Orioles vs. Red Sox: Camden Yards Drama Shifts to Fenway Park

Thursday, May 22, 2025 – 6:45 PM ET

After snapping an eight-game losing streak with a dramatic extra-inning victory over the Brewers, the Baltimore Orioles (16-32) head to Fenway Park to begin a four-game series against the Boston Red Sox (25-26). Following a managerial change and amid a season full of disappointment, can the Orioles build on their momentum, or will the Red Sox continue their home field advantage?

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Red Sox -124, Orioles +104
• Total: 8.5 runs
• Run Line: Red Sox -1.5 (+140), Orioles +1.5 (-160)

Pitching Matchup

Orioles: Cade Povich (1-3, 5.23 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 38 Ks)
Red Sox: Lucas Giolito (1-1, 7.08 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 17 Ks)

Key Storylines

Orioles Finally Break Through

The Orioles desperately needed Wednesday’s 8-4 extra-inning win against Milwaukee. Adley Rutschman delivered the key blow with a three-run homer in the 11th inning to finally snap their eight-game losing streak. Ryan O’Hearn continued his hot hitting with a 4-for-6 performance that included two RBIs.

This win came after a tumultuous period that saw manager Brandon Hyde fired on Saturday, with third-base coach Tony Mansolino taking over on an interim basis. The Orioles’ 16-32 record represents a shocking fall from grace for a team that won 101 games just two seasons ago.

Red Sox Rotation Management

Boston is carefully managing Garrett Crochet’s workload, limiting him to just 85 pitches in his last start despite his desire to go deeper into games. Now they turn to Lucas Giolito, who has struggled significantly since joining the Red Sox. Giolito’s 7.08 ERA raises serious concerns, though he’ll face an Orioles lineup that has been inconsistent at best.

The Red Sox bullpen situation is also worth monitoring, as reliever Liam Hendriks recently expressed frustration about his role, questioning where he fits in the pecking order. His comments came right before he surrendered three runs against the Mets on Wednesday.

Team Form

Orioles: 2-8 in last 10

The Orioles have been in free fall, going 2-8 in their last 10 games while being outscored by 16 runs. Their team ERA of 5.70 during this stretch highlights their pitching woes, though their .249 batting average suggests the offense isn’t completely dormant.

Red Sox: 4-6 in last 10

Boston hasn’t been much better lately, posting a 4-6 record in their last 10 games with a 5.35 ERA while being outscored by 19 runs. The Red Sox are 14-12 at home this season and tend to perform well when they outhit opponents (18-4 in such games).

Players to Watch

Ryan O’Hearn (BAL): Coming off a 4-hit game, O’Hearn leads the Orioles with a .306 batting average along with six doubles and seven home runs. He could provide the offensive spark Baltimore desperately needs.

Alex Bregman (BOS): Bregman has been Boston’s most consistent performer, batting .297 with 17 doubles and 11 home runs. His success at Fenway Park has been well-documented, and he’ll look to exploit Baltimore’s struggling pitching staff.

Andrew Kittredge (BAL): Fresh off the injured list, Kittredge could provide much-needed stability to Baltimore’s bullpen after pitching a clean inning in Wednesday’s win.

Injury Report

Orioles: Ramon Laureano (ankle, day-to-day), Tyler O’Neill (shoulder, IL), Grayson Rodriguez (elbow, 60-day IL), multiple other key contributors sidelined

Red Sox: Kutter Crawford (knee, 60-day IL), Tanner Houck (flexor, IL), Triston Casas (knee, IL), Masataka Yoshida (shoulder, IL)

My Prediction

This matchup features two struggling starting pitchers, suggesting we could see plenty of offense early. While the Orioles might have received an emotional boost from their extra-inning win, I’m not convinced they’ve solved their fundamental issues. Giolito has been poor, but Povich hasn’t been much better.

The key factor here is that Boston performs well at home and tends to hit left-handed pitching effectively. Bregman, Narvaez (who’s been surprisingly productive), and Rafael Devers should be able to get to Povich early.

I expect the Orioles to keep it close into the middle innings before Boston pulls away. The Red Sox bullpen, despite some recent drama, has more reliable arms to close it out.

The Pick: Red Sox -124 (2 units)

I also like the OVER 8.5 runs as a strong secondary play, as neither starting pitcher inspires confidence, and both teams have shown some offensive life recently despite their overall struggles.