Orioles Seek Redemption Against Pirates with Shane Baz on the Mound

In a bid to bounce back from a narrow defeat, the Baltimore Orioles face off against the Pittsburgh Pirates this afternoon, aiming to even the series at one game apiece. The Orioles’ Game 1 loss followed a familiar pattern: the starting pitcher falters early, and the offense struggles to recover. On Friday night, they fell just short, with Pete Alonso striking out against former Oriole Gregory Soto, sealing a 5-4 loss.

Taking the mound for the Orioles is offseason acquisition Shane Baz, who is eager to improve upon his debut performance in the black and orange. The 26-year-old right-hander, who recently signed a five-year, $68 million contract, encountered early difficulties in his first outing against the Minnesota Twins. In that game, he allowed the first four batters to reach base in the second inning, ultimately giving up a bases-loaded double that put the Orioles in a 4-0 hole. Despite the rocky start, Baz settled down, keeping the Twins scoreless afterward and allowing the offense to stage a comeback for an 8-6 victory.

Despite the victory, Baz’s final line of 5.1 innings pitched, 7 hits, 4 earned runs, and 4 strikeouts left much to be desired. However, he may find the perfect opportunity to right the ship against the Pirates. In his only previous meeting with Pittsburgh, while with the Tampa Bay Rays last season, Baz excelled, tossing six scoreless innings and striking out 10 batters. Given PNC Park’s pitcher-friendly reputation, he might be poised for a strong performance today.

The Pirates, however, present a different challenge in 2026. After finishing last in multiple offensive categories last season, Pittsburgh’s revamped lineup is averaging nearly five runs per game through their first seven games this year. Konnor Griffin, the top prospect in baseball, ignited yesterday’s rally with an RBI double in his first career at-bat. The lineup also features Oneil Cruz, former AL East player Brandon Lowe, and ex-Oriole Ryan O’Hearn, all of whom have been pivotal to the Pirates’ offensive resurgence.

Opposing Baz is 27-year-old right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski, who began last season in the Pirates’ rotation before transitioning back to the bullpen after struggling with a 5.67 ERA in nine starts. Mlodzinski has a checkered history as a starter, with a career ERA of 4.45 compared to a much more impressive 2.71 as a reliever. He averages just over 3.1 innings per start, making it crucial for the Orioles to capitalize early. His first outing of the year against the Mets was promising, as he posted a line of 4.1 innings, 6 hits, 2 earned runs, and 8 strikeouts. Additionally, Mlodzinski tends to perform worse against right-handed batters, which could bode well for Orioles hitters Taylor Ward and Pete Alonso, both of whom have begun the season strongly.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.