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The Orioles are 22-42 in a tough division. They've played the second toughest schedule in baseball. I kind of feel sorry for their fans being stuck in the A.L. East with the big spending Yankees and Red Sox and the very well run Rays and Blue Jays. The Orioles are not as bad as their record as they demonstrated last week against the Indians, taking 2 of 3 at Camden and lighting up the Indians' staff for 25 runs.
But this time the games are in Cleveland and the Orioles have lost 15 straight on the road. They're due for a win and they'll get four chances this week against Civale and the three dwarfs.
The O's started out respectably with a 13-14 record but have since gone 9-28 as the roof caves in. They rank 11th runs per game and on-base percentage and 8th in slugging percentage. They have scored 145 runs at home against 113 on the road in an equal number of games.
The staff ERA in June is 5.69.
However, they do have a guy named Cedric Mullins leading off, and his line is .321/.914 on the season. In June he's hitting .472 and of course he went 9-for-12 against the Indians with three home runs two weekends ago in Camden. I trust the Indians' pitchers won't try to sneak anymore inside fastballs past him. The guy weighs 175 - I'd pitch him down and away and make him hit it to center or left. Just try to keep him in the park and hope he hits it at somebody.
Ryan Mountcastle went 6-for-12 in that series. He's hitting .211 against righties versus .313 agianst lefties with a 260 point differential in OPS. I'm pretty sure he'll see nothing but RHP's these next four games. He's also hitting .153 on the road against .314 at home with a 450 point OPS differential. IOW, he's been awful against RHP's on the road, so hopefully the Indians can keep him quiet this week.
Trey Mancini is their other big bat at .272/.836. The Indians held him to 2 singles in 15 at-bats in Baltimore so they should stick with whatever was working before. His batting average is 70 points lower on the road and 60 points lower against RHP's.
If the Tribe can keep Mullins from hitting home runs and neutralize the two right-handed power bats they have a decent chance to limit the Orioles' scoring. Since the Cleveland series the O's have scored 11 runs in five games.
Tonight J.C. Mejia gets a chance to redeem himself after getting chased in the first inning of his last start. The O's have not announced a starter AFAIK - maybe it will be a bullpen game. It would be great to deplete their bullpen in game one of a four-game series. Make six guys all throw a lot of pitches.
Tomorrow Quantrill goes against Matt Harvey, 3-7, 7.41. Yep, a guy with a 7.41 ERA is starting. Harvey's numbers are not pretty; 74 hits in 54 innings and a 7.90 ERA on the road. In his last seven starts he has not gone more than four innings. I'm not sure if he's considered a starter or an opener with those numbers. In five of his last six starts he's allowed five runs or more. It's kind of sad to see a former All-Star who was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated going out there after numerous injuries and getting beat on start after start. But I won't mind seeing the Indians score five runs in four innings if that's what happens.
As for Quantrill, opposing batters are hitting a robust .375/.942 off him when he starts. As a reliever it's .245/.669. Maybe they should have Maton pitch the first inning or two and then bring Cal in. Hitters are 4-for-10 with 5 RBIs the second time they face him in a game. So far he's only been good for an inning or two. One good thing; his home ERA is 1.93 against 4.12 on the road.
On Wednesday it's Civale against lefty Keegin Akin, who shut out the Tribe on 3 hits over 5 innings in the first series. He's made only three starts this year. Batters are hitting .196 the first time they face him and .342 the second time, so maybe now that the Indians have seen him they'll have more success this time around. All three of the home runs he's allowed have come on the road.
Thursday's matinee will feature a yet to be named Indians pitcher against Jorge Lopez, 2-7, 5.64. Lopez has 13 starts and 2 wins, so that says a lot. The Indians got three runs in five innings off him in the first series. He's averaging 4.6 innings per start so hopefully by Thursday the O's bullpen will be so depleted that they'll be bringing in some pretty fried relievers after Lopez puts in his 4-5 innings. This looks like a bullpen game for the Indians since McKenzie will be in Columbus for at least 10 days. Hentges pitched two impressive innings his last appearance - maybe he'll get the start.
