Taking a look at the remaining Grapefruit League games
The Baltimore Orioles had their only off day of the spring yesterday as the Ed Smith Stadium complex was closed giving players a much needed rest, mentally and physically. Resuming play today with 15 games remaining over the next two weeks, we’re going to start seeing the Opening Day roster begin to take shape.
Tonight, the Orioles will take on the New York Yankees in Tampa in their final trip to George M. Steinbrenner Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 this evening and you’ll be able to hear the game broadcast on the flagship station for the Orioles, 105.7 The Fan. It will be the second matchup in four days between the two teams and the third of four this spring. They played to a 2-2 tie back on March 1 and the Yankees took the second Grapefruit League game, 6-1.
Back-to-back home games will happen on Tuesday and Wednesday with the Orioles hosting the Toronto Blue Jays and a split-squad Minnesota Twins team. The game on Wednesday will be broadcast on MASN at 1:05. The Blue Jays will be making their final trip to Sarasota, as the Orioles will look to make it a perfect 2-for-2 at home this spring against them. The Orioles won the first game 9-8.
On Friday, the Orioles will head south to Fort Myers to play the Twins again, this time with a full squad. In their last meeting at Hammond Stadium, the Orioles were able to board a bus north with a 9-4 victory.
The weekend begins with a trip to Dunedin to take on a split-squad Toronto Blue Jays team and then they’ll welcome a split-squad Yankees club back to Sarasota. Saturday’s contest will be streamed live on Orioles.com and the game on Sunday will be televised live on MASN at 1:05.
If I could plug myself for one second, Sunday’s game will be my first in the press box at Ed Smith Stadium. I’ll be in Sarasota all week, covering all four home games the Orioles will have from the 17th through the 23rd. I’m hoping to bring as much coverage as I can your way, while cherishing this amazing first-time experience for me every step of the way.
On Monday, March 18, the Orioles will make their one-and-only trip to Joker Merchant Stadium in Lakeland, to take on a split-squad Detroit Tigers team. Meeting just once prior this spring, the Orioles won a 7-5 contest back on March 3.
Tuesday, March 19 will feature another home game against the Twins, followed by a 6:05 contest on Wednesday, March 20 when the Orioles will host the Boston Red Sox. With games on February 27, March 2 and March 8, the Orioles have taken all three by a combined score of 20-9.
On the road for the following two days, the Orioles will travel to Bradenton to take on the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 21 and back down to Dunedin on March 22. Three of the final four games will be played at home as the Twins make their final appearance on March 23 and the Pirates make their’s on March 24. That’s a split-squad day for the Orioles as the other half of the team will make their final trip to Clearwater to take on the Philadelphia Phillies.
Closing out Grapefruit League action on March 25, the Orioles will welcome the New York Mets for the first time at 1:05.
