The Baltimore Orioles head to Sutter Health Park in Sacramento to take on the Athletics on Saturday, August 29, with first pitch scheduled for 10:05 PM ET. Shane Baz gets the ball for Baltimore against Athletics right-hander Jack Perkins in what shapes up as an intriguing late-night West Coast matchup. With the Orioles away from Camden Yards and grinding through the dog days of the regular season, every road win carries weight. MASN has the broadcast back home, and 98 Rock 97.9 FM will have you covered on the radio side.

Starting Pitchers: Shane Baz vs. Jack Perkins

Shane Baz draws the assignment for Baltimore. The right-hander has had an up-and-down career marked by flashes of genuine frontline potential, and this start is an opportunity to build on that. His ability to generate swings and misses when his stuff is working gives the Orioles a legitimate chance to keep the Athletics lineup in check.

Oakland counters with Jack Perkins, who has shown he can be difficult to square up. The Athletics will lean on him to keep a Baltimore lineup that features legitimate middle-of-the-order threats from doing too much damage early.

Baltimore Orioles Lineup to Watch

Manager Brandon Hyde has constructed a lineup with plenty of pop and some interesting names. Jackson Holliday leads things off at second base, with Pete Alonso hitting second as the designated hitter — a powerful presence near the top of the order. Gunnar Henderson slots in third at shortstop, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand bats cleanup at third base, giving Baltimore a formidable right side of the infield on both sides of the ball.

Samuel Basallo catches and hits fifth, continuing his development as one of the more intriguing young catchers in the game. Dylan Beavers bats sixth in left field, Coby Mayo takes first base and hits seventh, Colton Cowser patrols center field in the eight spot, and Leody Taveras rounds out the order in right field.

Athletics Lineup to Watch

Oakland runs out a lineup that has some legitimate threats of its own. Henry Bolte leads off in center field, with Jeff McNeil hitting second at first base — a contact-oriented presence who can be tough to strike out. Zack Gelof bats third at second base, and Lawrence Butler anchors the cleanup spot in right field. Tommy White hits fifth at third base, Donovan Walton bats sixth at short, Max Muncy handles the DH role seventh, Carlos Cortes hits eighth in left, and Jonah Heim catches and bats ninth.

Keys to the Game

• Baz's command will be critical. West Coast late starts can be a grind, and if he can establish his fastball early and mix in his secondary pitches effectively, Baltimore's chances improve significantly.
• The Orioles' middle of the order — Alonso, Henderson, and Encarnacion-Strand — needs to do damage against Perkins. If those three get on base and drive each other in, this offense has more than enough depth to support Baz.
• Lawrence Butler is the most dangerous bat in Oakland's lineup and the one Baz must keep in the ballpark. Butler has the power to change the game with one swing.
• Bullpen management will matter in a late game where a lead in the seventh or eighth inning could easily slip away if Baltimore's relief corps isn't sharp.

Prediction

This is a game the Orioles are capable of winning on the road. If Baz gives Baltimore five or six quality innings and the middle of the order does its job against Perkins, the O's have enough firepower to come away with a W at Sutter Health Park. Orioles 5, Athletics 3.