The Orioles conclude their three city 10 game road-trip with a 3 game visit to Los Angeles. After finishing 21 games under .500 on the road in 2011; Baltimore will face the Angels, having won their first two road series of 2012.
The O’s are 8-5 overall, and currently leading the American League East. The Angels – hosting Oakland tonight – are 4-9, and already trailing the Rangers by 7 games in the AL West. LA is expected to contend for the AL Pennant. You have to believe they are thinking about getting well this weekend against Baltimore.
1) Matusz makes his 3rd start of the year tonight. I thought there were more positives than negatives with his outing Sunday in Toronto, but I was a bit frustrated by his trouble in maintaining his mechanics. Ultimately I’m looking at Matusz right now as basically the 5th starter. If he can get his legs under him, while keeping the O’s in games every 5th day; I’m fine with that for now. As the year progresses, you will want to see more. Let’s see if he can get his curve and change-up over for strikes a bit more often tomorrow. Let’s see if he can show some improved fast-ball command. Let’s see if he can get his first win since June 6th of last year.
2) After 3 starts, Arrieta is: 1-0, with a 2.66 era. In his 20.1 ip, he has allowed 14 hits, 2 hr’s, 4 bb’s, with 16 k’s. His OPS against is .549, and his G/F is 0.73. On Saturday night, Arrieta will be opposing Jered Weaver, one of the best pitchers in the American League. Arrieta has mentioned his competitiveness several times. It would be fun to see Arrieta have a 4th QS, and match Weaver frame-for-frame.
3) The only things that have slowed Reimold down in the last week have been a sore hamstring, and a sore neck. Does he play all 3 games this weekend? Does he stay hot?
4) Andino has played in each of the O’s initial 13 games. With his triple yesterday, 5 of his first 15 hits have been for xbh’s. He will enter the weekend with an .836 OPS. The only negative so far, is that he has had just 2 bb’s against 15 k’s.
5) Despite hits in 3 of his last 4 games, Markakis is now just 5 for his last 41. Will he get out of his funk before the road trip ends?
6) Going into tonight, Pujols has yet to homer in first 54 ab’s, but he has hit in 9 consecutive games, and had 3 doubles last night. How successful are O’s pitchers in keeping off the batters in-front of him?
7) Johnson earned his 5th, and 6th saves in Chicago, despite flirting with disaster. As a whole, Johnson / Strop / Lindstrom / Ayala / O’Day have been outstanding. Is this group due to give a game back to the opposition?
8) Hardy has hits in 3 of his last 5 games, but like Markakis and Reynolds; has been scuffling over-all (9 for 48). Reimold, Wieters, and Jones have been carrying the offense. The other regulars need to start picking up their share. One good thing about Hardy’s start, is that his walks and k’s are basically even.
9) Chen makes his 3rd start Sunday. His 2nd start came exactly a week after his debut. His outing this weekend will be his first on normal rest. Is he a bit more crisp? In his initial two outings, he has shown an ability to make adjustments, and miss some bats. He threw 101 pitches, and went 5.2 ip against the Yankees. He threw 99 pitches, and went 5.1 ip against the White Sox. He seemed to tire at around the 85 pitch market against Chicago. Is he a bit more pitch efficient against LA? Does he get a little deeper?
10) Before the trip began, most O’s fans would have been ecstatic with the prospects of the Orioles coming back to Baltimore with 5 wins. With the O’s having won 2 of 3 in Toronto, and 3 of 4 in Chicago; will they be greedy pursuing another series win? With an off-day scheduled for Monday, how will that impact how the bench and bullpen is used?
Pitching Match-ups:
4/20: Matusz vs. Williams (RHP)
4/21: Arrieta vs. Weaver (RHP)
4/22: Chen vs. Haren (RHP)
Williams 2011: 4-0, 3.68 era, 44 ip, 45 hits, 6 hr’s, 15 bb’s, 28 k’s, .769 OPS against, 1.03 G/F
Williams 2012: 0-1, 16.88 era, 2.2 ip, 5 hits, 5 er, 3 bb’s, 1 k
Pitch F/X: http://pitchfx.texasleaguers.com/pitcher/425532/
Weaver 2012: 2-0, 2.18 era, 20.2 ip, 16 hits, 1 hr, 2 bb’s, 23 k’s, .514 OPS against, 0.74 G/F
Pitch F/X: http://pitchfx.texasleaguers.com/pitcher/450308/
Haren 2012: 0-1, 4.76 era, 17 ip, 25 hits, 4 hr’s, 2 bb’s, 14 k’s, .929 OPS against (.696 career), 0.62 G/F
Pitch F/X: http://pitchfx.texasleaguers.com/pitcher/429717/
Depth Chart:
C: Ianneta 14 hr’s in ’11, .784 OPS
1st: Pujols 1.035 OPS for his career
2nd: Kendrick 54 xbh’s in ’11
SS: Aybar .695 OPS in 2,216 career ab’s
3rd: Callaspo 58 bb’s, 48 k’s in ’11
RF: Hunter 23 hr’s in ’11, .765 OPS
CF: Bourjos 11 triples, 22 steals in ’11
LF: Wells .660 OPS, .248 OBP% in ’11
DH: Morales Missed all of ’11, 3 xbh’s in 42 ab’s in ’12
Bench: Wilson, Abreu, Trumbo, Izturis
Rotation: Weaver, Haren, Wilson, Santana, Williams
Bullpen: Walden, Hawkins, Downs, Takahashi, Jepsen, Isringhausen, Carpenter
Current Ranks:
LA
Runs: 17th
Batting Average: 11th
On Base: 21st
Slugging: 21st
ERA: 24th
Quality Starts: 15th
WHIP: 15th
BAA: 19th
Baltimore
Runs: 11th
Batting Average: 16th
On Base: 16th
Slugging: 3rd
ERA: 12th
Quality Starts: 20th
WHIP: 19th
BAA: 15th
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.