After winning the final game of three-game clash in Toronto to avoid getting swept, the Orioles are set to kick off a three-game mini home stand versus the first place Texas Rangers at Camden Yards before hitting the road for a ten-game stretch.
The Orioles (59-45) are clinging onto first place by the slimmest of margins, as the Blue Jays and the Red Sox are currently tied for second place and just a game behind the O’s for first place in the AL East.
The O’s are also just 1-3 against the Rangers this season and have posted a woeful 8-15 mark versus the AL West to date.
However, this will be the Rangers first trip to Camden Yards this season, so here’s to getting some payback against them as well as tacking a few wins onto our MLB-best 37-16 record at home.
The Rangers (62-44) fly into Baltimore on a four-game win streak and have quickly snapped back into form after stumbling out of the blocks after the All-Star Break. The Rangers own an impressive 7-2 record over their last nine games, but their second half record stands at 8-8 going into the three-game clash.
Nonetheless, the Rangers own a 5.5-game advantage over the second place Houston Astros in the AL West while also boasting a 28-27 record on the road and a solid 13-11 mark versus the stacked AL East division as they prepare to take on the O’s.
Dylan Bundy (3-3, 3.46 ERA) will take the mound in the series opener versus Rangers ace Yu Darvish (2-2, 3.09 ERA) on Tuesday.
Bundy has been impressive since earning his way into the rotation, posting a 1-2 record along with a solid 4.50 ERA over three starts. More impressively, he’s 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA on the year at Camden Yards.
This will mark Bundy’s first career start versus Texas, but the 24-year-old rookie has faced them twice out of the bullpen this season and has fared well against the Rangers potent offense. Bundy has held the Rangers to just one hit over four shutout innings while walking just one and striking out three.
Darvish has been dealt tough luck since his return from the DL and owns a 0-2 record over his first three starts back with the club. He’s also posted a 3.31 ERA while striking out 26 batters over 16.1 innings since his return, so I’d say he’s just fine.
Astonishingly enough, this will be the 29-year-old’s first career regular-season start versus the Orioles (you’ll remember a certain postseason game from 2012 that he started). That could mean bad news for the O’s, as the three-time All-Star has owned the AL East in his career. Darvish has posted a 1-1 record with a 3.63 ERA versus Boston, a 3-2 record with a 2.45 ERA versus Toronto, a 3-0 mark with a lights out 1.00 ERA versus Tampa Bay, and a 3-1 clip with a stellar 2.01 ERA versus the Yankees.
If Dan Duquette was to ever sell the farm for an elite pitcher, I’d want him to call Texas about Darvish first after seeing this.
Kevin Gausman (2-8, 4.18 ERA) will get the nod in the middle game of the three-game set against four-time All-Star Cole Hamels (12-2, 2.84 ERA).
Gausman will be looking to erase the memory of his last start versus Toronto, in which he allowed six runs on six hits (three homers) in the 6-5 loss. On the upside for the 25-year-old, he’s posted a 2-1 record with a superb 2.36 ERA in the confines of Camden Yards this season.
Gausman is set to make his second start in five weeks against the Rangers on Wednesday. In his first outing versus Texas on June 20th, the LSU alum was tagged for four runs on nine hits over five innings with one walk and five K’s in a 4-3 loss. In four games (three starts) against the Rangers, Gausman owns a 0-2 record with a 4.58 ERA and a .312 BAA.
After shutting down the Royals to the tune of two runs on six hits over eight innings along with one walk and 12 strikeouts in a 3-2 victory, Hamels owns a perfect 3-0 record with an outstanding 0.84 ERA over his last three outings. The San Diego native also owns a phenomenal 8-1 record with a 1.71 ERA on the road this season.
Hamels will also be making his second start against the O’s on the year after allowing three runs on seven hits over 5.1 innings with two walks and four K’s in a 6-3 win on April 14th in Arlington. In four career starts versus Baltimore, the former Phillie has posted a 1-2 record with a 4.44 ERA.
Yovani Gallardo (3-3, 5.70 ERA) will take on A.J. Griffin (4-1, 3.99 ERA) in the series and home stand finale on Thursday.
Gallardo has been out of form as of late, going 0-2 with a 5.50 ERA over his last three outings. However, the 30-year-old veteran owns a 2-0 record with a respectable 3.33 ERA at Camden Yards this season. Too bad he can’t just pitch at home.
The former Ranger will take on his 2015 club for the second time this season, and will be hoping for a better result than the last time out. On April 16th, Gallardo allowed four runs on nine hits over six innings in an 8-4 loss.
Griffin has been tremendous at the back end of the Rangers rotation ever since earning a roster spot in the spring, and seems to be on the fast track to rediscovering his pre-injury form. In eight road games this season, the 28-year-old Californian remains undefeated at 1-0 while posting a solid 3.96 ERA.
The University of San Diego alum will be making his second career start versus Baltimore after facing them for the first time back on April 27th, 2013, a game in which he allowed four runs on five hits over seven innings with two walks and seven strikeouts in a 7-3 loss.
The O’s will have a tough time in stifling the Rangers potent offensive attack which ranks fifth in the AL in scoring (4.76 runs per game), fourth in batting average (.265) and tied for fourth in homers (139).
Two-time All-Star and former National Ian Desmond (.303, 20 HR, 63 RBI) has been on fire all season long, while second baseman Rougned Odor (.279, 21 HR, 54 RBI) is enjoying a bonafide breakout season and star shortstop Elvis Andrus (.290, 4 HR, 45 RBI) is up to his usual tricks.
That’s not even mentioning future hall-of-famer Adrian Beltre (.279, 16 HR, 65 RBI), slugger Mitch Moreland (.249, 18 HR, 46 RBI) or 21-year-old future megastar outfielder Nomar Mazara (.281, 13 HR, 43 RBI).
Pitchers be warned: these guys are stacked and could inflict heavy damage. Proceed with caution.
But one thing is for sure: any time you get two first-place clubs battling it out in the second half of a season, it’s usually fun to watch. Judging from these two clubs and their frequency to light it up at the plate, expect a ton of fireworks at Camden Yards this week.
Here’s to bouncing back and banking a series in the win column before hitting the road!
