After concluding their six-game road swing by taking one game out of three against the Tampa Bay Rays, the Orioles will look bounce back and hit a good run of from against the red-hot Chicago White Sox in a four-game set at Camden Yards to kick off their upcoming ten game home stand.
The Orioles (12-8) go into the series holding onto the slimmest of margins for first place in the AL East, as the red-hot Boston Red Sox (12-9) are just 0.5 GB from the O’s in second place and are on a four-game winning streak. The Chicago White Sox (16-6) are looking like early-season championship contenders as they head into Baltimore on a six-game winning streak after sweeping Texas and Toronto in order. The White Sox hold a 3.5-game lead on the Kansas City Royals (12-9) for first place in the AL Central.
Despite the O’s offensive struggles during their latest six-game road trip, the Orioles come into the series still ranked 1st in the AL in HR (28) and 2nd in average (.262) and OBP (.322) while scoring 4.25 runs per game (6th in AL).
The White Sox aren’t lighting it up at the plate in the early stages of 2016 with a .238 average and .306 OBP while scoring 4.1 runs per game, but with the star-studded pitching staff that they’ve assembled on the South Side of Chicago, they simply don’t have to put up massive numbers on offense. The White Sox pitching staff is ranked 1st in the AL in ERA (2.24), BAA (.207), OBP (.269) and WHIP (1.03) while ranking 6th in Ks (170) and 3rd in Ks among starters (115).
With the battle of two first place teams about to commence at Camden, let’s take a look at the starters:
Tyler Wilson (1-0, 2.77 ERA) will take the mound against southpaw John Danks (0-3, 6.23 ERA) in the first game of the series on Thursday. The 26-year-old Wilson allowed just two runs on five hits over six innings in his first and only start against the White Sox on May 28th, 2015 in a 3-2 loss in the first game of a double-header. Danks, 31, has had quite a bit of success against the O’s and carries a 6-5 record with a 3.90 ERA and 1.19 WHIP over 13 starts versus Baltimore into Thursday’s match-up. In his last start against the Orioles, Danks turned in a terrific outing and allowed five hits over seven shutout innings with two walks and five Ks in a 1-0 ‘Sox win on July 3rd, 2015.
Mike Wright (1-2, 6.23 ERA) will face off against the White Sox wunderkind Carlos Rodon (1-2, 4.05 ERA) in Friday’s contest. Wright, 26, allowed three runs on six hits over five innings with zero walks and two Ks in his first and only start versus the White Sox on May 28th, 2015, in the second game of the double-header. 23-year-old southpaw Rodon has appeared in two games versus Baltimore, but in his only start against the O’s on July 5th, 2015, the Miami native allowed three earned runs on four hits over five innings with four walks and seven Ks in a decisive 9-1 Orioles win.
Kevin Gausman (0-1, 1.80 ERA) is slated to go against Mat Latos (4-0, 0.74 ERA) on Saturday. Gausman, 25, has not yet started versus the White Sox in his young career but has faced them twice out of the bullpen, allowing zero runs over two innings with three Ks. The 28-year-old Latos however was tagged in his only start versus the O’s on September 2nd, 2014, allowing five runs on ten hits over five innings in a 5-4 O’s victory while a member of the Cincinnati Reds. The Virginia native has been phenomenal on the year for the White Sox, and comes into his next start in 2nd in the AL in wins (4), ERA (0.74), BAA (.151) and 3rd in WHIP (0.82).
Ubaldo Jimenez (1-2, 3.91 ERA) will get the nod in the series finale versus White Sox superstar and ace, Chris Sale (5-0, 1.66 ERA). Jimenez has posted solid numbers against Chicago in his career, going 3-4 with a 4.17 ERA and 1.48 WHIP over 12 starts. The former All-Star also dominated the White Sox in 2015, going 1-1 with a ridiculous 0.64 ERA and 0.85 WHIP over two starts with 10 Ks in 14 IP. Sale, 27, has posted a 1-2 record with a 3.74 ERA and 1.58 WHIP over ten games and four starts versus Baltimore, but completely destroyed them in his last start, allowing just four hits over 7.2 shutout innings with a remarkable 12 Ks in a 3-2 White Sox win on May 28th, 2015.
The mega-star southpaw is looking like the early-season AL CY Young award favorite so far this season, as Sale ranks 1st in the AL in wins (5), WHIP (0.68) and IP (38.0) while coming in 4th in BAA (.159), 5th in ERA (1.66) and 6th in Ks (32).
Over the next four games, the two best bullpens in the AL will go head-to-head as the White Sox ‘pen comes into Baltimore ranked 1st in the AL in ERA (1.32), OBP (.248) and WHIP (0.88) while ranking 2nd in BAA (.181). The Orioles relievers rank 2nd in ERA (1.80), 3rd in BAA (.201), 6th in OBP (.283) and 7th in WHIP (1.10).
Just like the O’s have the shutdown trio of Zach Britton, Darren O’Day and Brad Brach, the ‘Sox have closer David Robertson ( 0.96 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, eight saves), former Oriole Matt Albers (0.00 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, six holds) and Nate Jones (0.93 ERA, 0.52 WHIP, seven holds) all in stellar form as well.
Despite their recent struggles, the O’s are still led by Manny Machado (.325, 8 2B, 6 HR, 11 RBI), Mark Trumbo (.359, 3 2B, 5 HR, 17 RBI), Joey Rickard (.286, 5 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI) and Chris Davis (.205, 6 HR, 13 RBI) on offense in the early goings of 2016.
The O’s hitters’ track record versus Chicago isn’t glamorous, but there might be one or two guys that have a history of coming up big against the ‘Sox. Chris Davis has a .286 average with nine doubles, eight homers and 25 RBI versus Chicago, while Adam Jones owns a .256 average with 11 2B, 11 HR and 27 RBI over 60 games against the White Sox, and J.J Hardy has posted a .240 average with eight doubles, six homers and 21 RBI over 47 games.
The 2016 White Sox offense has been led by Todd Frazier (.235, 3 2B, 5 HR, 13 RBI), Adam Eaton (.298, 4 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI), Jose Abreu (.190, 3 HR, 10 RBI) and longtime O’s Killers Melky Cabrera (.312, 2 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI) and Brett Lawrie (.266, 6 2B, 1 HR, 7 RBI). It’s funny how just the mentioning of Melky Cabrera just made me want to hurl all over my keyboard.
In 101 career games versus the O’s, the 31-year-old Cabrera has posted a .292 average with 51 runs, 28 doubles, six home runs and 50 RBI. The former All-Star has recorded the second-most hits (103), runs, doubles, and RBI that he’s racked up against a single club in his career.
Lawrie,26, has posted a .248 average with the most home runs (11) and RBI (32) he’s recorded versus a single club in MLB against the Orioles in 54 games, and while catcher Dioner Navarro (.186 avg, 2 HR, 8 RBI) isn’t in the best form heading into the four-game series, watch out for him as well. The 32-year-old Venezuelan is a career .282 hitter versus Baltimore with 17 doubles, three homers and 35 RBI in 76 games. On top of that, the hits (73), doubles, runs (30) and RBI are the most he’s posted versus a single opponent.
Even though the White Sox boast the better record on the year coming into the series, the O’s have an impressive 18-9 advantage over their visitors since 2012, and the White Sox haven’t topped the Orioles in a season series since 2008. Here’s to the O’s continuing that trend during the latter part of this week and over the weekend, but man, it’s going to be a tough task with the White Sox golden rotation and bullpen in divine form heading into town.
Will the O’s be up to the challenge? Only time will tell.
Until next time, O’s fans!
