Probable pitchers: RHP Zach Eflin (6-5, 5.93 ERA, 71.1 IP, 50 Ks in 2025) vs. RHP Jacob deGrom
Four games into the Orioles season and we’ve already gotten a solid glimpse at the volatile nature of this O’s team. We’ve seen a great outing from Trevor Rogers and several middling outings from the rest of the rotation. We’ve seen one offensive outburst in the series finale against the Twins and three other games where the offense left something to be desired. Baltimore has been competitive in every game they’ve played, and yet the 2-2 record also feels a bit generous.
Through these first four contests, the O’s have been a bizarro version of the team most expect them to be. The pitching has largely been good, with the staff ranking Top 10 in FIP and K/9 while also being above average in ERA, BAA and opponent OPS.
The offense, which most projected to be among the best in baseball, has been a disappointment so far. Baltimore is currently in the Bottom 10 in runs/game, slugging percentage and strikeout rate, while also being below average in batting average, on-base percentage and hard hit rate. Marquis free agent signing Pete Alonso is yet to register an extra-base hit as an Oriole, while Gunnar Henderson is 3-for-16 to start the season.
The Baltimore bats will be tasked with the tough ask of breaking out of their mini-slump against two-time Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom. The longtime Met is coming off his first healthy season with the Rangers, posting a 2.97 ERA and 185 K in 30 starts last season. That output was good enough for a Top 10 Cy Young finish as the 37-year-old earned his fifth career All-Star selection.
The Orioles will hopefully fare better against deGrom this season than in their encounter with him last year. The O’s faced off against the veteran right-hander last June in Camden Yards, with the Rangers starter tossing seven shutout innings while only allowing one hit and punching out seven. DeGrom’s 1.34 career ERA against the Orioles is his third-best against any single opponent, and he’s never lost to the O’s in five starts.
Zach Eflin will also return to the Camden Yards mound for the first time since late last July, as he returns from back surgery. Eflin last faced the Rangers in April 2024 when he was still a member of the Rays, pitching 6.1 innings while allowing one run and striking out five in a 5-2 win. The Orioles will need that type of outing from Eflin if they want to take down deGrom and even the series.
Orioles Lineup
Rangers Lineup
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