(Photo credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images)

The World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers are the only team that has yet to lose consecutive games this season. The Cleveland Guardians were on the list until dropping two in a row to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Cleveland will attempt to reverse course on Thursday when it hosts the Baltimore Orioles in the opener of a four-game series.

Guardians left-hander Parker Messick (2-0, 0.51 ERA) seeks to continue his strong career-opening run against Orioles right-hander Shane Baz (0-1, 4.50).

Cleveland absorbed its second straight loss in St. Louis after reliever Tim Herrin allowed three inherited runners to score in the sixth inning Wednesday, resulting in a 5-3 defeat. Starter Slade Cecconi walked a career-high five batters.

'When pitchers are struggling to find it, teams try to exploit it,' Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. 'Walks have been hurting us this year. We've got to get back to pumping the zone.

'We played a very uninspiring game and have got to get better.'

The Guardians were one out away from victory Tuesday when rookie second baseman Juan Brito misplayed a grounder in the ninth inning and later scored the tying run. Herrin tossed an inning-opening wild pitch in the 10th, then gave up a sacrifice fly to Nathan Church in the Cardinals' 6-5 win.

Cleveland should have star third baseman Jose Ramirez in the lineup against Baltimore, despite him fouling a pitch off his right lower leg in the series finale. Ramirez remained in the game after being examined by a trainer and went 0-for-4 with one run scored on Wednesday.

'He barreled that one right off the shin,' Vogt said, wincing. 'We'll check him out, but I'm guessing Josey will be ready to go.'

Messick, who faces the Orioles for the first time, is 5-1 with a 2.04 ERA in 10 games (all starts) since making his big league debut on Aug. 20, 2025. He ranks third in the American League in ERA this season, giving up a lone run in 17 2/3 innings over three starts.

Baz also has made three starts, taking no-decisions against the Minnesota Twins and Pittsburgh Pirates before losing to the San Francisco Giants on April 10. He allowed a season-high nine hits and three runs in five innings against the Giants.

In two career outings against the Guardians, Baz is 0-1 with a 4.09 ERA and has 15 strikeouts in 11 innings. Both starts were in 2025 with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Baltimore is riding a two-game skid following losses to the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Orioles went 3-3 on their homestand, including winning two of three over San Francisco.

Converted starter Tyler Wells gave up a go-ahead, two-run homer to Adrian Del Castillo and an RBI single to Nolan Arenado in the 10th, giving Arizona an 8-5 win in the finale. Red-hot second baseman Jeremiah Jackson homered and had three RBIs for Baltimore.

'Tyler fell behind 2-0 and that put him in a bad count, a bad situation,' Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said. 'He tried to get back in the count with the heater and Del Castillo didn't miss it.'

Wells was moved to the bullpen in spring training, but the results have been mixed. The righty has made eight appearances with a 5.06 ERA, being roughed up for 12 hits, four walks and two homers in 10 2/3 innings.

'There is no excuse for the way that I'm pitching now. It's extremely frustrating,' said Wells, who did not work in relief in 2024-25. 'Is there a transition period? Yeah, it's not easy. But I'm just trying to keep a short-term mindset and move onto the next day.'

--Field Level Media