Orioles Astros lineups: Who starts series opener in Houston
The Orioles Astros series opener at Daikin Park features Dean Kremer against Peter Lambert at 8:10 p.m. ET on Friday, with Gunnar Henderson leading Baltimore’s lineup and Jeremy Peña atop Houston’s order as both clubs open the second half still chasing a wild-card berth.
Key Takeaways
- Baltimore bats Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, and Taylor Ward 1-2-3, with Coby Mayo at third and Jackson Holliday at second.
- Houston stacks Jeremy Peña, Yordan Alvarez, and Isaac Paredes at the top against Kremer.
- Peter Lambert (8-5, 3.14 ERA) starts for the 47-51 Astros; Kremer (1-2, 4.09) goes for the 46-51 Orioles.
- The first of three games tips at 8:10 p.m. ET on MASN and SCHN, with streaming on Fubo.
- Both clubs sit near the AL wild-card cut line as the post-break schedule begins in Houston.
What are the Orioles Astros lineups for Friday?
Per MASN’s Roch Kubatko, Baltimore’s order is Gunnar Henderson at shortstop, Adley Rutschman catching, Taylor Ward in left, Pete Alonso at first, Samuel Basallo as designated hitter, Dylan Beavers in right, Colton Cowser in center, Coby Mayo at third, and Jackson Holliday at second. Dean Kremer starts on the mound.
Houston counters with Jeremy Peña at shortstop, Yordan Alvarez at DH, Isaac Paredes at third, Christian Walker at first, Jose Altuve at second, LaMonte Wade in left, Cam Smith in right, Lucas Spence in center, and Christian Vázquez catching. Peter Lambert gets the ball for the Astros.
Coby Mayo is at third base for the post-break opener, with Holliday at second and Basallo at DH. Christian Encarnacion-Strand, recalled a day earlier, is on the bench.
Why does this Orioles Astros opener matter?
Both teams enter the weekend under .500 and fighting for October positioning. The Athletic lists Houston at 47-51 and third in the AL West, while Baltimore sits 46-51 and fourth in the AL East. Camden Chat notes the Orioles begin the second half just two games behind the third wild-card spot.
The three-game set at Daikin Park is the first stop on a road trip that also includes Boston, giving Baltimore a direct shot at clubs ahead of it in the wild-card picture. For more market-moving sports and alert coverage, see BlasterPost Fintech & Crypto Alerts.
Who has the pitching edge tonight?
Lambert has been a surprise stabilizer for Houston at 8-5 with a 3.14 ERA. Camden Chat reports he faced the Orioles in April and lasted only 4.1 innings, his shortest outing of the season. Kremer is making just his fifth start of 2026 and his third since returning from a right quad strain, carrying a 1-2 record and 4.09 ERA.
Kremer owns a career 4-0 mark and 2.59 ERA against the Astros, though Alvarez has reached base in six of 10 plate appearances versus him. Alvarez leads MLB chatter with 31 home runs and 70 RBIs, per The Athletic’s series guide, making him the clear threat Baltimore must manage.
How can you watch the Orioles vs Astros?
First pitch is set for 8:10 p.m. ET at Daikin Park. Local TV is SCHN and MASN, with streaming available on Fubo. Betting lines cited by The Athletic list Houston as a -120 favorite and Baltimore at +100, with a total of 8.5 runs.
Adley Rutschman has gone 30 consecutive plate appearances without a strikeout since July 4, the second-longest active streak in the majors, according to MASN—another subplot as the Orioles Astros weekend begins.