Author Archives: Domenic Vadala

Welcome to Birdland Crush! Yes folks, for the record it's a spin off of the popular summer beverage native to the Mid-Atlantic Region - "orange crush." Nevertheless, I've been covering Orioles' baseball since 2009 in some capacity, and it's basically the greatest gig of all time so far as I'm concerned! But for those who aren't familiar with my work or bio, I'm familiar with pretty much every sport out there. But baseball is king - we all know that. So my hope is that you come back and check in after every Orioles' game, and throughout the off-season. I'm always on duty!

Baltimore Orioles plagued by control issues

Albert Suarez and the Baltimore Orioles left fans wondering if this was who they really were tonight, or if it’s just a gross overcorrection. End of the day folks, you can’t win every game; sometimes you’re going to have an off day. Despite how good or bad the opponent is. That was today for the Birds. Suarez’s line: 4.1 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 2 BB, 2 K.

Suarez was put on notice early on that it was going to be a night for the O’s, Lopez’s solo homer to lead off the game gave the ChiSox a 1-0 lead. However the O’s evened the score right away, with Gunnar Henderson smacking a solo homer on the flip side in the leadoff hole.

Incidentally, Henderson broke a franchise record with that home run. It was his 35th homer of the season, all as a shortstop. He broke Cal Ripken Jr. and Miguel Tejada’s record of 34. Unfortunately for the O’s, it was the only run they scored.

Oriole bats couldn’t muster anything more in the game, however Chicago’s did. Vaughn’s solo homer in the fourth gave them the lead back at 2-1. That was followed by Fletcher’s two-homer later in the inning, putting the Orioles behind 4-1.

Chicago would get an RBI-double by Robert and a sac fly-RBI by Sosa in the fifth. They would put across two nominal runs in the ninth, to beat the O’s 8-1. They also snapped a twelve-game losing streak.

All steaks come to an end, including long losing streaks for bad teams. You can’t lose them all. Just like you can’t win them all if you’re the Orioles. Chicago squared up a lot of pitches early in counts in the early innings. They didn’t work counts or plaster the bases with runners; they just hit early and often.

Baltimore Orioles: Best outing of Cade Povich’s career

There isn’t much you can say about the Baltimore Orioles’ performance tonight. Seriously. The scoreboard indicates that it was outstanding, starting with Cade Povich on the bump. But how good was it, this against a hapless team? Povich’s line: 7.1 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 10 K.

Privately I called yesterday’s game ugly. I’m not sure how to describe this. Simply put, the Orioles steamrolled from the beginning. They led 2-0 after two first inning RBI-doubles, one by Ryan O’Hearn and another by Anthony Santander. Colton Cowser added an RBI-single, and the Birds led 3-0.

It got worse (or better in a sense) in the second. The O’s loaded the bases after three walks, this with two outs. Colton Cowser would draw a fourth walk, extending the lead to 4-0. However it appeared that Chicago starter Nastrini got out of the inning when he induced a pop fly down the left field line. However two Chicago players collided in the outfield, the ball dropped in, and it cleared the bases. The Birds led 7-0.

It’s tough to gauge how the Orioles played in this game given that it was such a mismatch. Both on paper and in practice. However one thing that made a huge difference was chasing the aforementioned Nastrini early. And they did it not by the sheer number of runs they scored, but by the number of pitches. Nastrini threw 72 pitches in two innings. Partly due to the Orioles taking a lot of pitches. And partly during to them hitting the ones they didn’t take.

Cedric Mullins added an RBI-single in the fourth, and Anthony Santander a sac fly-RBI in the fifth. It’s easy to say they couldn’t score late in the game, what the heck?! But odds are they called the dogs off. As was the case yesterday, this game was ugly.

Cade Povich pitched deeper than he ever had before in a game – 7.1 innings. Yes, Chicago hitters didn’t really seem like they were looking to do much. But he was also economical – he pitched into the eighth with ten strikeouts (also a career high). He also ensured that the Orioles won a game that they should have won handily. He did his part, and the bats did theirs.

