The Baltimore Orioles have already had a very successful weekend, but they need to be greedy and get another win today with Jeremy Guthrie.
It has already been a very successful weekend, watching the prized arms of Tillman, and Matusz perform in Yankee Stadium; but the O’s have to learn to want more.
The Yankees are going to play with a lot of pride today. They always do. Losing a series to the O’s in mid-September, that leaves them questioning their investment in AJ Burnett; is not what the Yanks expected this weekend.
They will attempt to rally around Sabathia, and erase their memories of the last couple of days.
The O’s need the experience of knowing they can go to New York, and sweep them in their home-stadium.
That is where Guthrie comes-in. Guthrie has lowered his ERA from 5.66 on 8/16 to 4.96 entering today. This has been accomplished with allowing only 4 runs in his last 27 innings.
Guthrie has dropped his OPS against to .806, which is fairly remarkable given the 30 homers he has allowed.
The O’s need Guthrie to close out the series today, and give the O’s a chance to feel really good about what they accomplished this weekend.
This will be Guthrie’s 5th start of the year against NY. He is 1-3 in the previous 4, with a 4.68 era. In 25 innings vs NY, Guthrie has allowed 23 hits, 6 homers, 9 walks, with 15 k’s.
Guthrie needs to get his 2-seamer moving, avoid the walks, and keep the ball in the park.
I dare say, that what he does today, will have some bearing on his return to the O’s in 2010.
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.