Sports Today Saturday, August 29
← Back to today’s slate MLB matchup · August 29, 2026
Baltimore OriolesOffense cooling lately
RHP Shane Baz · Balanced starter
@
AthleticsOffense cooling lately
RHP Jack Perkins · High-strikeout arm
MLB · Sutter Health Park · 7:05 PM PT

Team Identity

Baltimore Orioles
Season-to-date, 135 games, 5,252 PA.
A patient, opportunistic offense that works counts and draws walks, though it can be station-to-station. The offense has cooled off recently.
Power
Average53
Contact
Below Avg26
Plate Discipline
Elite89
Speed
Well Below24
RISP
Above Avg67
Recent Form
Trending Down
Walk rate is down 36% over the team's last 10 games versus its season baseline.
Athletics
Season-to-date, 135 games, 5,275 PA.
An opportunistic offense that cashes in scoring chances, though it can be station-to-station. The offense has cooled off recently.
Power
Average58
Contact
Average63
Plate Discipline
Below Avg42
Speed
Below Avg26
RISP
Above Avg70
Recent Form
Trending Down
Total bases per PA is down 7% over the team's last 10 games versus its season baseline.

What This Game Is About

Biggest Advantage

Athletics bring the more opportunistic profile, while Orioles lean on being patient.

Swing Factor

Jack Perkins strikes hitters out at a 24.6% clip (73rd percentile); Orioles carry a 23.6% strikeout rate.

Momentum

Orioles are trending down and Athletics are trending down over their last 10 games.

Key Matchups

Can Jack Perkins miss enough bats?
Jack Perkins strikes hitters out at a 24.6% clip (73rd percentile); Orioles carry a 23.6% strikeout rate.
Edge · Jack PerkinsJack Perkins: 24.6% K rateOrioles: 23.6% K rateHigh confidence
Can Jack Perkins command the strike zone?
Orioles walk in 9.6% of trips; Jack Perkins allows walks at a fairly typical rate (9.0%).
Edge · OriolesOrioles: 9.6% walk rateJack Perkins: 9.0% walks allowedHigh confidence
Can Jack Perkins limit Orioles' power?
Orioles rank in the 53rd percentile in extra-base production, while Jack Perkins sits in the 17th percentile at suppressing total bases.
Edge · OriolesOrioles: 0.340 TB/PAJack Perkins: 0.400 TB/PA allowed (423 PA)High confidence
Can Shane Baz miss enough bats?
Shane Baz strikes hitters out at a 20.3% clip (43rd percentile); Athletics carry a 21.9% strikeout rate.
Edge · AthleticsShane Baz: 20.3% K rateAthletics: 21.9% K rateHigh confidence
Can Shane Baz limit Athletics' power?
Athletics rank in the 58th percentile in extra-base production, while Shane Baz sits in the 44th percentile at suppressing total bases.
Edge · AthleticsAthletics: 0.349 TB/PAShane Baz: 0.347 TB/PA allowed (659 PA)High confidence

Pitcher Trends

Shane Baz
Shane Baz
Baltimore Orioles · 8 starts
SP
Strikeouts5.5/start
Hits allowed5.9/start
4 or fewer Strikeouts — 4 of last 66 or fewer Hits Allowed — 5 of last 6
20% K rate
Per-start form only — opponent lineup, park, and pitch count aren't modeled.
Jack Perkins
Jack Perkins
Athletics · 8 starts
SP
Strikeouts5.4/start
Hits allowed5.9/start
4 or fewer Strikeouts — 4 of last 65 or fewer Hits Allowed — 3 of last 6
25% K rate
Per-start form only — opponent lineup, park, and pitch count aren't modeled.

