The Orioles and Twins close out the opening series this afternoon at Camden Yards, with first pitch scheduled for 1:35 p.m. ET. The series is tied 1-1 after Baltimore won a dandy Opening Day opener 2-1 before the Twins took Game 2, 4-1, with Kyle Bradish allowing a two-run Royce Lewis homer in his debut and the offense ice-cold.
So far, O’s hitters have struck out 24 times and scored just three runs in two games. The starting pitching has been very good, though. Hopefully less of the former, more of the latter today.
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On that note, is time to see what all the fuss is about: Shane Baz, the Orioles’ spendiest offseason acquisition and new owner of a five-year, $68 million deal—the largest pitching contract in franchise history, all before he’s even thrown a pitch for the team—makes his debut today. Baz is a phenomenally talented thrower, a former first-rounder and Rays No. 1 prospect with an electric fastball. He’s also struggled with elbow problems, having had Tommy John surgery in 2022 and missed most of 2023 and 2024 after that. In 2025, his first fully healthy season in four years, he posted a 4.87 ERA and 1.33 WHIP with 176 strikeouts across 166.1 innings for Tampa Bay. Given what the Orioles have just paid him, he’ll look to improve on those numbers in his new home. This front office seems to believe in him.
Facing O’s hitters for the Twins is the gargantuan 6’9”, 260-lb right hander Bailey Ober. Now entering his sixth season, Ober is something of an unknown quantity. Ober was very good in 2022 and ‘23, with a combined 3.37 ERA in 37 starts, but he’s coming off a rough 2025 in which he posted a 5.10 ERA in 27 starts, and he didn’t inspire a lot of confidence this spring, allowing 17 hits and 6 earned runs in 13 innings with his fastball averaging below 90 mph in all four outings.
Can O’s hitters take advantage?
Orioles lineup
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Twins lineup
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