Orioles Magic

Thursday, May 28 - Sunday, May 31

Detroit Tigers (26-19) at Baltimore Orioles (21-26)

Pitching Matchups

Thursday: DET - Armando Galarraga (3-4, 5.74)
BAL - David Hernandez

Friday: DET - Dontrelle Willis (1-1, 3.57)
BAL - Brad Bergesen (1-2, 5.49)

Saturday: DET - Justin Verlander (5-2, 3.55)
BAL - Jeremy Guthrie (4-4, 4.90)

Sunday: DET - Edwin Jackson (4-3, 2.58)
BAL - Jason Berken (1-0, 3.60)

The Orioles welcome the AL Central leading Tigers to Camden Yards. What could just be any other series in May has instead taken on extra significance for the Birds. The number one prospect in all of baseball, C Matt Wieters will make his debut Friday night for Baltimore. Wieters has been hyped up for some time and finally Orioles fans will get to see the potential power and switch hitting catcher.

The Tigers have earned themselves some separation from the other weak AL Central teams. They are a balanced team with some big bats in the lineup and good arms in the rotation. Offensively they are paced by 1B Miguel Cabrera (.374, 10 HRs, 37 RBIs), 3B Brandon Inge (.274, 12 HRs, 33 RBIs), and CF Curtis Granderson (.247, 11 HRs, 27 RBIs).

The O's will face Edwin Jackson on Sunday, who leads Tigers starters with a 2.58 ERA, they also get to face Justin Verlander on Saturday, who leads the Tigers in strikeouts with 85 in 10 starts. Wieters will face Dontrelle Willis in his first at-bat Friday. Willis recently returned and after a rough first outing, had a very encouraging second outing. Willis was once one of the bright young pitchers in the game, then seemingly lost his mechanics. Hopefully, the Orioles get to face bad Willis on Friday.

The Orioles have been calling up other players besides Wieters. David Hernandez makes his first career start Thursday as the Orioles try to figure who pitches three through five are. RF Nolan Reimold has played well since being called up. He is hitting .265, with 4 HRs, and 9 RBIs in just 13 games this season.

The Orioles have won 5 of 6, the Tigers will be stiff competition, a split would be nice.