Chris Bassitt Reflects on Bond with Blue Jays Before Orioles Debut When George Springer opened Thursday’s game by stepping into the batter’s box and sticking out his tongue toward the mound, Baltimore Orioles right-hander Chris Bassitt didn’t even notice. The moment offered a potential camera-ready exchange between former teammates, but Bassitt chose to avoid eye contact with any Toronto Blue Jays players or coaches. “The mistake, at least in the past, that I’ve made is that I’ve tried to make it buddy-buddy and friendly and have fun,” Bassitt told Sportsnet on Friday. “That turns the competition metre off. So, yesterday, I didn’t look at anybody. If I look at them, my love for them will trump the competition side. I was just trying to block out all the emotions of that.” His approach clearly worked, as Bassitt delivered one of his strongest outings of the season, holding the Blue Jays to one run on four hits over six innings during an eventual Orioles loss decided by the bullpen. The Blue Jays’ visit to Oriole Park at Camden Yards for a four-game series provided Bassitt with an opportunity to reconnect with teammates he had formed strong bonds with during his three-year tenure in Toronto. “When I signed there three years ago, I didn’t expect to have the relationship I had with all those people,” Bassitt said. “Didn’t expect to have some of my best friends in the world on that team. Didn’t expect, obviously, to make the run that we did.” His former teammates echoed his sentiments, with Jeff Hoffman calling Bassitt “a huge reason why we were as close as we were last year” and Ernie Clement noting, “We definitely miss him. He was one of our main guys last year. So, it’s a noticeable difference without him.” Bassitt’s impact on the Blue Jays was significant. Last season, he posted a 3.#toronto_blue_jays #baltimore_orioles #george_springer #chris_bassitt #mark_shapiro
Astros and Orioles Set for Doubleheader After Rainout Delay The Houston Astros and Baltimore Orioles will play a doubleheader today at Camden Yards following a rainout that postponed their scheduled game on April 29. The Astros (11-19) and Orioles (14-15) will face off in two games, with the first contest featuring a matchup of right-handed pitchers. Astros rookie RHP Peter Lambert (1-1, 3.27 ERA) will start Game 1 against Orioles RHP Chris Bassitt (1-2, 6.75 ERA). This will mark Lambert’s first career appearance against the Orioles, adding a layer of intrigue to the matchup. Lambert, who joined the Astros via free agency this offseason after a season with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in the NPB, has shown promise in his early MLB campaign. In his first start on April 17 against the Cardinals, he pitched 6.0 scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and striking out eight batters (16 whiffs) in a 2-0 Astros victory. His performance has been notable for his ability to induce swings and misses, with a combined 39 whiffs in two starts this season. On April 17, he recorded 23 strikeouts, ranking him among the top AL pitchers in 2026 for whiffs in a single game. The doubleheader will conclude a three-game series against the Orioles, with the Astros holding a 4-3 record in the 2025 season against Baltimore. The teams will next meet in a three-game set at Daikin Park in July. For the Astros, the series carries significance as they aim to improve their standing in the AL West. Yordan Alvarez has emerged as a standout performer for the Astros, leading the American League in several key categories. Through the first 30 games of the season, he has hit 11 home runs, ranking second in franchise history behind Lance Berkman’s 13 in 2002. Alvarez’s .#baltimore_orioles #houston_astros #camden_yards #peter_lambert #chris_bassitt
