OK, so that was lackluster. The Orioles did it again on Friday night, taking a pedestrian starter in Jacob Lopez (err, that’s generous, even for someone with a 6.60 ERA entering last night) and making him look like an ace. They managed just two runs off of Lopez, both on solo home runs.
So does that mean that today, by the transitive property, facing a competent right-handed starter in Aaron Civale (3-1, 2.95 ERA) they’ll him look like a bum? I have my doubts.
Now in his eighth season, the 30-year-old
has bounced around between six teams since 2023, including Tampa Bay, where some of this team remembers facing him. As John Beers’ series preview noted, Civale been one of the luckiest pitchers in baseball this season, with a 2.95 ERA comparing quite favorably to an xERA of 4.19. His hard-hit rate is flirting with 50% and his strikeout rate, 6.60 per game. Neither number is good. Maybe the O’s can take advantage.
Gunnar Henderson likes hitting off the righty, with a .427 BA and one HR in 7 AB’s. But the rest of the team hasn’t done much against him: Adley Rutschman is 1-for-9, Pete Alonso 1-for-5 and Taylor Ward 0-for-10 facing Civale.
As for the Orioles’ champion, Shane Baz (1-3, 4.99 ERA, 33 K) is showing flashes of his potential interspersed with stretches of murkiness. On April 28 against Houston, Baz was excellent, going 5 2/3 innings with just one run and strikeouts. But his last time out in the Bronx, the reception was much more unfriendly, as the righty allowed five runs in 5 2/3 while also walking five.
The Athletics, first place though they are, are not the Yankees at the dish. Baz has faced a few of these hitters before: Shane Langeliers has the best track record, at 4-for-10 with a one home run. Lawrence Butler is 2-for-10. And Nick Kurtz is 0-for-7.
Conceivably, this could be a good matchup for the O’s. Will they cash in?
Orioles lineup
1. Gunnar Henderson SS
2. Tyler Ward LF
3. Adley Rutschman C
4. Pete Alonso 1B
5. Samuel Basallo DH
6. Leody Taveras CF
7. Dylan Beavers RF
8. Coby Mayo 3B
9. Jeremiah Jackson 2B
Athletics lineup
1. Nick Kurtz 1B
2. Shane Langeliers C
3. Tyler Soderstrom LF
4. Brent Rooker DH
5. Carlos Cortes RF
6. Jacob Wilson SS
7. Lawrence Butler CF
8. Zack Gelof 3B
9. Jeff McNeil 2B
