Having finished a 10 game, 3 city road-trip; the Orioles have returned to Baltimore to begin a 6 game home-stand against Toronto, and Oakland starting tomorrow night.

1) The 9-7 Orioles took 2 out of 3 in Toronto. It will be interesting to see how the second series against the Blue Jays (9-6 pending their result in KC tonight) goes. The previous series win means more, if you take care of business at home.

2) Hunter has allowed 15 hits, 6 hr, and 12 er his last two times out. That includes 4 homers in his start in Toronto. He needs to be better.

3) Alvarez makes his 2nd start against the O’s. In his first start, he went 7 ip, allowing 6 hits, 3er, 1 hr, 1 bb, and 2 k’s. Reimold doubled, and Davis homered against him.

4) Reimold has hits in the last 10 games he has played in. He missed Thursday in Chicago, and Saturday and Sunday in LA with neck spasms. With also having off today (Monday), will he be ready to go, will he be held out a couple more days as precaution, or will hear that he is going to be forced to the DL?

5) Reynolds is 0 for his last 15, and 3 for his last 31. Davis is 3 for his last 20. Hardy is 2 for his last 19. Betemit is 4 for his last 27. Johnson has started the year 0 for 23. These guys are due to come out of these slumps. Will it happen this series?

6) Going into the 18th, Markakis was batting .190. With hits in his last 5 games, he has raised his average to .242. He came up big Sunday with his 3 rbi. Can he get hot? Can he carry the offense for a couple of games?

7) Jason Hammel has had a nice start to his O’s career. 2-0, 2.37 era. In his 19 innings, he has allowed 14 hits, 5 er, 1 hr, 7 bb’s, with 18 k’s. His OPS against is .612, and he has a G/F ratio of 1.45.

Pitch F/X: http://pitchfx.texasleaguers.com/pitcher/434628/

He is coming off of a very strong start against Chicago, and will be making his 2nd outing against the Jays. How good a start can he get off to?

8) The sky seems to be the limit for Drabek, whose stuff is pretty imposing. He continues to have issues with control though (6 bb’s, 49 strikes in 100 pitches, his last time out against the Royals). I want to see the O’s show some patience against him, and make him work.

9) Flaherty has 4 ab’s, and has started just once in the O’s 16 games. If Showalter is uncomfortable using him, I think the O’s should be attempting to work a deal with the Cubs, allowing the O’s the flexibility to send Flaherty down (and add Hall to the roster?).

10) The defense this year has been poor overall, and was ridiculously bad Friday, and Saturday in LA. It was a long trip for the Birds. After having today off, will they settle in and a play a bit better defensively at home this week?

Projected Pitchers:

4/24: Alvarez (RHP) vs. Hunter
4/25: Drabek (RHP) vs. Hammel
4/26: Hutchinson (RHP) vs. Matusz

Alvarez 2011: 1-3, 3.53 era, 63.2 ip, 64 hits, 8 hr’s, 8 bb’s, 40 k’s, .717 OPS against, 1.20 G/F
Alvarez 2012: 0-1, 4.66 era, 19.1 ip, 16 hits, 4 hr, 4 bb, 8 k’s

Pitch F/X:
http://pitchfx.texasleaguers.com/pitcher/506693/

Drabek 2011: 4-5, 6.06 era, 78.2 ip, 87 hits, 10 hr’s, 55 bb’s, 51 k’s, .857 OPS against, 0.83 G/F
Drabek 2012: 2-0, 2.00 era, 18 ip, 13 hits, 2 hr’s, 10 bb’s, 15 k’s

Pitch F/X:
http://pitchfx.texasleaguers.com/pitcher/475138/

Hutchinson 2011: 14-5, at A, A+, & AA
Hutchinson 2012: 1-0, 8.44 era, 5.1 ip, 8 hits, 5 er, 2 hr’s, 3 bb’s, 4 k’s

Pitch F/X:
http://pitchfx.texasleaguers.com/pitcher/571800/

Depth Chart:
C: Arenciba  9 for 46, 2 bb’s, 15 k’s
1st: Lind 6 xbh’s in 50 ab’s, 5 bb’s, 8 k’s
2nd: Johnson  11 bb’s, 15 k’s
SS: Escobar  18 for 70, 5 bb’s, 7 k’s
3rd: Lawrie 17 for 61, 2 hr’s
RF: Bautista  .732 OPS, 14 bb’s, 8 k’s
CF: Rasmus  2 hr’s Saturday vs. KC
LF: Thames  10 for 40, 0 hr’s
DH: Encarnacion  10 xbh’s, .981 OPS

Bench: Mathis, Vizquel, Francisco, Davis
Rotation: Romero, Morrow, Alvarez, Drabek, Hutchinson
Bullpen: Cordero, Oliver, Janssen, Frasor, Villanueva, Perez, Crawford

Current Ranks:

Toronto
Runs: 5th
Batting Average: 14th
On Base: 11th
Slugging: 13th
ERA: 19th
Quality Starts: 19th
WHIP: 13th
BAA: 6th

Baltimore
Runs: 12th
Batting Average: 19th
On Base: 23rd
Slugging: 7th
ERA: 14th
Quality Starts: 23rd
WHIP: 18th
BAA: 19th

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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