Following a two-game split with the Yankees, the Orioles will begin a two-game series at Kansas City tonight. The O’s are 23-14, tied atop of the AL East with Tampa Bay. The Royals are 15-20, good for 4th place in the AL Central, 4.5 games behind Cleveland.
1) After going 30-51 on the road last year, the O’s have started 2012 11-5 away from Oriole Park. Kansas City has won 4 in a row, and 7 of their last 10; and certainly have plenty of young offensive talent. Still, after the previous 15 games, this seems like a bit of a break. The O’s need to go prove that on the field.
2) The game can be funny. Hunter was heading back to the Minors, but had to be called back to the bigs. He competed against Texas (6 innings, 5 hits, 4 er, 1 hr, 1 bb, with 7 k’s), and earned another start tonight. It is important for him to have another effective outing. You know the focus will be on seeing if he can keep the ball down.
3) After his double, and triple Monday night; Avery had a bunt hit on a sacrifice attempt (and a walk) last night. Lots of ground to cover in KC, so you have to imagine Avery will receive another couple of starts against the Royals.
4) Chris Davis got the night off last night against Sabathia. Hopefully the night off helped clear Davis’ mind, who has struggled since the 17 inning game in Boston. His overall numbers (.779 OPS, .274 baa) are now in the vicinity of what we were hoping for going into the year. The 7 bb’s, to 35 k’s is a disparity which has to improve. The defense at 1st has to improve as well. As we have heard numerous times about how hard Davis works before games, I do have some confidence that it will. Davis has not had an xbh since he doubled and homered May 1st. I’d like to see him break back-out these next two days against Paulino*, and Hochevar.
*I think Davis appears more comfortable against the fastball, and Paulino brings the heat.
5) The difficult decision for Showalter, is that Johnson has been having good ab’s recently, and that Betemit hits RHP as well. If you play all 3 (Davis, Johnson, Betemit), the defense is impacted somewhere. Like Davis, Betemit has been struggling (.695 OPS, .211 baa in May) and you would like to get him going. I think I’d personally lean towards playing Davis, and Johnson these two games and having Betemit off the bench. I don’t think I would use all 3, with Betemit being used in LF, or at 3rd.
6) Matusz was strong in NY, roughed up by Texas, and won (though let down by his defense) against Tampa Bay. I’d like to see him be efficient enough, to provide 7 ip for the first time this year, and I’d like to him win a 2nd consecutive start for the first time since winning his last 6 decisions of 2010.
7) If you are not playing Betemit at 3rd or LF this series, you figure to be playing Flaherty at the hot-corner. Flaherty was 2 for 7 vs. Texas, 1 for 8 vs. Tampa Bay, and 0 for 1 vs. NY. Again, he is not only adjusting to the Majors, he is adjusting to sporadic playing time. If he starts tonight, or tomorrow; he needs to hit (and show well defensively) to earn his next opportunity.
8) Going into these two games:
J. Johnson was used last night, but had the previous two games off.
Strop was used last night, but had the previous two games off.
O’Day was used the 13th, and 14th, but was off last night.
Ayala went 2 innings Monday, but was off last night.
Patton went 3 innings Sunday, but was off the last two days.
Eveland went 1.2 innings Monday, but was off last night.
Gregg went 1.1 innings Monday, but was off last night.
If Hunter and Matusz combine to provide 12+ innings the next two days; how will the pen be used? If Hunter or Matusz are forced out early, what impact does that have?
9) Wieters seems to be coming out of a mini-slump, with 4 hits (including 2 doubles, and a hr) the last 3 games. Having caught each of the last 3 games, is he out of the lineup tonight? If he is DH’ing, how will that impact what Showalter does with Davis / Betemit, and Johnson?
10) Markakis showed some life in the Texas and Tampa Bay series, but was just 1 for 9 against New York. He has struck-out 1 in each of the past 7 games, but has 5 bb’s in that span. Kauffman Stadium is a good opportunity for Markakis to find the alley’s, and add some doubles to his numbers.
Projected Pitchers:
5/16: Hunter vs. Paulino
5/17: Matusz vs. Hochevar
Paulino: 1-1, 3.09 era, 11.2 ip, 11 hits, 1 hr, 3 bb’s, 12 k’s, .730 OPS against, 0.78 G/F
Pitch F/X: http://pitchfx.texasleaguers.com/pitcher/462956/
Hochevar: 3-3, 7.20 era, 35 ip, 42 hits, 2 hr’s, 13 bb’s, 23 k’s, .787 OPS against, 0.73 G/F
Pitch F/X: http://pitchfx.texasleaguers.com/pitcher/460024/
C: Quintero .671 OPS
1st: Hosmer .584 OPS
2nd: Getz .729 OPS
SS: Escobar .747 OPS
3rd: Moustakas .911 OPS
LF: Gordon .729 OPS
CF: Dyson .745 OPS
RF: Francoeur .651 OPS
DH: Butler .829 OPS
Bench: Falu, Maier, Giavotella, Pena
Rotation: Chen, Hochevar, Paulino, Mendoza, Mazzaro
Bullpen: Broxton, Crow, Holland, Collins, Herrera, Mijares, Adcock
Current Ranks:
Kansas City
Runs: 18th
Batting Average: 9th
On Base: 13th
Slugging: 11th
ERA: 26th
Quality Starts: 29th
WHIP: 29th
BAA: 26th
Baltimore
Runs: 6th
Batting Average: 13th
On Base: 16th
Slugging: 5th
ERA: 11th
Quality Starts: 22nd
WHIP: 9th
BAA: 10th
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.