The Baltimore Orioles released their lineup Friday for the second game of a four-game series against the Boston Red Sox, placing first baseman Pete Alonso in the cleanup spot.
The Orioles dropped the series opener Thursday night, 6-5. The two clubs are battling in a set that could shape the American League wild-card race.
Baltimore entered Friday at 69-72, last in the AL East but just 1.5 games out of the final wild-card berth. The league’s relatively weak standings have left the door open for several teams hovering near .500.
Alonso has provided much of the Orioles’ power this season. He is hitting .269 with 33 home runs and 94 RBIs and carries an .862 OPS.
The announced batting order listed Blaze Alexander in right field, Coby Mayo at designated hitter, Luis Robert Jr. in center, Alonso at first, Gunnar Henderson at shortstop, Christian Encarnacion-Strand at third, Jackson Holliday at second, Carlos Narváez behind the plate and Leody Taveras in left. Shane Baz was named the starting pitcher.
Managerial staff and players have pointed to inconsistency as the main obstacle. The club has shown flashes of talent but has also beaten itself in several series.
Former Orioles manager Buck Showalter recently addressed the broader playoff picture rather than focusing solely on Baltimore.
“There’s something wrong with your playoff format when a team under .500 can get in the playoffs. Just go to the next team that’s over .500,” Showalter said. “Because if you can’t win more games than you lose, it’s not someone who deserves to be in the playoff format.”
Baltimore still controls much of its own fate over the final weeks. After the Red Sox series, the Orioles host the Cleveland Guardians, who currently occupy the last wild-card spot.
A three-game set against Cleveland could prove decisive. The Orioles then travel to face the Toronto Blue Jays, another club chasing a playoff berth, followed by a series against the New York Mets.
The remaining schedule offers opportunities, but time is short. Baltimore must string together wins and cut down on the sloppy play that has marked stretches of the year.
Alonso’s presence in the middle of the order gives the lineup a proven run producer as the club tries to climb. Teammates have said his power changes how opposing pitchers approach the entire group.
The AL East remains competitive even with Baltimore in last place. Several teams sit within a handful of games of one another, making every series carry extra weight.
Fans and analysts have noted the Orioles possess the pieces to make a late push if they find consistency. The next two weeks will test whether that talent finally translates into a sustained winning stretch.
The clock is running on the 2026 regular season, and the Orioles know it. Friday’s game against Boston marked another chance to start stacking the victories they need.
