After a brutal opening week of the 2018 campaign, the Orioles will now look to bounce back in a hurry during their upcoming four-game set in the Bronx against the in-form Yankees.
The Orioles (1-5) will look to snap their five-game losing streak tonight as well. They’ll need their offense, which has hit just .185 while scoring barely over two runs a game as a unit during the early goings of the season, to wake up much sooner rather than later. On the other hand, the pitching staff is also in the bottom five in ERA (5.43) through six games, so the blame goes both ways. It’d be much worse without Dylan Bundy, who’s winless through two nearly immaculate starts.
Through the first six games, the Orioles have scored two runs or fewer in four of six and have allowed six runs or more in four of six.
And that’s how you start a season 1-5.
The Yankees (4-2) are off to a solid start to the season and looked scary en route to beating the Rays 18-6 over their home opening series against Tampa Bay. They’ve also outscored their opponents 35-21 over the first six games.
Let’s hope the O’s can turn it around against the odds this weekend.
Andrew Cashner (0-1, 7.20 ERA) will take the mound against Masahiro Tanaka (1-0, 1.50 ERA) in tonight’s series opener.
Cashner allowed five runs (four earned) over five innings in his Orioles debut last weekend against the Twins and will look to impress during his first career start in the Bronx. The Orioles struggling lineup might have some trouble against Tanaka if he turns in a performance like his last, in which he allowed just a single run on three hits over six innings against the Jays.
Kevin Gausman (0-1, 13.50 ERA) will look to recover from his season debut against CC Sabathia (0-0, 1.80 ERA) on Friday.
Gausman labored through four innings during his last start against Minnesota, allowing six runs on three homers. Sabathia on the other hand, allowed just one run over five innings during his season debut against Toronto.
Chris Tillman (0-1, 9.00 ERA) will get the nod against Sonny Gray (0-0, 2.25 ERA) on Saturday.
Tillman worked through a rough day at the office against Houston during his last start, allowing four runs on seven hits and four walks over just four innings. Gray will be looking to turn in a better outing after throwing 89 pitches over four innings of one-run baseball during his season debut in Toronto.
Mike Wright (0-0, 5.40 ERA) will take on Jordan Montgomery (0-0, 1.80 ERA) in the series finale on Sunday.
Wright battled through five innings in his season debut against the Astros, but will be looking for a better result against the Yankees. Montgomery allowed just one run on two hits over five innings during his season debut against the Rays, but took the no-decision in the Yankees eventual win.
Notes:
- Didi Gregorius is the Yankees danger man at the moment. He’s hitting .364 (8-for-22) through six games with four doubles, one triple, two home runs and nine RBI.
- In contrast, Chris Davis (1-for-21), Tim Beckham (4-for-23, 1 HR, 2 RBI) and Trey Mancini (3-for-20, 1 HR, 2 RBI) are a combined 8-for-64 (.125) with two home runs and four RBI.
- Giancarlo Stanton (3) and Aaron Judge (1) have hit four combined homers this season. Get used to hearing things like this.
- Manny Machado (6-for-23), Adam Jones (6-for-24, 2 HR, 5 RBI) and Jonathan Schoop (8-for-26, 1 HR, 1 RBI) have been the only ones seeing the ball in the early goings, so here’s to hoping they rub off on their teammates.
That’s it for now, folks!
Here’s to picking up a few W’s in the Bronx.