The most drama that was in this game came in the sixth inning when Chicago (acting) manager Grady Sizemore was ejected for arguing balls and strikes by home plate umpire Hunter Wendlestadt. To show he wasn’t kidding, Wendlestadt then ejected Andrew Benintendi for the same thing a moment later. Needless to say, it’s always something. And for the record, Chicago had a legitimate gripe with home plate.

The series concludes tomorrow at Camden Yards. Albert Suarez gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Chicago’s Jonathan Cannon. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Big innings win ballgames

It was slightly harder for the Baltimore Orioles this afternoon at Camden Yards than they thought it might have been against the ChiSox. Corbin Burnes struggled – but pulled through to qualify for the win. Oriole bats still seemed slightly off, but they were good enough to win. Burnes’ line: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R (1 earned), 1 BB, 4 K.

Chicago led off the game with single against Burnes, and the runner would advance to second on a fielding error by Ryan O’Hearn on a pickoff attempt. Benintendi would follow later in the inning with the runner at third with a sacrifice fly, and Sheets’ RBI-single would extend the lead to 2-0.

However Chicago doesn’t have the worst record in baseball for nothing. Gunnar Henderson led off the first inning for the Nirds with a solo home run, cutting the lead to 2-1. It was Henderson’s 34th homer of the season, tying Cal Ripken Jr. and Miguel Tejada’s franchise record for the most homers as a shortstop.

However that’s all the Birds could muster in the first, despite getting other runners on base. And despite a few other blips, Burnes did steady the ship a bit. Needless to say once again, he stuck around long enough to get the win.

With two on in the third, the O’s tied it on an RBI-single by Anthony Santander. Later in the inning with runners in scrimping position, Austin Slater’s RBI-double finally gave the Orioles the lead. A lead they’d never surrender.

The O’s would load the bases in the fifth, and Gunnar Henderson’s sac-fly RBI would extend the lead to 4-2. Adley Rutschman would follow with a run-scoring single, extending it to 5-2. For those keeping score at home, that doesn’t go as an RBI, as Austin Slater made it to second base on a fielder’s choice and an error. He was originally called out, but the Orioles challenged and the call was correctly overturned.

The O’s also got an RBI-single by Cedric Mullins, and a two-RBI single by Austin Slater in the sixth. And that sequence came as a result of two walks to leadoff the inning. This an inning in which they ended up batting around…

…an act that also included an RBI-triple by Emanuel Rivera. He would later score on an RBI-groundout by Gunnar Henderson. They would end the inning with Cedric Mullins striking out with the bases loaded, however that sixth inning busted the game wide open.

Chicago would tack on a nominal RBI-single in the eighth, but the O’s went home 13-3 winners on Labor Day Monday. This because Cedric Mullins added a two-run homer in the last of the eighth. The runs kept coming.

With the win, the O’s moved back into a first place tie with New York – FOR NOW. New York plays Texas this evening, so one way or the other that will change. However whether the competition is good or bad, big innings win games. And how do you create big innings? Base runners – the O’s started that sixth inning with two walks. They also depleted the Chicago bullpen, nodding well for the other two games of the series this game also begins the final stretch of the regular season. Or the final month more like it. Needless to say, this was a good way to start the end. But it’s how they finish it that’ll matter.

The series continues tomorrow at Camden Yards. Cade Povich gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Chicago’s Nick Nastrini. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles, Zach Eflin leave Colorado on a Rocky Mountain High

The Baltimore Orioles desperately needed a win this afternoon in Colorado. After last night, after which Ramon Urias went to the IL and Dean Kremer’s status remains to be seen, they needed a win to calm the fears of Birdland – at least for today. Enter Zach Eflin, fresh off the IL himself. Eflin’s line: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 9 K.

If there was any concern about Eflin coming off the IL, he quickly quelled them. He pitched a perfect game into the sixth inning, and didn’t surrender a run until the seventh. By going that deep into the ballgame, he also spared the bullpen after a long game last night.

The Orioles jumped on Colorado early. After a walk and a base hit, Gunnar Henderson seemingly snapped out of his slump with an RBI-single. The only downside was that was the lone run the Orioles scored in that inning. But they made up for it.

