After getting swept by the Los Angeles Angels, the Orioles will look to salvage something from a West Coast trip in their upcoming three-game series in Oakland.
The Orioles (8-23) must be wondering when the tide will turn for them. A brutal start to the season has left them in the cellar of the American League East. They’ve now won just three contests over their last 18 games, and their woes are magnified away from Camden Yards. The O’s have lost nine straight games on the road and have been swept in each of their last three series away from Camden Yards.
The Athletics (15-16) have cooled down a bit over the past week and dropped four of their last five contests. Prior to their current mini-slump, they reeled off nine wins in an 11-game span and trail the division-leading Angels by four games.
Andrew Cashner (1-4, 4.76 ERA) will take on Daniel Mengden (2-3, 4.68 ERA) in tonight’s series opener. Cashner was tagged for seven runs (six earned) over just four innings during his last start against Detroit. He will be looking to notch his first victory since April 5. Over his last three outings, the native Texan has gone 0-3 with a 7.31 ERA.
Mengden is looking to bounce back from his rough outing against Houston when he allowed five runs (four earned) over just 2 1/3 innings. Prior to those struggles, Mengden was in excellent form and had allowed just two runs over a 14 1/3 inning span during his previous two starts.
Kevin Gausman (2-2, 4.15 ERA) will look to continue his recent surge against Trevor Cahill (1-1, 3.00 ERA) on Saturday. Gausman earned the win after holding the Tigers to a single run over 5 2/3 innings during his last start.
Over his last three starts, Gausman has allowed just five runs over 19 2/3 innings. He’s also allowed two runs or less in four of his last five contests.
Cahill took the loss during his last start after allowing three runs over six innings against Houston. However, he has been rock solid for the A’s in the early part of this season. Cahill has allowed three runs or less in each of his three outings so far and has allowed just six runs over his first 18 innings of 2018.
Alex Cobb (0-3, 9.68 ERA) will take the mound against Andrew Triggs (2-1, 5.20 ERA) in the series finale on Sunday.
Cobb turned in his best outing as an Oriole after allowing just two runs over six innings against the Angels, but took the no-decision in the Orioles eventual 3-2 loss. Prior to that, Cobb had allowed 17 runs over 11 2/3 innings.
Triggs was hit hard during his last start against the Mariners and allowed four runs over just 4 2/3 innings. However, Triggs has been a lot better than his stats suggest this season. Aside from two rough outings, he’s allowed two runs or less in four of his six starts on the year.
Notes
— After going 4-for- 12 with two doubles and five RBI in Los Angeles, Manny Machado remains in red-hot form for the Orioles. He’s recorded multi-hit games in six of his last ten contests and has notched five multi-RBI games over the same span. On the year, Machado is hitting an incredible .358 at the plate with nine home runs and 27 RBI.
— Like Machado, Jed Lowrie has been the shining star in Oakland this season. The A’s star second baseman is hitting .346 with eight doubles, eight home runs and 30 RBI on the year. And it’s only May 4 .
— Athletics super utility man Mark Canha is also in fine form at the moment. He’s gone 11-for- 36 at the plate with three homers and six RBI over his last 10 games while recording a base hit eight times over that stretch.
That’s all for now, folks!
Here’s to coming home on a high note.
