After suffering through a rough weekend in Kansas City, the Orioles will look to bounce back quickly over a three-game set in the Motor City.
The Orioles (22-14) will also be looking to snap a season-high four-game losing streak tonight in the series opener. To make matters worse, they have gone just 3-8 over their last eleven games away from Camden Yards.
The good news is that the Orioles have gone 17-15 versus Detroit since the start of the 2012 season, and they’ve posted a solid 9-6 clip at Comerica Park during that span as well.
The Tigers (18-18) find themselves in third place in the AL Central and two games off the pace of the division-leading Twins as we enter the second half of May. Detroit has been steady all season long so far, but will be aiming to kick it up a notch upon returning home after a nine-game road trip.
Their offense has done their part by owning the sixth-best offense in the AL (4.7 runs per game), but their bullpen (5.60 ERA) is the worst in the majors and has immensely hindered the Tigers 2017 efforts in the early goings this season.
Will the Orioles recover from their slip-up in Kansas City before returning home, or will the hosts send the O’s home on an even lower note? Let’s hope for the former.
Let’s take a look at the starters:
Game One
Wade Miley (1-1, 2.45 ERA) will take on southpaw Matt Boyd (2-3, 3.89 ERA) in the series opener tonight.
Miley has posted a 3.18 ERA over two starts in May after recording a stellar 2.32 ERA over five starts in April. Despite notching just a single win to date, Miley has been quietly incredible this season, and the O’s are 4-3 on the year when the southpaw takes the hill.
Boyd is quickly becoming a staple in the Tigers rotation. The southpaw is enjoying a breakout campaign in which he’s gone six-plus innings in four of his seven starts and has allowed three runs or fewer in six of his seven outings. In fact, after allowing five runs over 2 1/3 innings in his 2017 debut, he’s posted a superb 2.91 ERA over his last six starts.
Game Two
Ubaldo Jimenez (1-1, 6.15 ERA) will get the nod versus Tigers ace Michael Fulmer (4-1, 2.54 ERA) on Wednesday.
Jimenez was impressive upon his return to the rotation versus the Nationals, and after allowing just four runs over 10 2/3 innings to date in the month of May, the O’s veteran hurler has lowered his ERA from 7.43 to 6.15.
Fulmer has been a beast for the Tigers this season, having allowed three runs or fewer in all seven of his starts on the year while also going six-plus innings in all seven. He’s posted a perfect 3-0 record and a stellar 2.25 ERA over his last four outings, while he also owns a 2-0 record and a ridiculous 1.20 ERA over his first two starts of May.
Game Three
Orioles ace Dylan Bundy (5-1, 2.26 ERA) will take the mound against Jordan Zimmermann (3-2, 6.28 ERA) in the series finale on Thursday.
Bundy has gone 2-0 with a solid 3.32 ERA in three starts this month after going 3-1 with an incredible 1.65 ERA in April. Still, Bundy has been the driving force in the Orioles rotation all season long, and he’s posted a clean 4-0 record and an impressive 2.11 ERA over his last six outings.
Zimmermann on the other hand, will be looking to hit the erase button on his first six weeks of the season. He’s allowed four runs or more in five of his seven starts to date. After posting a dreadful 6.18 ERA in the month of April, Zimmermann has recorded an even higher 6.55 ERA over his first two starts in May. If the Tigers have any hope of reaching October, they’ll need the two-time All-Star to live up to his contract.
Notes
– Manny Machado (1-for-6), Chris Davis (0-for-5), and Mark Trumbo (0-for-4) are a combined 1-for-15 versus Fulmer. Adam Jones (2-for-6) and Jonathan Schoop (2-for-5, 1 HR, 4 RBI) have had some success facing the Tigers rising star.
– Jones (.211, 2 HR, 3 RBI) and J.J. Hardy (4-for-16) have faced Zimmermann the most on the team, but Davis (4-for-7, 2 HR, 3 RBI) has “crushed” the former National in the past. Look for him to have a big day on Thursday.
– Zimmermann won’t be looking forward to facing the Orioles again. He’s gone 2-4 with a 5.82 ERA over seven outings versus Baltimore.
– Boyd will be making his first career start against the Orioles powerful line-up on Tuesday. Quick factoid: Boyd (along with Daniel Norris) was dealt by the Blue Jays to Detroit for David Price at the deadline back in 2015. Talk about an expensive rental.
– Over their last ten games, Davis (11-for-33, 3 HR, 5 RBI) and Trumbo (13-for-41, 2 HR, 5 RBI) have combined to hit .324 with five home runs and ten RBI. It looks like the bash brothers are back.
That’s it for now, Orioles fans! Enjoy the series!
