The Baltimore Orioles head to Flushing for a Wednesday night showdown against the New York Mets at Citi Field, with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 PM ET on September 16, 2026. Baltimore sends Chris Bassitt to the mound against New York's Robert Stock in what shapes up as an intriguing late-season regular season matchup. The game airs nationally on ESPN and the ESPN App, so the whole country will be watching — which means the O's have a chance to make a statement on a big stage.

Pitching Matchup: Chris Bassitt vs. Robert Stock

Chris Bassitt gets the ball for Baltimore. The veteran right-hander knows Citi Field well — he pitched there during his time with the Mets — and that familiarity with the ballpark and the hitters in that lineup could work in the Orioles' favor. Bassitt's experience and ability to work through a lineup multiple times will be critical against a loaded New York batting order.

The Mets counter with Robert Stock. Stock presents something of an unknown commodity on the mound, which can cut both ways. Baltimore's lineup will need to stay disciplined early, avoid chasing, and make Stock work deep into counts to get him out of the game as quickly as possible.

The Mets Lineup the Orioles Must Navigate

This is not a lineup Baltimore can take lightly. The Mets are stacking serious talent from top to bottom tonight.

• Francisco Lindor (SS, leadoff) — One of the best all-around shortstops in the game, Lindor sets the table and provides pop.
• Juan Soto (LF, 2) — An on-base machine with elite plate discipline. Getting Soto out is a game within the game.
• Bo Bichette (3B, 3) — The former Blue Jay brings a proven bat to the middle of the order.
• Carson Benge (RF, 4) — Hitting cleanup and positioned as New York's run-producer in this slot.
• Jared Young (1B, 5) and Marcus Semien (2B, 6) — Two reliable bats that keep the lineup from having a soft underbelly.
• A.J. Ewing (CF, 7), Brett Baty (DH, 8), Luis Torrens (C, 9) — The bottom third isn't a place for Bassitt to cruise; every slot carries a threat.

Keys to Watch for Baltimore

• Bassitt's command early: Getting ahead of Lindor and Soto in the first two spots is essential. Falling behind those two hitters invites damage in a hurry.
• Baltimore's plate approach against Stock: Without a substantial track record to study, the O's need to stay patient, work counts, and let Stock show them what he has rather than swinging themselves into outs.
• Bullpen management: In a late-season road game on national TV, getting length from Bassitt takes pressure off a bullpen that will be needed down the stretch.
• Run support: The Orioles will need their bats to show up. Citi Field is a fair ballpark — it's not going to hand anyone extra runs — so manufacturing them the right way matters.

Prediction

This is a tough road spot against a deep Mets lineup, but Bassitt's experience and his institutional knowledge of facing this organization gives Baltimore a real shot. The Orioles' ability to make Robert Stock work early will be the deciding factor. If the offense gets Stock's pitch count up and forces New York to the bullpen, Baltimore can steal this one on the road. Orioles 4, Mets 3.