After concluding an eleven-game road swing by dropping two of three to the Rays over the weekend, the Orioles are set to return home and host the Nationals for a three-game set.
The Orioles (17-36) have dug themselves into a massive hole through the first two months of the season. After going 8-20 through April, they’ve gone just 9-16 in the month of May. An upcoming seven-game home stand against the in-form Nationals and Yankees is up next on the schedule.
The Nationals (29-22) may have stumbled out of the starting blocks in April, but have wasted no time in finding their feet this month. Fresh off of a three-game sweep of the Marlins in South Beach, the Nats’ record in May stands at an impressive 16-6.
Alex Cobb (1-6, 7.32 ERA) will take on Gio Gonzalez (5-2, 2.38 ERA) in today’s Memorial Day match-up.
Cobb was tagged to the tune of six runs on eight hits over 3 2/3 innings during his last start in Chicago, but had posted quality starts in three of the four starts prior to his most recent outing. He owns a 1-3 record and a 4.88 ERA through five starts in May.
Gonzalez has been in excellent form for the Nats this season, and picked up his fifth win on the year after holding the Padres to two runs on just two hits over seven innings during his last start. Through four starts in May, Gonzalez has gone 2-0 with a sparkling 1.96 ERA.
Dylan Bundy (3-6, 4.45 ERA) will go up against Jeremy Hellickson (1-0, 2.13 ERA) on Tuesday.
Bundy was phenomenal during his last start against the White Sox and allowed three runs on two hits over nine innings while racking up a whopping fourteen strikeouts in the process. Over his last three starts, Bundy seems to have snapped back into form and has gone 2-1 with a stellar 2.86 ERA during that span.
Hellickson has had a tremendous start to his tenure in DC to say the least. After holding the Padres to a single run over 5 1/3 innings during his last start, Hellickson now owns a magnificent 0.79 ERA and a 0.66 WHIP through 22 2/3 innings pitched this month over four starts.
David Hess (2-1, 4.15 ERA) will face Max Scherzer (8-1, 2.13 ERA) in Wedneday’s series finale.
Hess was impressive en route to holding the Rays to just four hits over 6 2/3 shutout innings during his latest outing, and will be looking to keep the ball rolling against a dangerous Nationals line-up. He’s posted quality starts in two of his first three career contests since being called up on May 12th.
Simply put, Scherzer is at it again this season. Despite allowing four runs over six innings during his last start in Miami, he picked up the win and now owns a 3-0 record and a stellar 2.76 ERA through five starts in May. On the year, Scherzer has allowed two runs or less in ten of his eleven starts, five hits or less in nine of eleven and has recorded ten-plus strikeouts on seven different occasions.
Notes
– Adam Jones remains in red-hot form coming into the week. He’s hitting .379 (11-for-29) with five runs, two homers and two RBI over his last seven contests. He’s also hitting .316 with four doubles, five home runs and ten RBI on the month.
– Jonathan Schoop is starting to heat up as we approach June. Over his last seven games, the Orioles star second baseman is hitting .310 with five runs, one homer and one RBI. He’s also recorded hits in six of seven contests during that span.
– Trea Turner comes into town on a hot streak. Over his last seven ballgames, the Nationals dynamo is hitting .313 (10-for-32) with one homer and seven RBI.
– Mark Reynolds is the Nationals danger man at the moment. Over ten games in May, the former Orioles slugger is hitting a ridiculous .448 (13-for-29) with eight runs, five home runs and seven RBI.
That’s it for now, folks!
Enjoy the beltway series.
