The Orioles opened Orioles vs Angels on Monday night in Anaheim with Kyle Bradish set to start. Baltimore entered the three-game series with a chance to move closer to.500 after taking two out of three from the Dodgers.
The matchup put the Orioles in a spot they can use or waste quickly. The Angels were last in the AL West at 32-47, but they had won 9-7 against the Athletics on Sunday after a 7-0 win the day before.
Taylor Ward Returns To The Big A
Monday’s game also brought Taylor Ward back to The Big A for the first time since he was shipped to Baltimore over the offseason after spending his entire career with the Angels. That return adds a sharper edge to a series that already carries more weight than a typical early-week road set.
Bradish has his own marker in front of him. A successful start could lower his ERA into the threes, and his previous outing against Seattle reached into the eighth inning, giving Baltimore a reason to trust the top of the rotation to set the tone.
Angels Bullpen And Rotation Questions
The Angels’ bullpen ranked 25th with a 4.65 ERA, so any early deficit can push pressure onto a group that has already had to absorb more than one turn through the game. Sam Aldegheri, a 24-year-old left-handed pitcher born in Verona, Italy, had started three of his six appearances this year and had not completed six innings, which leaves the opener with a clear shape if the Orioles get to the middle innings with a lead.
Baltimore’s own pitching picture is still in motion. Dean Kremer and Cade Povich began rehab assignments over the weekend, Ryan Helsley is working his way back from injury, and Trey Gibson is scheduled to get at least one more opportunity to start; in his most recent outing, he gave the Orioles five innings of three-run ball against the Dodgers.
The practical next step is simple: Tuesday and Wednesday remain part of the series, but the Angels had not announced starters for either game. Shane Baz enters Tuesday with nearly identical records and ERAs to Bradish, and he had held Seattle to three earned runs over seven innings in his most recent start, while the Orioles will try to decide whether a favorable stretch can turn into a series result that moves them over the line they have been chasing.
