Albernaz on Alonso: ‘He’s close’; Orioles-Astros starting lineups

BALTIMORE—Orioles manager Craig Albernaz doesn’t think slugging first baseman Pete Alonso is pressing.

Alonso is hitting .196 with a .637 OPS, three home runs and 10 RBIs. He does have a .301 on-base percentage because of 15 walks. He’s struck out 32 times.

“I mean this in the best way possible, he’s such a pleaser,” Albernaz said. “He’s such a great dude, and he wants to impact everyone around him. I wouldn’t say he’s trying to do too much, but he just wants to be that guy because he is that guy.

“He’s close, and I think with Pete, once he’s in that right physical space in the box because his defense has been better than advertised. It’s been elite for us at first base. It’s just on the offensive side of the ball, and it’s close. You can see it in the box. You can see it in his work. Once he gets into that groove, he’s going to be dangerous.”

Alonso is hoping he and his teammates can produce more consistently.

“I think once everyone gets going, we get on the same page clicking, we’re going to put some more runs up, which is going to alleviate some of the stress for the pitching staff,” he said. “When you hit better, you pitch better. When you pitch better, you hit better.”

Colton Cowser is not in the starting lineup for the fourth straight game. Leody Taveras is playing center field, and Dylan Beavers is in right.

Cowser is hitting .200 with three RBIs.

“It’s nothing about Cowser,” Albernaz said. “It’s how Leody’s been playing and how Beavers has been playing, as well. I think Cowser is trending the right way.

“The at-bats have been better. The impact quality has been better. Swing decisions are trending, too. I think Cowser is still potentially dangerous in the box. He is dangerous in the box, but for right now Leody and Beavers are playing tonight.”

Second baseman Jackson Holliday has not yet headed out on another rehab assignment. Holliday is rehabbing from surgery to remove his hamate bone from his right wrist.

Orioles-Astros lineups:

Orioles

Gunnar Henderson-SS

Taylor Ward-LF

Adley Rutschman-C

Pete Alonso-1B

Samuel Basallo-DH

Leody Taveras-CF

Dylan Beavers-RF

Coby Mayo-3B

Jeremiah Jackson-2B

Shane Baz-RHP

Astros

Carlos Correa-SS

Yordan Alvarez-DH

Isaac Paredes-3B

Jose Altuve-2B

Christian Walker-1B

Yainer Diaz-C

Dustin Harris-LF

Cam Smith-RF

Brice Matthews-CF

Kai-Wei Teng-RHP

Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com