GAME PREVIEW: Baltimore Orioles vs Texas Rangers game one

After getting some extended rest thanks to a first round bye, the Baltimore Orioles are now taking the stage as the ALDS gets underway against an AL West foe in the Texas Rangers. The Rangers quickly dispatched the Tampa Bay Rays in the wild card round, sweeping two games while outscoring the Rays 11-1 in those two games.

PITCHING PROBABLES

The Rangers will send lefty Andrew Heaney to the mound to open the series after using Jordan Montgomery and Nathan Eovaldi in the wild card round. Heaney has a 4.15 ERA, 4.66 FIP, and 1.378 WHIP over 28 starts, six relief appearances, and 147 1/3 innings pitched.

Heaney has not fared very well against the Orioles in his career. In six starts and one relief outing, Heaney has a 7.63 ERA and 1.565 WHIP against the Orioles, allowing 26 runs in 30 2/3 innings pitched. In two games against the Orioles in 2023, Heaney has been charged with eight runs on 11 hits and three walks in 9 2/3 innings.

In September this year, Heaney has allowed 10 runs on 21 hits and 10 walks in 19 2/3 innings, equating to a 4.12 ERA and 1.576 WHIP. Jorge Mateo and Ryan Mountcastle have enjoyed success against Heaney, with Mateo going 4-7 with a home run and Mountcastle 3-6 with a double and two home runs, albeit in a very small sample size.

The Orioles will give the start in game one to Kyle Bradish. In his first full season in the bigs, Bradish made 30 starts and posted a 2.83 ERA, becoming the first qualified Orioles starter with a sub 3.00 ERA since Mike Mussina in 1992.

Bradish has faced the Rangers twice this season. He's thrown 8 1/3 innings, mostly because of a start in April that saw him leave early due to injury. He's allowed one run in those two games, combining for six strikeouts while holding Rangers bats to a .179/.233/.214 slash line against him.

In September and one start in October this year, Bradish has put together a 2.06 ERA and 0.800 WHIP, striking out 38 hitters in 35 innings. Opposing hitters have mustered a .168/.227/.261 slash line against him. Bradish has thrown at least 6 innings in all but one start in the last month, with that start being the season finale in which he was limited to two innings just to get work in before the playoffs.

LINEUPS

GAME INFO

Game time: 1:03 p.m. EDT

Location: Camden Yards, Baltimore, Maryland.

Watch on TV: FS1

Listen on radio: 98 Rock FM/HD2 97.9, WBAL NewsRadio AM/FM