The Orioles, who have lost 4 consecutive series, arrive in Boston for a 3 game series beginning tonight. At 30-24, the O’s are 3 games ahead of the Red Sox in the American League East.

1) The O’s were slumping before the road-trip began, and that slump grew in Toronto, and Tampa Bay. The lone game that the O’s have won on the trip, was with Matusz pitching a great game. Starting pitching is still the key. Winning two of three in Boston, before coming home would be great to see it. Hammel’s start tonight will set the tone. For the year, Hammel is 6-2, with a 3.06 era. In his 61.2 ip, he has allowed 54 hits, 7 hr’s, 19 bb’s, with 58 k’s. His OPS against is .673, and his G/F is 1.18.

2) The calendar turned to June, and Wieters bat came back alive. In the Rays series, Wieters had 6 hits, including his 9th hr, and a bb. After coming alive in Tampa Bay, you want to see him become scorching in Boston.

3) Like Wieters, Reynolds is coming off a nice series in Tampa Bay (4 hits, double, hr, and a walk). His power typically comes in bunches; I expect to see him add another shot or two this weekend.

4) Hardy arrives in Boston with a 5 game hitting streak, and hits in 8 of his last 9 games overall. His slugging % has dipped under last year’s levels though, as he has just 3 xbh’s in his last 15 games.

5) I would expect to see Pearce in RF tonight vs. Lester, and Flaherty the following two days vs. Beckett, and Buchholz.

6) After going 2 for 3 with 2 homers vs. Boston 5/23, Johnson has received just 9 ab’s (and been hit-less) in the 9 subsequent games.

7) I was pleased that Chen was able to get into the 6th inning, after allowing 5 er in the 1st inning vs. Tampa Bay Friday night. The 4 bb’s were concerning, as are the 5 hr’s allowed in the last 4 starts. The O’s have lost his last 3 starts, after winning his previous 6. This will be Chen’s 2nd start in Boston.

8) Davis had raised his average to .315, with 3 hits on the 29th at Toronto. In the 3 games since, he is 0 for 11, with 5 k’s. Is he falling into another slump, or will he spend the weekend playing pepper with the Monster?

9) Before the Rays series, we talked about how we believed that for Matusz, April and May had been about getting his feet back under him. We said we wanted to see him respond by taking the next step in June. He responded with a big start in Tampa Bay, getting into the 7th for the first time. He has now made 4 consecutive starts, where he has pitched at-least 6 innings, and allowed 3 er or less. For the year, Matusz is now 5-5, with a 4.41 era. In his 63.1 ip, he has allowed 67 hits, 8 hr, 25 bb’s, with 50 k’s. His OPS against is .753, and his G/F is 0.65.

10) The bullpen is well rested and should be able to be utilized throughout the weekend accordingly.

Projected Pitchers
6/5: Hammel vs. Lester (LHP)
6/6: Chen vs. Beckett
6/7: Matusz vs. Buchholz

Lester: 3-4, 4.79 era, 67.2 ip, 71 hits, 7 hr’s, 22 bb’s, 48 k’s, .763 OPS against, 1.03 G/F
Pitch F/X: http://pitchfx.texasleaguers.com/pitcher/452657/

Beckett: 4-5, 4.26 era, 63.1 ip, 62 hits, 9 hr’s, 16 bb’s, 46 k’s, .718 OPS against, 0.78 G/F
Pitch F/X: http://pitchfx.texasleaguers.com/pitcher/277417/

Buchholz: 5-2, 6.58 era, 64.1 ip, 81 hits, 13 hr’s, 30 bb’s, 40 k’s, .906 OPS against, 1.06 G/F
Pitch F/X: http://pitchfx.texasleaguers.com/pitcher/453329/

C: Saltalamacchia  .867 OPS
1st: Youkilis .724 OPS
2nd: Pedroia .800 OPS (torn adductor muscle in his right thumb, might go on DL today)
SS: Aviles .717 OPS
3rd: Middlebrooks .898 OPS
LF: Nava .958 OPS
CF: Sweeney .784 OPS
RF: Gonzalez .739 OPS
DH: Ortiz  .987 OPS

Bench: Shoppach, Podsednik, Byrd, Punto
Rotation: Lester, Beckett, Buchholz, Doubront, Bard
Bullpen: Aceves, Morales, Hill, Atchison, Albers, Padilla, Miller

Current Ranks:

Boston
Runs: 3rd
Batting Average: 3rd
On Base: 7th
Slugging: 2nd
ERA: 28th
Quality Starts: 24th
WHIP: 25th
BAA: 23rd

Baltimore
Runs: 11th
Batting Average: 19th
On Base: 21st
Slugging: 6th
ERA: 10th
Quality Starts: 22nd
WHIP: 11th
BAA: 13th

Chris Stoner
Chris Stoner

Owner

Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.

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