After splitting an intense series against Seattle, the West-Coast themed homestand continues as the Orioles welcome the Padres to Camden Yards. The Padres are expected to be perennial contenders, but after a hot start to the season, they’re scuffling, with an ice-cold 4-12 record in their last 16 games. The Phillies swept them twice in that stretch, and they’ve also lost to the Mets and the Nationals. They did just take their last series from Cincinnati on Wednesday, courtesy of a walkoff win.
In
that last stretch dating to May 22, the Padres’ offense is second-worst in the league, and a lot of their core is struggling. Former Oriole Manny Machado is off to the worst start in his career, and in the last two weeks has a .161/.197/.355 slashline. His power remains fearsome, as he’s got a team-leading 11 HRs and 34 RBIs, but his batting average and on-base percentage are among the worst among current qualified hitters. Outfielder Jackson Merrill is also mired in a slump, and in the last two weeks Xander Bogaerts, Miguel Andujar, Gavin Sheets and Freddy Fermin are also hitting below the Mendoza line.
So maybe this will be a good matchup for the Orioles’ Shane Baz. After a soggy start to the season, the right hander got himself on a roll of late, posting four straight quality starts from May 20 to June 2. He likely would have had another his last time out against Toronto, but for the Ernie Clement baserunning shenanigan that saw him give up four unearned runs in an eventual 5 2/3-inning, 5 R (1 ER) loss. That said, Baz’s stuff is looking really solid of late. Baz has faced the Padres twice, in his career, and has an 0-for-4 line against Xander Bogaerts, a 2-for-5 line against catcher Freddy Fermín, and a 1-for-4 line against Manny Machado.
As for the Orioles, they’ll get to face Griffin Canning, who always reminds of Cameron in Ferris Bueller. He’s not the scariest arm out there, for sure. The 30-year-old righty posted a regrettable 7.16 ERA in the month of May, but in his only June start, versus the Mets, he went five innings and allowed just one run with six strikeouts. Maybe the Orioles can give him more of a challenge. Against the longtime Angel, Gunnar is 4-for-8, Tyler O’Neill is 2-for-6 with a home run, and Adley is 4-for-9. I like those lines.
Orioles lineup
- Taylor Ward LF
- Gunnar Henderson SS
- Adley Rutschman C
- Pete Alonso 1B
- Samuel Basallo DH
- Coby Mayo 3B
- Colton Cowser CF
- Tyler O’Neill RF
- Jackson Holliday 2B
Padres lineup
- Fernando Tatis Jr. 2B
- Jackson Merrill CF
- Manny Machado 3B
- Xander Bogaerts SS
- Gavin Sheets RF
- Samad Taylor LF
- Ty France 1B
- Will Wagner DH
- Freddy Fermin C
