Following a road trip where Baltimore took the 2 games at Kansas City, and the 2 of 3 in Washington; the O’s return home to Charm City. Starting tonight, the O’s begin a 3 game set with Boston, with the Royals visiting over the weekend.

1) The O’s are currently 27-15, and in 1st place in the American League East. Boston is currently in last in the Division at 20-21, trailing Baltimore by 6.5 games. The Red Sox have won 2 in a row, and 8 of their last 10. This series is an opportunity for the O’s to create further distance between them and Boston, or for the Red Sox to close the gap.

1a) The O’s are 12-9 at home, and 13-7 against the East. Boston is 11-10 on the road, and 5-9 against the East.

2) Hunter is on the mound for the Birds tonight. Over his last two starts, he has gone 13 innings, allowing 12 hits, 6 er, 1 hr, 2 bb’s, with 8 k’s, and 21 grounders. Against KC, he threw just 82 pitches in his 7 innings of work. Will be interesting to see if he can again be that efficient against Boston’s patience tonight. The Red Sox knocked him around a bit on 5/6.

3) Wieters is 4 for 40 over his last 10 games, and his OPS has dropped to .799. His batting average has fallen to .243. The lineup needs him producing. Wieters was off Thursday, and off yesterday. Does he start all 3 vs. Boston?

4) Andino is 3 for his last 22. Over the past 10 games, he has had 3 bb’s, vs. 12 k’s. His OPS has fallen under .700 (.686).

5) Markakis had a nice road trip, hits in all 5 games, multi-hit games 3 times, 2 doubles, 2 hr’s, 5 rbi. He has struck out once, in each of the past 10 games. I’ll take the increasing k’s, if there will also be this corresponding jump in power.

6) Matusz’s 5.36 era (4.36 FIP) still does not look attractive, but there have been good signs from him. If Matusz can win tomorrow, he can get back to .500 at 4-4. In his last two outings, he has gone 11.2 ip, allowing 14 hits, 5 er, 1 hr, 2 bb’s, with 7 k’s, and 22 grounders. Matusz did not face Boston in Boston earlier this Month.

7) Avery had 5 hits in DC, including 2 doubles, with 2 bb’s, and a steal. Overall, since he was promoted he is 10 for 32 with 3 doubles, 1 triple, 4 bb’s, and 6 k’s. He has been fun to watch. As the scouting on him increases, it will be interesting to see how the league adjusts to him, and how he adjusts back.

8) Davis played in 4 of the 5 games on the road-trip, and had 3 multi-hit games. He has still yet to have an xbh since May 1st. A large part of the O’s success this year has been their power. They need Davis to again find his power-stroke.

9) Arrieta’s outing Friday night in DC. was good to see. He had struggled in his two previous outings. Against the Nationals, Arrieta went 7 ip, allowing 6 hits, 1 er, 1 hr, 1 bb, with 9 k’s. Like Matusz, Arrieta missed the Red Sox when the O’s were in Boston.

10) Bullpen watch:
Johnson was off yesterday, pitched an inning Saturday, and was off Friday.
Strop pitched an inning Friday, 2/3rd’s of an inning Saturday, and was off yesterday.
Ayala did not pitch Friday, went 1.2 innings Saturday, and was off yesterday.
O’Day went 1.1 innings Friday, was off Saturday, and 1.2 innings yesterday.
Eveland went 2 innings yesterday.
Patton pitched a 0.2 innings Friday, 0.1 innings Saturday, and was off yesterday.
Gregg pitched 1 inning Friday.

Projected Pitchers
5/21: Buchholz vs. Hunter
5/22: Doubront (LHP) vs. Matusz
5/23: Bard vs. Arrieta

Buchholz: 4-2, 7.77 era, 44 ip, 61 hits, 10 hr’s, 23 bb’s, 25 k’s, .964 OPS against, 1.05 G/F
Pitch F/X: http://pitchfx.texasleaguers.com/pitcher/453329/

Doubront: 4-1, 4.09 era, 44 ip, 44 hits, 3 hr’s, 21 bb’s, 44 k’s, .726 OPS against, 0.74 G/F
Pitch F/X: http://pitchfx.texasleaguers.com/pitcher/467094/

Bard: 3-5, 4.85 era, 42.2 ip, 41 hits, 2 hr’s, 25 bb’s, 26 k’s, .725 OPS against, 0.96 G/F
Pitch F/X: http://pitchfx.texasleaguers.com/pitcher/453268/

C: Saltalamacchia  .888 OPS
1st: Gonzalez .756 OPS
2nd: Pedroia .832 OPS
SS: Aviles .800 OPS
3rd: Middlebrooks .885 OPS
LF: Ross .883 OPS
CF: Byrd .618 OPS
RF: Sweeney .784 OPS
DH: Ortiz  1.009 OPS

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

Current Ranks:

Boston
Runs: 2nd
Batting Average: 3rd
On Base: 8th
Slugging: 2nd
ERA: 28th
Quality Starts: 25th
WHIP: 26th
BAA: 26th

Baltimore
Runs: 6th
Batting Average: 15th
On Base: 22th
Slugging: 5th
ERA: 8th
Quality Starts: 20th
WHIP: 8th
BAA: 12th

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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