faced the Orioles twice in his career, a win in Cincinnati back in 2022 and a lopsided loss also in Great American Ballpark in 2024. The last time the O’s faced Lodolo, they got off to a hot start thanks to an RBI single from Anthony Santander and a two-run homer from Jordan Westburg—both in the top of the 1st.
The O’s have been a below-average team against left-handed starters this year, ranking 22nd in baseball with a .702 OPS. Baltimore’s great neutralizer against lefties has been infielder Coby Mayo, with the 24-year-old posting a 1.056 OPS and 51.1% hard-hit rate against southpaws this season.
Orioles lineup- Gunnar Henderson (L) SS
- Adley Rutschman (S) C
- Taylor Ward (R) LF
- Pete Alonso (R) 1B
- Coby Mayo (R) DH
- Tyler O’Neill (R) RF
- Leody Taveras (S) CF
- Jackson Holliday (L) 2B
- Blaze Alexander (R) 3B
- Elly De La Cruz (S) SS
- Sal Stewart (R) 3B
- JJ Bleday (L) LF
- Eugenio Suárez (R) DH
- Spencer Steer (R) 1B
- Tyler Stephenson (R) C
- Noelvi Marte (R) RF
- TJ Friedl (L) CF
- Edwin Arroyo (S) 2B