Everything to know about FOX Saturday Baseball: Mariners-Orioles, Padres-Braves, Angels-Rangers

A few top contenders in MLB will take on formidable opponents in this week’s edition of FOX Saturday Baseball.

First, the Seattle Mariners continue the first series of their East Coast swing when they take on the Baltimore Orioles at 4:05 p.m. ET on FS1. Later, FOX viewers around the country will either see the San Diego Padres take on the Atlanta Braves or the Los Angeles Angels face the Texas Rangers. Both games are set to begin at 7:15 p.m. ET. 

Here’s everything you need to know!

Mariners at Orioles (4:05 p.m. ET on FS1 and the FOX Sports app)
Probable starters: Luis Castillo (Seattle, 3.31 ERA) vs. John Means (Baltimore, 3.09 ERA)

Following a 6-10 start, the Mariners have lived up to their offseason expectations. They hold a slight lead in the AL West, largely thanks to their magnificent starting pitching. Castillo has thrown a quality start in each of his past six outings. Cal Raleigh has also been one of the best hitting catchers in baseball, with 10 homers. 

The Orioles, meanwhile, might be MLB’s most well-rounded club. They’ve received significant contributions throughout the lineup, with Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman and Jordan Westburg leading the way. Saturday’s starter Means has made just two appearances this season because of elbow soreness, tossing seven scoreless innings in his debut before giving up four runs in 4.2 innings against the Diamondbacks last week.

Padres at Braves (7:15 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app)
Probable starters: Yu Darvish (San Diego, 2.43 ERA) vs. Bryce Elder (Atlanta, 4.79 ERA)

The Padres are coming off a stunning sweep at the hands of the Rockies, leaving them under .500 again. But they’re still second in the NL West, and they still have the talent to be a contender. Darvish has quelled any concerns from last year to open the 2024 season, especially over his past few starts. He hasn’t given up a run in his last three outings (17 innings), including seven scoreless versus the potent Dodgers.

The Braves aren’t hitting anywhere near the level they did the year prior, but they’re still winning. Buckle up for a season-long battle with the Phillies for supremacy in the NL East and the NL at large. Elder has mostly been solid in the four starts he’s made this season, giving up more than two runs just once. He’s pitched at least five innings in three of his starts this season.

Angels at Rangers (7:15 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app)
Probable starters: Patrick Sandoval (Los Angeles, 5.00 ERA) vs. José Ureña (3.62 ERA)

Mike Trout is out indefinitely and the Angels apparently are, too. They’ve cratered to last in the AL West. Jo Adell has been a bright spot, perhaps ready to deliver on some of his prospect pedigree. He enters the weekend with seven homers and an .809 OPS. Sandoval was lit up in April, but he’s been better in May. 

The Rangers recently dropped five in a row, as their bats have yet to break out. Adolis Garcia leads the defending champs with an .800 OPS, while World Series MVP Corey Seager is down to .670. Ureña has taken on more of a starting role of late for Texas after being used as a long reliever earlier in the season. He’s surrendered just three runs over his past 11.2 innings. 

Now, check out some pregame reading courtesy of FOXSports.com!

MLB Roundtable: Are Julio Rodríguez and Ronald Acuña Jr. going to snap out of their slumps? (When) will the Padres and Rangers take off? How should the Orioles address their closer conundrum? Deesha Thosar and Rowan Kavner answer five burning questions.

Can Paul Goldschmidt recapture the magic? Mired in a career-worst start to a season, the former MVP’s ability to bounce back will have major ramifications for the Cardinals — and the final chapter to Goldy’s Hall of Fame-caliber career, Kavner writes.

Sorry, Ranger Suárez, we weren’t familiar with your game: Thosar examined the unheralded Phillies lefty — h/t to Aaron Nola for some great insights — and offered three reasons why Suárez is the most underrated pitcher in baseball. 

As Marlins’ sell-off begins early, who — and what — might be next? In the aftermath of the Luis Arráez trade, which shocked Miami’s clubhouse and signaled another rebuild, Kavner checked in with some of the Marlins’ other potential trade candidates on how they’re handling the uncertainty.

Team of the Week: Aaron Judge is back, and he made Ben Verlander‘s most recent edition of Team of the Week. Another former MVP, however, was player of the week. 

Power Rankings: Are the Phillies the best team in baseball? Verlander makes the case in his latest power rankings while offering his current top 10.

Want more betting angles? Ohtani is surging up MLB home run title and NL MVP leaderboards, while Zach Wheeler remains the front-runner for NL Cy Young. Plus, be sure to check out the latest World Series odds here, and stop by our betting hub for all the latest MLB odds!

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