After getting blanked in the win column during their stay in the Motor City, the Orioles hope to turn things around over a four-game set against the Cleveland Indians beginning Friday at Camden Yards.
The Orioles (5-14) will also be looking to snap a six-game losing streak tonight after back-to-back dismal series on the road. They’ve now dropped eight of their last nine contests and own an AL-worst -43 run differential through the first 19 games of the season.
Here’s to hoping that the upcoming ten-game homestand will work it’s magic on a staggering Orioles
squad going forward.
The Indians (9-7) have been hitting their stride lately, and after splitting the two-game classic with the
Twins at the historic Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, they’ll try to keep the ball rolling
during their return to the continental United States. They’ve also won seven of their last 10 after starting
the season with two wins in their first six.
Dylan Bundy (0-2, 1.40 ERA) will continue his search for win number one tonight against Trevor Bauer
(1-1, 2.25 ERA).
Bundy took the loss during his last start at Fenway despite allowing just one earned run over 5 2/3
innings. The Orioles rising ace has been nothing short of spectacular so far this season and has allowed
just four earned runs over 25 2/3 innings while holding hitters to a .219 batting average. Somehow, he
remains without a win through four excellent starts.
Bauer held the Tigers to just two runs on seven hits over seven innings en route to his first win of the
season during his last start, and will look to pick up his third straight quality start tonight. He’s allowed
just three runs on ten hits over 15 innings of work during his last two starts while racking up 14
strikeouts.
Chris Tillman (0-3, 11.91 ERA) will take on Mike Clevinger (1-0, 2.70 ERA) in Saturday’s contest.
Tillman was tagged for six runs on seven hits over just two innings against the Red Sox during his latest
outing, and will be looking to set things right during his fourth start of the season.
Clevinger will also be looking to shake off a rough outing after giving up four runs over just four innings
against the Jays last week. However, the Florida native allowed just a single earned run over a combined
10 2/3 innings during his first two starts of the season.
Kevin Gausman (1-1, 5.57 ERA) will take the mound against star ace Corey Kluber (2-1, 1.52 ERA) on
Sunday. Gausman turned in a solid outing in Detroit and allowed just two runs over six innings, and has been
trending upwards since his rough season debut. He’s allowed seven runs over his last 17 innings of work
while recording 14 strikeouts.
Kluber has been at his Cy Young-caliber best in the early stages this season and has held opposing
hitters to a .155 batting average while posting an excellent 0.74 WHIP over his first four starts. After
holding the Twins to a single run over 6 2/3 innings in San Juan, the Tribes’ ace has now allowed just
one run over his last 14 2/3 innings. Long story short, the Klubot is dealing at the moment.
The Orioles haven’t yet named a starter to take on Carlos Carrasco (3-0, 2.60 ERA) in the series finale
on Monday.
Most likely, Andrew Cashner (1-2, 3.00 ERA) will get the nod. He took the loss in his last start in Detroit
after giving up three runs over six innings in a 4-2 final score.
Carrasco has been in phenomenal form this season for the Tribe, and will be looking to notch his fourth
straight quality start. After blanking the Twins over seven innings during his last start in Puerto Rico, he’s
now allowed just one run over his last 16 innings of work and just three over his last 22 innings pitched.
Carrasco also owns a brilliant 0.80 WHIP over his first four starts of 2018.
Notes:
– Manny Machado continues to tear the cover off the baseball. On top of owning a .338 average with
seven doubles, five homers and 14 RBI, the Orioles star shortstop has gone 11-for-29 (.379) with five
doubles, two home runs and eight RBI over the course of his current seven-game hitting streak.
– Trey Mancini has also low-key notched a seven-game hitting streak of his own. During that span, he’s
gone 10-for-30 (.333) at the plate with three doubles, one home run and one RBI.
– Adam Jones had a big showing in Detroit and finished the series 5-for-12 at the dish with three doubles
and four RBI. Here’s to a hot streak from the captain.
That’s it for now, folks!
Here’s to a few in the win column.
