Following a series win in New York, the Orioles have headed south for a 3 game weekend series in Tampa Bay.

1) Both Baltimore and the Rays enter this series at 55-50 overall, 6.5 games back of the Yankees in the AL East, and 1.5 GB of the Angels for the 2nd Wild Card. The Orioles may not have added anyone at the Non-Waiver Deadline, but they did not trade away any parts either. It is the first week of August, and with 57 games remaining in the season; the O’s can still dream of the post-season. Each of the previous 105 games have mattered, but the longer the O’s can prolong this run, the intensity of each series will only increase. The O’s were 28-44 against the AL East last year, and 30-51 on the road. This year the O’s are 20-18 vs. the East, and 30-24 on the road. Baltimore recently lost a recent home series to Tampa Bay (July 24-26th). To me, this increases the pressure for the O’s to show well this weekend.

2) Aside from a dip after dealing with a wrist injury, Adam Jones has been extremely consistent this year. In his 78 ab’s after the All-Star break, Jones’ has a .936 OPS. In that time, he has had 6 bb’s vs. 11 k’s. (16 bb’s vs. 61 k’s before the break.)

3) For his career, Markakis has a .818 OPS. In his 286 ab’s here in 2012, Markakis is up to .823. What more can you ask from him since he returned (87 ab’s, .910 OPS) to the lineup? With his legs under him, I’d love to see him finish strong these last two months. Can he get to 35+ doubles (he has 19)? Can he finish in the Top 10 in average in the AL (he is at .290, Escobar is 10th at .307)?

4) When the news came out during this week that the O’s were talking with Philadelphia for Blanton, I and many others had a similar thought – the O’s already had a ‘Blanton’ on the roster, and his name is Tommy Hunter. The thought process being they both are capable of providing innings, allow a lot of hits (including homers), with limited walks. To be fair to Blanton, he does strike out more batters than Hunter, and has had greater career success. With Blanton and no other starters added (as of now), those that are here have to perform.

In his last 3 starts, Hunter has gone:
7/28: 5.1 ip, 7 hits, 5 er, 2 hr’s, 1 bb, with 7 k’s
7/23: 7 ip, 8 hits, 3 er, 1 hr, 0 bb, with 4 k’s
7/18: 7.1 ip, 6 hits, 1 er, 1 hr, 0 bb, with 1 k

Prior to his 2 out performance vs. the Yankees Wednesday, Hunter had allowed a HR in 10 consecutive outings. Can he go without a HR allowed tonight? If not, can he keep runners off ahead of any blasts?

5) Many are waiting for regression from Chen, but it bears noting that since the All-Star break he is 2-1, with a 2.49 era. In his 25.1 ip, he has allowed 15 hits, 1 hr, 10 bb’s, with 27 k’s. It can not be stated enough, how important Chen has been in the O’s success this year. For the year, Chen is 9-6, with a 3.65 era. In 128.1 ip, he has allowed 113 hits, 16 hr’s, 43 bb’s, with 105 k’s. His OPS against is .685, and his G/F is 0.65.

6) As shown in the lineup tonight, one benefit of the O’s getting Andino back, is that the Orioles can use him at 3rd vs. lefties, and get Betemit out of the lineup vs. Southpaws.

7) Wieters has a modest 4 game hitting streak (5 hits). For the year, Wieters has a .926 OPS against LHP, vs. just a .657 OPS against RHP. Tampa Bay is throwing the lefty Moore tonight, and Price Sunday. A big weekend from Wieters would obviously help.

8) Slowly but surely, Hardy is working out of his first-half funk. Since the break, he has a .745 OPS over 76 ab’s. Since the 15th of July, he has raised his OBP from .255 to .276. Still a long way to go, but good signs here. Can he catch-fire down the stretch? In ’11 he had two separate months with an OPS over .890.

9) Gonzalez will get the nod Sunday, coming off a quality rebound outing vs. the Yankees. He let up 3 bombs (2 of them coming in the 7th as he tired), but also had 8 k’s, vs. 0 walks. I don’t know what to make of Gonzalez, but he got a lot of swing and misses on the change-up Monday. It is easy to root for someone who has persevered to receive a shot, and is making the most of that opportunity. Tough going-up against Price, will be interesting to see how he does. Realistically, every-time he takes the mound, I’m just hoping for a start which keeps the O’s in the game.

10) Davis has a 7 game hitting streak, which includes 3 homers. (He has also struck-out 11 times in that span.) For the year, Davis is up to a .770 OPS (.463 Slugging), and is only pace for 50 xbh’s. Davis deserves credit for how well he has hit lefties (.278 baa, .742 OPS) for the year. Overall, Davis struggled in June and July. Does he have another run of extended success in him?

Projected Pitchers
8/3: Hunter vs. Moore (LHP)
8/4: Chen vs. Hellickson
8/5: Gonzalez vs. Price (LHP)

Moore: 7-7, 4.01 era, 119 ip, 107 hits, 13 hr’s, 57 bb’s, 112 k’s, .716 OPS against, 0.67 G/F
Pitch F/X: http://pitchfx.texasleaguers.com/pitcher/519043/

Hellickson: 6-6, 3.23 era, 111.1 ip, 99 hits, 18 hr’s, 40 bb’s, 72 k’s, .725 OPS against, 0.70 G/F
Pitch F/X: http://pitchfx.texasleaguers.com/pitcher/476451/

Price: 14-4, 2.64 era, 140 ip, 117 hits, 12 hr’s, 45 bb’s, 141 k’s, .627 OPS against, 1.18 G/F
Pitch F/X: http://pitchfx.texasleaguers.com/pitcher/456034/

C: Molina .539 OPS
1st: Pena .685 OPS
2nd: Zobrist .804 OPS
SS: Rodriguez .597 OPS
3rd: Roberts .658 OPS
LF: Jennings .673 OPS
CF: Upton .671 OPS
RF: Joyce .848 OPS
DH: Keppinger .820 OPS

Bench: Lobaton, Johnson, Fuld
Rotation: Price, Shields, Hellickson, Moore, Cobb
Bullpen: Rodney, Peralta, Farnsworth, Howell, McGee, Davis, Badenhop

Current Ranks:

Tampa Bay
Runs: 21st
Batting Average: 29th
On Base: 21st
Slugging: 27th
ERA: 5th
Quality Starts: 15th
WHIP: 3rd
BAA: 2nd

Baltimore
Runs: 18th
Batting Average: 24th
On Base: 26th
Slugging: 16th
ERA: 21st
Quality Starts: 26th
WHIP: 22nd
BAA: 23rd

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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