But this time the games are in Cleveland and the Orioles have lost 15 straight on the road. They're due for a win and they'll get four chances this week against Civale and the three dwarfs.
The O's started out respectably with a 13-14 record but have since gone 9-28 as the roof caves in. They rank 11th runs per game and on-base percentage and 8th in slugging percentage. They have scored 145 runs at home against 113 on the road in an equal number of games.
The staff ERA in June is 5.69.
However, they do have a guy named Cedric Mullins leading off, and his line is .321/.914 on the season. In June he's hitting .472 and of course he went 9-for-12 against the Indians with three home runs two weekends ago in Camden. I trust the Indians' pitchers won't try to sneak anymore inside fastballs past him. The guy weighs 175 - I'd pitch him down and away and make him hit it to center or left. Just try to keep him in the park and hope he hits it at somebody.
Ryan Mountcastle went 6-for-12 in that series. He's hitting .211 against righties versus .313 agianst lefties with a 260 point differential in OPS. I'm pretty sure he'll see nothing but RHP's these next four games. He's also hitting .153 on the road against .314 at home with a 450 point OPS differential. IOW, he's been awful against RHP's on the road, so hopefully the Indians can keep him quiet this week.
Trey Mancini is their other big bat at .272/.836. The Indians held him to 2 singles in 15 at-bats in Baltimore so they should stick with whatever was working before. His batting average is 70 points lower on the road and 60 points lower against RHP's.
If the Tribe can keep Mullins from hitting home runs and neutralize the two right-handed power bats they have a decent chance to limit the Orioles' scoring. Since the Cleveland series the O's have scored 11 runs in five games.
Tonight J.C. Mejia gets a chance to redeem himself after getting chased in the first inning of his last start. The O's have not announced a starter AFAIK - maybe it will be a bullpen game. It would be great to deplete their bullpen in game one of a four-game series. Make six guys all throw a lot of pitches.
Tomorrow Quantrill goes against Matt Harvey, 3-7, 7.41. Yep, a guy with a 7.41 ERA is starting. Harvey's numbers are not pretty; 74 hits in 54 innings and a 7.90 ERA on the road. In his last seven starts he has not gone more than four innings. I'm not sure if he's considered a starter or an opener with those numbers. In five of his last six starts he's allowed five runs or more. It's kind of sad to see a former All-Star who was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated going out there after numerous injuries and getting beat on start after start. But I won't mind seeing the Indians score five runs in four innings if that's what happens.
As for Quantrill, opposing batters are hitting a robust .375/.942 off him when he starts. As a reliever it's .245/.669. Maybe they should have Maton pitch the first inning or two and then bring Cal in. Hitters are 4-for-10 with 5 RBIs the second time they face him in a game. So far he's only been good for an inning or two. One good thing; his home ERA is 1.93 against 4.12 on the road.
On Wednesday it's Civale against lefty Keegin Akin, who shut out the Tribe on 3 hits over 5 innings in the first series. He's made only three starts this year. Batters are hitting .196 the first time they face him and .342 the second time, so maybe now that the Indians have seen him they'll have more success this time around. All three of the home runs he's allowed have come on the road.
Thursday's matinee will feature a yet to be named Indians pitcher against Jorge Lopez, 2-7, 5.64. Lopez has 13 starts and 2 wins, so that says a lot. The Indians got three runs in five innings off him in the first series. He's averaging 4.6 innings per start so hopefully by Thursday the O's bullpen will be so depleted that they'll be bringing in some pretty fried relievers after Lopez puts in his 4-5 innings. This looks like a bullpen game for the Indians since McKenzie will be in Columbus for at least 10 days. Hentges pitched two impressive innings his last appearance - maybe he'll get the start.
