(Photo credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images)

It's too late for Kyle Bradish to save the season for the Baltimore Orioles, but he will be intent on showing what he can do in his long-awaited return to the big leagues.

Bradish is slated to come off the injured list and make his 2025 debut Tuesday night against the visiting Boston Red Sox.

The right-hander had Tommy John surgery in June 2024. He has made six minor league rehabilitation appearances in preparation for standing on the mound again at Camden Yards, going 1-0 with a 4.91 ERA for three teams in the Baltimore farm system.

'Obviously, he's been miserable not being able to help us this year,' Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino said. 'Been very miserable, kind of watching this thing and how it's gone, and he finally gets a chance to help. But just really excited, too.'

Bradish, 28, pitched in eight games for Baltimore in 2024, posting a 2-0 record and a 2.75 ERA in 39 1/3 innings, before needing surgery.

The comeback is highly anticipated within the Orioles' organization, but the expectations in the short term are reasonable given the nature of the injury and duration of the layoff.

'We've seen (established major-leaguers) have clunkers, too, the first couple times, but eventually they get going,' Mansolino said. 'And I think over time we'll see Kyle get back to being Kyle.'

This will be the fourth major league season for Bradish, who is 1-4 with a 7.64 ERA in eight all-time matchups with Boston. The only other team he has faced as many times is the Toronto Blue Jays (also eight appearances).

The Red Sox, winners of four of their past five games, began the series with a 4-3 victory on Monday. Jarren Duran's three-run, go-ahead home run in the fifth inning was the difference.

That allowed the visiting fans to make plenty of noise. With the Orioles out of the playoff picture, there are lots of good seats available for supporters of the Red Sox.

'Ever since I've been here, the Boston fans travel really well,' Duran said. 'So every time we play on the road, it feels like we're at home with how much love they show us.'

The Red Sox maintained the good vibes that they picked up in their previous series in New York against the Yankees, when they took three of four.

'Credit to our hitting staff (that) is always on us about making good adjustments, and we made some good ones (Monday),' Duran said.

The Red Sox have Lucas Giolito (8-2, 3.72 ERA) lined up as their starting pitcher for Tuesday. The right-hander pitched seven shutout innings against the Orioles in a May 24 no-decision, though his career mark against Baltimore is 3-2 with a 4.09 ERA in six starts covering 33 innings.

More recently, Giolito is 2-0 with a 3.03 ERA in his past five starts. This will mark his sixth road assignment in an eight-appearance span.

He will face hot-hitting Colton Cowser, the Baltimore center fielder who has driven in eight runs across his last six games. Cowser had three hits, including a solo home run, and three RBIs on Monday.

'He's hung in there through a lot of injuries and time off the field this year and he's struggled and he's been disappointed in himself,' Mansolino said. 'But feels like he's coming out on the other end at the moment.'

--Field Level Media