Subscribe to our newsletter
Search
Close this search box.

Series Preview: Orioles (82-71) vs. Diamondbacks (64-88)

sunset view of oriole park at camden yards
Share
Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Reading Time: 3 minutes

With their playoff aspirations hanging in the balance after a brutal and devastating series versus the Red Sox, the Orioles must now erase the memory of the last four games in order to force their way back into the playoff picture.

In what could be the final home games of the season, the Orioles should have their sights set on sweeping the lowly Arizona Diamondbacks. Anything less than two wins over the weekend could prove to be fatal for the Orioles and their 2016 campaign.

The Orioles (82-71) stand at an insurmountable seven games off the pace of the first place Bo’Sox, while they also trail the Detroit Tigers by a half a game for the second and final wild card spot in the American League. While the O’s still have nine games left to reclaim their spot in the postseason, one must wonder if this squad simply peaked too early.

On the contrary to what my brain tells me, my heart tells me that these goonies Orioles will bounce back like they’ve done all season. Only time will tell.

The Diamondbacks (64-88) find themselves in the cellar of the NL West after an underwhelming campaign and 22 games behind the LA Dodgers in first. However, despite owning the joint fourth-worst record in the majors, the D’backs have posted a respectable 34-40 record away from Chase Field and have registered a semi-solid 21-26 mark since the beginning of August. Don’t expect a cakewalk.

Yovani Gallardo (5-8, 5.77 ERA) will get the nod in the series opener against Shelby Miller (2-12, 6.90 ERA).

Gallardo hasn’t been at his best this season and especially of late, going 2-5 with a 5.90 ERA over his last eight outings.

The silver lining for the O’s is the fact that the former Brewer used to own the D’Backs and owns a sparkling 7-2 record and 2.32 ERA against them over 12 career starts.

The 2016 campaign has been one to quickly forget for Shelby Miller. After giving up a haul to bring him in from Atlanta in the offseason, the D’Backs almost unloaded him at the deadline because of his horrid performances. Since being recalled from AAA Reno on August 31st, things have not improved for the 26-year-old former All-Star as he owns a 0-2 record with a 7.36 ERA over his last three starts.

Friday’s contest will mark the former Cardinal’s first career start versus Baltimore.

Wade Miley (8-13, 5.65 ERA) will take the mound versus Robbie Ray (8-13, 4.66 ERA) in the middle game of the series on Saturday.

Miley will be making his first start against his longest-tenured former club on Saturday after spending four seasons as a member of the Diamondbacks (2011-2014) while also making his one and only All-Star game in a D’Backs uniform in 2012.

Since coming to Baltimore, Miley has been far from All-Star caliber, going 1-5 with a 7.55 ERA over nine starts.

Ray, 24, has struggled to the tune of a 7.29 ERA this month after lighting it up in August with a 2-2 record and a 2.70 ERA over five starts. Saturday’s contest will also mark the southpaw’s first career start versus Baltimore.

Dylan Bundy (9-6, 4.13 ERA) will go up against highly-touted rookie Braden Shipley (4-4, 5.49 ERA) in the series finale on Sunday.

Bundy, who may just be wearing down at the end of his breakthrough campaign, owns a 3-3 record and a dismal 6.62 ERA over his last seven starts along with an 8.36 ERA over his last three outings. Sunday will mark his first career start versus Arizona.

Shipley, 24, was the D’Backs first round pick in 2013 out of the University of Nevada and made his highly anticipated debut on July 25th. The Oregon native posted a solid 1-2 mark along with a 4.75 ERA in August before getting tagged to the tune of a 7.27 ERA in the month of September. The cousin of former Texas Longhorn and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jordan Shipley will make his first career start versus Baltimore on Sunday.

Despite their record, the Diamondbacks boast a potent offense which ranks fifth in the NL in scoring and features star second baseman Jean Segura (.317, 17 HR, 59 RBI, 30 SB), four-time All-Star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (.298, 23 HR, 90 RBI), Seattle native and University of Washington alum Jake Lamb (.249, 28 HR, 88 RBI), the highly touted Brandon Drury (.277, 15 HR, 48 RBI) and Cuban star Yasmany Tomas (.272, 29 HR, 75 RBI).

Look out; these guys can mash with the best of them.

The last time these two clubs met, the D’Backs swept the Orioles over a three-game set at Chase Field. The last time the two clubs met at Camden Yards was back in 2007…which also resulted in a three-game sweep to Arizona. Here’s to hoping that this trend doesn’t continue, because the Orioles season depends on it.

Here’s to getting back on the winning track, and the playoff track, during the last regular season series at Camden Yards this year.

One more time, let’s go out to the Yard and back these Birds!

Here’s to hoping that it won’t be the final time….

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Get notified of the Latest Sport News Update from Our Blog
Join our newsletter and get 20% discount
Promotion nulla vitae elit libero a pharetra augue