Player Trends

Dylan Beavers
Dylan Beavers
Baltimore Orioles · 0.265 hit rate · 0.618 TB/PA
Heating up
recent games · 1+ hit
L53 / 5L107 / 10L2515 / 25
Total bases per PA is up 107% over his prior baseline, with hits in 7 of his last 10 games. He has trimmed his strikeout rate to 21%.
Lawrence Butler
Lawrence Butler
Athletics · 0.311 hit rate · 0.422 TB/PA
Heating up
recent games · 1+ hit
L55 / 5L109 / 10L2519 / 256-game hit streak
Hit rate is up 74% over his prior baseline, with hits in 9 of his last 10 games.
Colton Cowser
Colton Cowser
Baltimore Orioles · 0.320 hit rate · 0.520 TB/PA
Heating up
recent games · 1+ hit
L55 / 5L106 / 10L2514 / 255-game hit streak
Hit rate is up 80% over his prior baseline, with hits in 5 of his last 8 games. He has trimmed his strikeout rate to 24%.
Zack Gelof
Zack Gelof
Athletics · 0.111 hit rate · 0.133 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L52 / 5L103 / 10L2513 / 25
Total bases per PA is down 70% over his prior baseline, with hits in 3 of his last 10 games.
Samuel Basallo
Samuel Basallo
Baltimore Orioles · 0.138 hit rate · 0.241 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L52 / 5L103 / 10L2512 / 25
Total bases per PA is down 39% over his prior baseline, with hits in 3 of his last 8 games. His strikeout rate has climbed to 38%.
Jackson Holliday
Jackson Holliday
Baltimore Orioles · 0.156 hit rate · 0.200 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L52 / 5L104 / 10L2511 / 25
On-base rate is down 46% over his prior baseline, with hits in 4 of his last 10 games.

Players Positioned to Succeed

74
Pete Alonso
Pete Alonso
1+ Hit
Baltimore Orioles
Why it stands out
Consistently reaching base
Main risk
Recent hit rate has cooled
73
Joshua Kuroda-Grauer
Joshua Kuroda-Grauer
1+ Hit
Athletics
Why it stands out
Low recent strikeout rate
Main risk
Lineup not yet posted
72
Lawrence Butler
Lawrence Butler
1+ Hit
Athletics
Why it stands out
Consistently reaching base
Main risk
Lineup not yet posted
71
Tommy White
Tommy White
1+ Hit
Athletics
Why it stands out
Recent contact results are improving
Main risk
Lineup not yet posted
70
Henry Bolte
Henry Bolte
1+ Hit
Athletics
Why it stands out
Recent contact results are improving
Main risk
Elevated recent strikeout rate
70
Adley Rutschman
Adley Rutschman
1+ Hit
Baltimore Orioles
Why it stands out
Batting 6th, confirmed lineup
Main risk
Ice cold — 3 hits in the last 25 plate appearances

Expected Game Shape

BalancedLow confidence

Competitive profile without a clear stylistic tilt.

Early edge Orioles Driver No single dominant factor Volatility Moderate
  • Both probable starters grade around the 41st percentile in combined suppression.
  • Orioles are trending down; Athletics are trending down.

Storylines to Watch

Is Dylan Beavers the one to watch?
Dylan Beavers enters as Orioles' hottest bat. Total bases per PA is up 107% over his prior baseline, with hits in 7 of his last 10 games. He has trimmed his strikeout rate to 21%.
0.265 hit rate · 0.618 TB/PA · 0.209 hit rate · 0.298 TB/PA
Can Zack Gelof snap out of it?
Zack Gelof has cooled off. Total bases per PA is down 70% over his prior baseline, with hits in 3 of his last 10 games.
0.111 hit rate · 0.133 TB/PA · 0.247 hit rate · 0.441 TB/PA
Can Orioles handle Jack Perkins's strikeout stuff?
Orioles have been a below-average contact team while Jack Perkins misses bats at an above-average rate — a swing factor early.
Orioles contact percentile: 26
Based on plate appearances before 2026-08-29, with today's posted lineups when available. Injuries, weather, bullpen availability, and park factors are not yet included.