After getting swept out of Fenway, the Orioles will now look to recover and pick up a few much-needed wins against a slumping Tigers squad over the next three games in Detroit.
The Orioles (5-11) have been battling through rough seas since the start of the season and find themselves six games below .500 as a result. And just when you thought they were waking up in the Bronx a week ago, they have now dropped five of their last six while getting outscored 32-14 in the process.
The bats have been nearly non-existent in the early goings, and the Orioles have now scored two runs or fewer in seven of their sixteen contests so far this season. Something’s got to give sooner or later, right?
The Tigers (4-9) are still in the midst of a five-game losing streak after having three straight games against the Yankees postponed over the weekend. They can also point to their slumping lineup as the catalyst behind their lowly start after getting outscored 26-11 over their current losing skid.
Probables
Andrew Cashner (1-1, 2.50 ERA) will stay in turn and face Francisco Liriano (1-1, 2.13 ERA) in tonight’s series opener.
Cashner was supposed to take the mound on Monday in Boston, but mother nature had other plans. He’ll look to stay in form after allowing just four hits over seven shutout innings during his last outing versus Toronto.
Liriano ended up on the wrong end of a pitchers’ duel during his last start versus Cleveland and took the loss despite allowing just two runs on three hits over six innings. The veteran hurler has been in great form for the Tigers to start the season, as he owns an impressive 0.95 WHIP over his first 12 2/3 innings while holding opposing hitters to a .167 batting average.
Kevin Gausman (1-1, 6.60 ERA) will take on Matthew Boyd (0-1, 1.38 ERA) in Wednesday’s match-up (note: it’s already been moved to a 1:10 PM start).
Gausman earned his first win of the season after holding the Jays to three runs over six innings while notching seven strikeouts during his last outing, and will be looking for a second straight quality start.
Like Dylan Bundy, Boyd has been phenomenal for the Tigers over his first two starts of the campaign but doesn’t have a win to show for it. He took a no-decision in his last start against the Indians despite holding them to a single run on three hits over seven innings. Over his first 13 innings this season, the southpaw has posted an excellent 0.62 WHIP while holding hitters to a .159 batting average.
Alex Cobb (0-1, 17.18 ERA) will presumably take the mound against Jordan Zimmerman (0-0, 8.18 ERA) in the series finale on Thursday.
Cobb was tagged for seven earned runs on ten hits over just 3 2/3 innings during his Orioles debut at Fenway, and will be looking to shake it off against a slumping Tigers offense.
Zimmerman has had a literal nightmare start to the 2018 campaign. After giving up ten earned runs over his first 10 1/3 innings, he then took a line drive to the face in the first inning during his last start against Cleveland. Thankfully, he avoided serious injury and won’t face any time on the DL.
Notes
– Manny Machado remains the only hitter in top form for the Orioles. The star shortstop is now hitting .308 with six runs, five doubles, three homers, nine RBI and a .392 OBP
– Trey Mancini, however, seems to be heating up. He’s now recorded multi-hit contests in five of his last ten games and currently owns a four-game hitting streak.
– Nick Castellanos has yet to hit a home run this season, but still owns a .302 average along with two doubles, two triples, and five RBI.
– Miguel Cabrera leads the Tigers in RBI (9) despite having hit just one home run over his first twelve games on the year. He’s also hitting an uncharacteristic .245 at the plate.
That’s it for now, folks!
Here’s to a few in the win column.
