Baltimore’s Brandon Young will get another shot at earning his first major league win when the Orioles visit the Chicago Cubs in the rubber game of their three-game series on Sunday afternoon.
Young (0-5, 6.63 ERA) came close Tuesday in his most recent outing, delivering his first quality start in the majors after seven previous tries this season.
Young, 26, was recalled from the minor leagues and designated as the 27th man for the second half of Tuesday’s doubleheader against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays.
Against the major league team leader in batting average and hits, the 6-foot-6 right-hander held the Blue Jays to two runs and six hits over six innings. He departed with the score tied 2-2, and the Orioles scored a run in the eighth to win 3-2, completing a sweep of the doubleheader and the three-game series.
“Less frustrating, for sure,” Young said afterward. “Just giving my team a chance to win. That’s the goal every time we go out.”
Young surrendered six hits over six innings against Toronto, walked two and struck out six on 86 pitches, including 61 for strikes.
“He threw the ball great,” Baltimore interim manager Tony Mansolino said. “I think we’ve seen signs of that here through a few of the starts. We were in a situation in the past where we were kind of loaded up in the bullpen and we were probably quick to kind of pull him out once trouble hit.”
Young, who has never faced the Cubs, has shown he can consistently throw strikes.
Last month, he became the fifth pitcher in Orioles history to have an immaculate inning, striking out Jesse Winker, Jeff McNeil and Luis Torrens of the New York Mets on nine pitches in the fifth.
“For me, still a rookie, still a new guy on this team, I just take it day-by-day,” Young said. “I’m very fortunate to be here.”
Mansolino said left-hander Cade Povich is set to come off the injured list and start the series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday.
Colin Rea is scheduled to start the series finale for the Cubs on Sunday.
Rea (8-5, 4.25 ERA) had a solid beginning to July, winning his first three starts to give him four consecutive wins overall, but he has taken a step back in his past two outings.
He allowed six runs (five earned) over five innings in an 8-4 loss to the Kansas City Royals on July 23. Six days later, Rea took on his former team, the Milwaukee Brewers, and was tagged for four runs and nine hits over four innings in a 9-3 loss.
Rea has a 2.53 ERA and two no-decisions against the Orioles in his career.
Willi Castro, acquired in a trade-deadline deal with the Minnesota Twins, made his team debut for the Cubs on Saturday, starting at second base in a 4-3 loss and contributing a single, triple and two runs.
“I’ve seen these guys, I’ve played against a bunch of them. It’s a good fit to be here, especially with a winning team,” Castro said before the game. “They all treated me well when I just came in today and, man, I feel like I’m home.”
