Weather Forced a Postponement, Now Astros and Orioles Are Playing a Thursday Doubleheader Nobody Asked For

Mother Nature had other plans Wednesday night in Baltimore. The Houston Astros and Orioles were supposed to square off, but inclement weather in the forecast forced the league to pull the plug. So what's the fix? They're making it up the hard way: a single-admission doubleheader on Thursday that's going to test both teams' bullpen depth and roster stamina.

The Schedule Is Packed and Weird

First pitch Thursday hits at 12:35 p.m. ET, with the second game starting about 30 to 45 minutes after the first one wraps. That's a lot of baseball in one afternoon, and it means both teams have to lean on depth they might not have thought they'd need this early in the season. It's a grind nobody loves, but it's the cost of doing business when weather wins the day.

Here's Who's Taking the Ball

The Astros have their rotation set for both games. Peter Lambert (1-1, 3.27 ERA) gets the start in game one, while Lance McCullers Jr. (1-2, 6.75 ERA) will pitch the nightcap. That's solid stability on the mound, at least for Houston.

Baltimore's plans? Still a question mark as of Wednesday. We know Chris Bassitt (1-2, 6.75 ERA) was slated to start Wednesday's now-postponed game, but the Orioles hadn't announced their Thursday rotation yet. That's the kind of scrambling weather postponements force on teams, and it could matter more than people think when the doubleheader actually gets played.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.