​NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 14: First baseman Pete Alonso #25 of the Baltimore Orioles acknowledges the crowd in his first at-bat during the first inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field on September 14, 2026 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images It’s night two of the Pete Alonso Reunion Tour at CitiField, where Mets fans will continue to cheer on their team’s favorite former slugger. Expect their signs and camera phones to be held high every time Alonso steps to the plate as he seeks to mash his 300th career home run at his longtime home ballpark. And he’s not the only one — on the other side of the field, the Mets’ Francisco Lindor is also sitting on 299 career dingers. It’d be pretty neat if they both hit #300 in the same game, especially if the Orioles go on to win.But yikes, the O’s are going to have their work cut out for them, if tonight’s starting lineup is any indication. Take a peek below. There’s Rece Hinds, leadoff hitter. There’s an entirely useless bottom four of the lineup (arguably bottom five, if you’re feeling particularly cranky about Gunnar Henderson). Rarely seen third catcher Yohel Pozo will make his first start since Aug. 16, almost a month ago. And lefty swingers Samuel Basallo, Dylan Beavers, Heston Kjerstad, and Jackson Holliday are all on the bench against Mets southpaw Sean Manaea.I just don’t get it. The Orioles are out of contention and the season is winding down, so why not let your young left-handers get some starts against lefties? How are they ever going to get better with their platoon splits if you don’t give them the opportunity? Why are you giving starts to guys with no future with the Orioles, like Hinds, Pozo, and Leody Taveras, instead of homegrown guys who might have a chance at being part of the future? The Orioles, as usual, make no sense.Poor Shane Baz already never gets run support, and now this is the lineup that’s tasked with trying to help him out. Well, uh…good luck.Orioles lineup:LF Rece Hinds1B Pete AlonsoDH Coby Mayo3B Christian Encarnacion-StrandSS Gunnar Henderson2B Jeremiah JacksonC Yohel PozoRF Leody TaverasCF Colton CowserRHP Shane BazMets lineup:SS Francisco LindorLF Juan Soto3B Bo BichetteRF Carson Benge1B Jared Young2B Marcus SemienCF A.J. EwingDH Brett BatyC Francisco AlvarezLHP Sean Manaea