Coby Mayo’s run-scoring single extended it to 2-0 in the fourth. That also was thanks to a two-base fielding error by Colorado’s Cave in right center, which allowed Eloy Jimenez to score from first. Cedric Mullins would single Mayo home later in the inning, and the Birds led 3-0.

One inning later the O’s opened the game wide open. James McCann’s two-run homer pushed it to 5-0. Gunnar Henderson’s seventh inning RBI-single ran it to 6-0, and the final was 6-1 thanks to an RBI-single by Jones in the seventh. This against a tiring Zach Eflin, who was able to make it out of the inning aside from that.

The story of the game was Zach Eflin. You couldn’t have scripted a better game coming off the IL. And again, the Oriole bullpen needed a blow. And they got it thanks to Eflin.

But don’t discount Gunnar Henderson either. He only hit .234 in August. So him being able to snap out of the funk and contribute at the plate today was huge. What happens with the roster in terms of injuries going forward remains to be seen. But the O’s took two-of-three this weekend in Colorado.

You could argue they should have swept, however you can never say that in baseball. If you’re taking two-of-three consistently, you’re doing okay. Especially when New York drops two-of-three at home this weekend, meaning the O’s are a half game out of first.

The Orioles now head home for a series with the ChiSox, beginning tomorrow with a mid-afternoon matinee at Camden Yards. Corbin Burnes gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Chicago’s Chris Flexen. Game time is set for just after 3 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Injuries and mistakes mount

The Baltimore Orioles may have lost more than a game last night. Starter Dean Kremer left the game after taking a comebacker off his right arm in the fourth inning. Kremer later had a X-ray, which was negative for a fracture – diagnosed with a contusion. Kremer’s line: 3.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 3 K.

Kremer gave up an RBI-single to Rogers, and a two-RBI double to Romo in the second. He left the game trailing 3-2, however, as Anthony Santander’s two-run homer in the third cut the Colorado lead. However they would later extend it to 5-2 on a two-RBI triple by Blackmon in the fourth.

But as we know, the O’s don’t go quietly. Eloy Jimenez hit his first Orioles’ home run, that being a solo shot in the fifth. Before you knew it, the O’s had two runners in scoring position later in the inning. Ryan O’Hearn’s two-RBI single would tie the game.

Ramon Urias had two brushes with disaster, having two balls thrown in the area of his nose. In the wake of what happened with James McCann, the Orioles are probably a bit more sensitive to something like that. Urias actually was hit in the nose in the fifth, with a pitch grazing the tip of it. However it seemed that someone had it in for him.

However it wasn’t that which sent Urias to the showers. It was rolling his ankle over third base in the seventh on a stolen base attempt. Urias collapsed backwards immediately in a heap. He was removed from the game, with Emmanuel Rivera coming in to play third.

Urías was on crutches after the game, and presumably might be out for awhile. Keep in mind, he’s already the backup in a sense. Jordan Westburg was hurt a month ago. Injuries were already a major problem, but now with Kremer and Urías looking at time out the road becomes all the more tough. Next man up is a great attitude to take, and this organization very much believes in that. But you can only do it for so long.

To make matters worse, the Orioles made some defensive lapses in the eighth which cost them the game. Craig Kimbrel recorded a quick out, and then gave up a double to Jones to left field. To be clear, it should have been a routine single. However because of what the air does to the ball at Coors Field, the O’s are playing their defense slightly deeper in the outfield. Still, it should have been a single.

Jones was thinking he could get to second base right out of the box – he ran hard the whole time. That, combined with Colton Cowser all but assuming that Jones would pull up to first with a routine single, allowed him to get to second. Jones would later score in Beck’s RBI-single. On top of that, Beck went to second on Cedric Mullins’ throw home (trying to steal an out at the plate). Beck would then steal third, and score on Romo’s fielder’s choice.

I didn’t think Craig Kimbrel pitched awful. Obviously he’s belabored, and he took the loss. But you could argue that he should have had a runner on first base with one out. However you don’t want to call Colton Cowser out too much either, despite the fact that he took his time getting the ball back in. Again, you might not expect a runner to blast around first like that trying to get into scoring position. Jones gambled on Cowser playing deep and taking his time, and he guessed right.

