After splitting a four-game set versus Tampa Bay to open their 11-game home stand, the Orioles will now look forward to a monumental clash versus the Boston Red Sox to stay alive in the chase for the AL East title.
With just 13 games remaining on the schedule, a series split will bring the Orioles one more leap closer to reaching the postseason, but a series loss could have devastating effects. While the division title isn’t completely out of the equation just yet, the mission should be to get into the dance of what is October baseball by any means necessary. With a one game lead over Toronto for the first wild card spot and a three-game advantage over contenders Houston and Seattle, the O’s are on course to reach their destination. It’s all up to finishing the job at this point.
Fasten your seatbelts, folks. The roller coaster just gets more topsy-turvy from here on out…
After reeling off a 10-6 run since the start of September, the Orioles (82-67) have leapfrogged the Blue Jays for second place in the division and trail the first place Red Sox by three games. Taking two or more versus Boston is almost required to still have a shot at retaking the AL East crown.
As we all know, nothing against Boston comes easily. Even though the Orioles own a sparkling 47-27 record at Camden Yards this season, they’ve won just two of six versus the Sox in the confines of OPACY on the year…here’s to evening that out this week.
The first place Red Sox (85-64) have been on a warpath from months now, as they’ve posted an 11-5 record in the month of September, a stellar 28-18 mark since August 1st and a ridiculous 43-28 clip since July 1st. As a result, Boston comes into Birdland owning the third-best record in the American League.
One thing is certain: this battle between first and second is going to be one of the ”Can’t Miss” variety. Hopefully for our sake, the crowd will be filled with more Orange than Red…
Dylan Bundy (9-5, 3.88 ERA) will take on Red Sox ace Rick Porcello (20-4, 3.12 ERA) in the series opener on Monday.
While Bundy hasn’t been at his best as of late with a 4.91 ERA over his last three outings, he’s always a bulldog on the mound at Camden Yards. The Orioles standout 23-year-old rookie owns a 4-2 record and a superb 2.72 ERA at home this season. On the other hand, Bundy will be looking to improve upon his 1-1 record and 5.74 ERA over six career games (two starts) versus Boston.
Porcello, 27, still stands alone as MLB’s only 20-game winner to date and should find himself as one of the odds-on favorites for the Cy Young Award this season. The former Tiger has posted a 2-1 record and a stellar 2.05 ERA over his last three starts and a 9-2 record along with a sparkling 2.44 ERA over the second half of the campaign. Over 14 career starts versus Baltimore, the Jersey native owns a 3-8 record and a 5.19 ERA.
The Orioles’ second half ace Kevin Gausman (8-10, 3.43 ERA) will look to repeat his last outing versus the Sox against Eduardo Rodriguez (2-7, 4.80 ERA) on Tuesday.
Gausman was absolutely sensational en route to shutting out the potent Red Sox offense to the tune of just four hits over eight shutout innings in the Orioles 1-0 win last Wednesday. Thanks to his latest gem, the 25-year-old now owns a sparkling 5-1 record and 1.85 ERA over his last seven starts. The LSU alum also carries a 2-0 record and a ridiculous 1.35 ERA over his last three starts.
Gausman also boasts an outstanding 6-1 record and 2.27 ERA at Camden Yards this season. In 13 games (eight starts) against the Sox, he owns a 3-3 record and 4.01 ERA.
Rodriguez, 23, has endured an up-and-down sophomore season in Boston filled with injuries and inconsistency, but the sky is still the limit for the promising Venezuelan southpaw. Over six career starts versus his former club, Rodriguez has posted a 1-3 mark along with a 4.30 ERA.
While this is subject to change, Yovani Gallardo (5-7, 5.69 ERA) remains in line to make his next start versus Clay Buchholz (7-10, 5.20 ERA) on Wednesday.
[Update: Ubaldo Jimenez has been named Wednesday’s starter]
Gallardo has been out of form for quite a while now, and owns a 1-2 record with a 6.28 ERA over his last three outings and a 2-5 record and 5.90 ERA over his past eight starts. In six career contests against Boston, the former Brewers All-Star owns a 2-2 mark and a 5.28 ERA.
Buchholz will carry a 5-3 record and a 4.67 ERA on the road into his 20th career start versus Baltimore. In 22 games (19 starts) against the Birds, the 32-year-old Texan has registered a 10-7 record and a 3.90 ERA. Buchholz hasn’t won more against anyone else in his career.
Chris Tillman (16-6, 3.72 ERA) is set to take the mound against Red Sox ace David Price (16-8, 3.91 ERA) in the series finale on Thursday.
Tillman hasn’t skipped a beat since his return from the DL and has registered a 1-1 record and a 3.09 ERA over his first two starts back with the club. In 19 career outings versus the Sox, the Orioles All-Star owns a sparkling 10-3 record and 2.74 ERA.
David Price has been a dominant driving force in Boston’s second half surge and owns an immaculate 7-0 record and a stellar 2.73 ERA over his last eight contests. The five-time All-Star also boasts a 7-5 record and a rock-solid 3.39 ERA away from Fenway Park.
Price, 31, will carry an impressive 10-5 record and 2.83 ERA over 23 career starts versus Baltimore into his next start against the Birds.
Along with facing a quartet of standouts on the mound, the Orioles will also be forced to deal with the task of silencing the best offense in the majors. Led by the superstar trio of David Ortiz (.317, 34 HR, 116 RBI), Dustin Pedroia (.324, 13 HR, 66 RBI) and Hanley Ramirez (.294, 28 HR, 106 RBI) along with a trio of future superstars consisting of Mookie Betts (.314, 30 HR, 106 RBI), Xander Bogaerts (.298, 20 HR, 88 RBI) and Jackie Bradley Jr. (.273, 25 HR, 86 RBI), this Boston squad packs a punch and is a force to be reckoned with. On the other hand, we all know our boys can mash with the best of them. It should be a blast to watch these two offenses go head-to-head for the (final?) time this season. Cue the fireworks, please.
With 13 games left to go and the playoffs in sight, here’s to taking care of business at the Yard!
