The Baltimore Orioles open a home series against the Boston Red Sox on Friday, September 4, 2026, at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 PM ET. Shane Baz gets the ball for Baltimore against Boston's Ranger Suárez in a matchup that carries real AL East weight this late in the regular season. The Orioles send out a lineup loaded with recognizable names — Pete Alonso at cleanup, Gunnar Henderson batting fifth — while the Red Sox counter with a notable face in the three-hole: former Oriole Adley Rutschman. Watch MASN locally or tune to WBAL 1090 AM.

Pitching Matchup: Shane Baz vs. Ranger Suárez

Baz gets the start for the home side, tasked with keeping a Boston offense quiet enough for Baltimore's lineup to do its work. The right-hander will be working in front of a home crowd that can energize a performance, and Camden Yards in September is a venue that matters. Suárez takes the hill for Boston, a crafty left-hander whose ability to generate soft contact makes him a legitimate challenge. Neither starter's current-season numbers are available heading into tonight, so the results on the field will have to do the talking.

Baltimore Orioles Starting Lineup

• 1. Blaze Alexander, RF
• 2. Coby Mayo, DH
• 3. Luis Robert Jr., CF
• 4. Pete Alonso, 1B
• 5. Gunnar Henderson, SS
• 6. Christian Encarnacion-Strand, 3B
• 7. Jackson Holliday, 2B
• 8. Carlos Narváez, C
• 9. Leody Taveras, LF

Boston Red Sox Starting Lineup

• 1. Roman Anthony, DH
• 2. Mickey Gasper, 1B
• 3. Adley Rutschman, C
• 4. Wilyer Abreu, RF
• 5. Nick Sogard, 2B
• 6. Caleb Durbin, 3B
• 7. Jarren Duran, LF
• 8. Trevor Story, SS
• 9. Eli White, CF

Three Keys to Watch at Camden Yards

• Gunnar Henderson's presence in the lineup: Batting fifth, Henderson remains one of the most dangerous hitters in the Orioles order. How he fares against Suárez — a left-hander — will be a storyline worth tracking all night.
• Adley Rutschman batting third for Boston: The former Oriole hitting in the heart of the Red Sox order is a moment Camden Yards fans will notice. Rutschman is a professional hitter who knows this park, and Baz will need to handle him carefully.
• Jackson Holliday at second base: Holliday batting seventh gives the Orioles a second look at a talent still developing his big-league game. His at-bats against a crafty left-hander like Suárez are worth watching as a developmental data point.

Pete Alonso and the Middle of the Order

With Luis Robert Jr. hitting third and Alonso cleaning up at four, Baltimore has real run-producing capability in the top half of the order. If Baz can keep the Red Sox off the board through five or six innings, the middle of Baltimore's lineup has the firepower to manufacture enough offense to win this one at home.

Prediction

Give the edge to the Orioles. Baz on the mound at Camden Yards with Henderson, Alonso, and Robert Jr. in the lineup is a strong foundation on a Friday night in September. Baltimore wins, 4-2.