Compounding thjngs, Mullins allowed the second runner to get into scoring position, who promptly stole third base. That put Kimbrel in a position whereby he was going to surrender a second run even by recording an out – which he did. End of the day it’s always a team effort. But defensive lapses like that can’t happen. And again the fact that a team all but bet on the Orioles lallygagging in a sense is concerning.

What’s more concerning in the interim is the injuries. The O’s have an off day this week (Thursday), which may allow Dean Kremer to simply be skipped in the rotation. And if he needs to go to the IL later on, they can make the retroactive date back to today. Ramon Urias may be out for awhile also. Luckily they have Rivera, and Coby Mayo is expected to be called back up today. But this is the second third baseman the Orioles have lost in a month. As I said, you get to a point where next man up ceases to be possible.

Zach Eflin is also expected to return today, so that’s a positive. You also have to hope that perhaps the defense is slightly sharper today and onward, as guys taking extra bases and all but assuming that Oriole outfielders are going to take their time getting balls back in (and assuming correctly) can kill you. Again, Kimbrel wasn’t awful. Could have been better, but wasn’t awful. However when an exuberant runner is given an extra base due to correctly assuming he can push the issue and get away with it, that’s a problem.

The series concludes this afternoon at Coors Field. The aforementioned Zach Eflin will come off the IL to get the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Colorado’s Ty Blach. Game time is set for just after 3 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Albert Suarez puts the Birds on a Rocky Mountain High

What we say out of Albert Suarez last night at Coors Field in Denver may have been the Baltimore Orioles’ best pitched game this year. That’s a matter of opinion of course. But Suarez went deeper into a game than he ever had at any other time of his career. He also retired 13 of his final 14 hitters faced. He picked the O’s up when they needed him. Suarez’s line: 7.0 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 4 K.

Offensively at least, the early star was Emmanuel Rivera – perhaps continuing a tradition in Baltimore baseball of random utility guys playing heroic roles. Rivera’s RBI-single in the second inning gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead.

However Colorado, despite their struggles this year, wanted to give the Orioles a game. RBI-singles by Tovar and Doyle in the third inning gave them a 2-1 lead. That third inning was the only on in which Suarez struggled. Not heavy struggles, just a difficulty here or there. Colorado didn’t make too much hard contact that inning. But they found daylight, and there isn’t much you can do about that at times,

However that also lit something under the O’s – which at first wasn’t a good thing. Eloy Jimenez and Ramon Urias provided back-to-back singles in the fourth. Jimenez should have been able to go first to third, but he hesitated going around second base, and he was promptly thrown out at third. It’s unclear what happened there, but that momentary lack of clarity hurt the Orioles in the inning.

But not for long. Because with Urias on second later in the inning Emmanuel Rivera came back up to bat and smacked a two-run home run. This put the Orioles back in the driver’s seat, 3-2.

And Albert Suarez shut Colorado down the rest of the way. Which was good, because the Orioles still seemed to be in an offensive fog at times. Jackson Holliday walked to lead off the fifth, and stole the first base of his career. Austin Slater sent a liner into center, which Colorado’s Doyle caught on a dive. It was outstanding defense. However Holliday, thinking it would fall in for a hit, had to go back to second and tag up. In doing so, he was thrown out at third. In the blink of an eye, there were two outs and nobody on.

Suarez turned things over to Cionel Perez in the eighth, and he sent Colorado down 1-2-3. But the better news was that Oriole bats came alive in the ninth. Jackson Holliday’s RBI-triple extended the lead to 4-2. And in a park like Coors Field, that’s often necessary.

Holliday would score a moment later when Cedric Mullins reached on a fielder’s choice and a throwing error on the pitcher. And it’s a good thing he did, because Colorado’s Rogers hit a solo homer in the ninth inning. However Seranthony Domínguez was able to close things out, and the Orioles took game one in Denver, 5-3.

The series continues this evening at Coors Field. Dean Kremer gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Colorado’s Ryan Feltner. Game time is set for just after 8 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Errors hurt the Birds

The third inning got Corbin Burnes and the Baltimore Orioles last night at Dodger Stadium. However keep in mind, Los Angeles is one of the best teams in the league – so are the Orioles. Neither side is going to go quietly, which is why this series looms so large. Burnes’ line: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 6 R (1 earned), 0 BB, 4 K.

This caps off a tough August for Corbin Burnes. He took another loss of course, however you’ll notice that only one of those six runs were earned. The Oriole defense committed a season-high three errors behind him. The lone earned run he surrendered was on a solo homer to Ohtani to lead off the game.

The Ons battled back in the second, with Ramon Urias smacking a two-RBI double. James McCann added an RBI-single, and the Birds actually held a 3-1 lead. However in the third Urias would turn around and commit an error, which cost Burnes a run due to Mookie Betts’ run-scoring single.

Following two more errors later in the inning, Hernandez smacked a three-run homer against Burnes, who was within a strike of getting out of the inning. All three of those runs were unearned. All three of those runs are unearned, a costly James McCann error extended the inning to even get to that spot in the order.

The O’s tried to come back in the fifth. Ryan O’Hearn’s RBI-double cut the lead to 5-4. However a Gunnar Henderson error scored a run in the bottom of the inning, and the O’s fell on this night, 6-4. Luckily for the O’s, it doesn’t hurt them too much as New York lost in Washington earlier in the night.

End of the day Los Angeles took advantage of the Orioles’ errors. And in Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernandez, it was two former “AL Easter’s” who did some of the damage. Two former AL East guys who tormented the Birds when they were in the division.

The series concludes this evening at Dodger Stadium. Cade Povich gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Los Angeles’ Bobby Miller. Game time is set for just after 10 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Next man up

Cole Irvin didn’t get the win last night for the Baltimore Orioles at Dodger Stadium, but for the second consecutive outing he put the Birds where they needed to be. They ended up losing in his last start in Nee York. This time they got it right. Irvin put them in a spot to win, which is a starter’s job. Irvin’s line: 4.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 3 K.

In a series of consequence between teams with two of the best records in the league in one of baseball’s marquee facilities, it was the Orioles who struck first. Ryan O’Hearn’s solo homer in the second inning gave them a 1-0 lead. Los Angeles would even the score in the bottom of the inning on a sac fly-RBI by Rojas, this after a one-out triple by Edman. It was ruled a triple, but it also should have been a double, as Colton Cowser misplayed the ball in the outfield. You can chalk that up to having never having played at Dodger Stadium, but attention to detail matters.

One inning later Hernandez’s RBI-single gave LA the lead. Irvin would exit in the fifth, but not he did so with the lead. Ramon Urias’ two-run homer gave the Orioles the lead back, at 3-2. Matt Bowman came out of the bullpen and pitched five outs of quality baseball the get the Orioles through to the seventh.

And Bowman was credited for the win, as the Birds took the game 3-2. While Bowman got the win by default in a sense, manager Brandon Hyde was impressed with his effort (quote courtesy of Steve Melewski, MASNsports):

I thought Bowman honestly got the biggest outs of the game there, coming in in that spot. Middle of the order, right-handed bats with traffic. Just a heckuva job by him. And then the guys behind him. Cionel threw the ball great. Nice to see Cano really throw the ball well and Seranthony dodged some trouble there in the ninth inning with really good stuff. That last ball, wasn’t sure if that was going to be in the gap or not, you can never tell with Dodger Stadium. Nice job holding on for the win.

Keep in mind, the Orioles have injuries galore right now. Including Ryan Mountcastle, who was put on the IL on Monday. (Retroactive to August 23rd.) However Ryan O’Hearn, Matt Bowman, Cole Irvin, and Ramon Urias all stepped up big last night for this team. They symbolize that next man up mentality.

O’Hearn of course is a guy who’s stepped up all season. He’s a utility player, who’s been “utilized” for most of the season in various roles. However until Mountcastle returns, he’s now the everyday first baseman. Ramon Urias is the everyday third basemen in Jordan Westburg’s absence. Both corner infield positions are covered by guys filling in for starters. And those two spots accounted for the Orioles’ runs last night.

The series continues this evening at Dodger Stadium. Corbin Burnes gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Los Angeles’ Walker Buehler. Game time is set for just after 10 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Two-out rallies

Dean Kremer pitched one bad inning for the Baltimore Orioles this evening on Sunday Night Baseball. However he pitched to a quality start, which means he put the Birds in a position to win the game. And that’s all you can ask of a starting pitcher. That’s the goal. Kremer’s line: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 5 K.

That one bad inning came in the fourth. And Kremer recorded two quick outs. He then gave up a base hit to Pena, who decided to run on an 0-1 pitch to Caratini. when Caratini got a base hit down, Pena scored from first – because he was running. Later in the inning Dezenzo’s two-RBI double extended the lead to 3-0.

Houston pressed the issue – always. And running into opponents as such might attest for why this keeps happening to the Orioles. Two-out rallies have hurt this team for years. You don’t expect a guy to run on an 0-1 count with two outs. Pena did, and Houston was rewarded.

But one inning later the Birds struck back. After a walk and a base hit, Ramon Urias came up with two on. And he smacked a three-run homer to tie the game, smack into the Orioles’ bullpen.

However another two-out rally would kill the Orioles on this night. Reliever Burch Smith recorded two quick outs in the seventh. However Houston went back-to-back on solo homers, giving them a 5-3 lead. Meyers would record a sac-fly RBI in the eighth, and the O’s fell 6-3.

I would remind folks that the vast majority of these four-game series’ are split. That was the case this weekend, and it’s usually the case overall. So in a way you have to expect a result like this after two charged games on Friday and Saturday.

But what keeps happening with these two-out rallies? I suspect part of it is a version letting your guard down – a version of it. When you record two quick outs it almost stands to reason that maybe you’re more apt to try to get more of the plate. See if you can get a quick third one and get out of the inning. And opponents are taking full advantage of that. Perhaps it’s almost predictable.

The Orioles only mustered two hits in this game. That’s concerning, but they also squared quite a few balls up and made loud contact. The ball just found Houston gloves. This whole Houston made some soft contact, but the balls fell in. On a positive note, Oriole pitching held Houston’s Altuve hitless tonight. He had recorded a hit in every game he had ever played at a Camden Yards – until tonight.

The Orioles are off tomorrow before opening a three-game set at Chavez Ravine against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday evening.

Baltimore Orioles make everyday a Holliday

If Albert Suarez of the Baltimore Orioles isn’t a candidate for comeback player of the year, he should be. His outings aren’t perfect. But he’s always stepped up when he‘s been needed / including this afternoon against Houston. Suarez’s line: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 3 K.

Suarez made one bad pitch, and it came on the first at-bat of the game on a 1-0 count. Altuve hit it into the stands for a solo home run, and the Orioles trailed 1-0. He also gave up a solo shot in the sixth to Pena that was down and in. Pena just went down and got it.

The story through the first five inning for the Orioles was the fact that they couldn’t get on base. And when they did, they couldn’t get the runner home. But that changed, as Brandon Hyde channeled his 2023 self and pushed all the right buttons.

With two outs and two on in the last of the sixth, Colton Cowser rolled over a dribbler on the right side of the infield. He noticed that the first baseman was a step slow in covering the bag. So he went into a headfirst slide into first base – and beat the throw, loading the bases.

Emmanuel Rivera was next in the order, but Hyde pinch-hit Jackson Holliday off the bench. Which worked like a charm. Holliday swung on the first pitch, and lined a bases-clearing double to right center. Colton Cowser got a great read on the ball, not only scoring from first, but doing it standing up. And the Orioles led 3-2.

That moment is what people will remember from this game. And only baseball could lend itself to a moment like that today, coming off the Anthony Santander grand slam last night. However make no mistake that Colton Cowser created that moment.

That headfirst slide into first base isn’t something you normally see. But it was a live or die moment, and Cowser chose life in a sense. It’s that sort of hustle that can make all the difference in a season. Needless to say, it mattered big time today.

The series concludes tomorrow evening before a national television audience at Camden Yards. Dean Kremer gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Houston’s Yusei Kikuchi. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.