Orioles Magic

Friday, June 12 - Sunday, June 14

Atlanta Braves (29-30) at Baltimore Orioles (25-35)

Pitching Matchups

Friday: ATL - Tommy Hanson (0-0, 9.00)
BAL - Jason Berken (1-2, 7.04)

Saturday: ATL - Kenshin Kawakami (3-6, 4.62)
BAL - Rich Hill (2-1, 5.24)

Sunday: ATL - Derek Lowe (7-3, 3.44)
BAL - Brad Bergesen (3-2, 4.04)

Interleague play returns as the Orioles welcome the Atlanta Braves to the Yard. After a 5 game winning streak elicited some hope a few weeks ago, the O's are back to playing like crap. The Braves are hovering around .500 and trying to stay in the NL East race.

When you think of the Braves one man comes to mind, 3B Chipper Jones. The 37-year-old is having another solid season and leads the Braves in almost every offensive statistical category. He is batting .320, with 8 HRs, and 31 RBIs. The Braves other major offensive threat is C Brian McCann, who is hitting .312, with 6 HRs and 24 RBIs.

For years, pitching was the Braves rock. You could count on the Braves having at least steady pitching from the ace to the number four spot in the rotation. Times have changed and now the Braves have the ace, but not much else. The Orioles are terrible on Sundays and unfortunately for them they get to see the ace, Derek Lowe on Sunday. Lowe is 7-3, with a 3.44 ERA and has been exactly what the Braves were hoping for. Tommy Hanson makes his second career start tonight for Atlanta, he gave up 6 earned runs in his first start against the Milwaukee Brewers. The O's are fortunate to be avoiding the Braves second best pitcher, Jair Jurrens, who leads the team in ERA, at 2.85.

The Orioles have been struggling for about a week offensively, which has coincided with their poor play. Adam Jones has cooled a bit, Brian Roberts has been mired in a slump, and Aubrey Huff is only hitting .258 for the season. Matt Wieters is starting to get his stroke, but still is hitting just .208 since being called up a few weeks ago. It seems like Luke Scott hits a home run just about every night, he leads the team with 15. Also worth mentioning is the play of call up Nolan Reimold, who is hitting .271, with 7 HRs and 16 RBIs.

Jason Berken starts for Baltimore tonight, and brings his 7.04 ERA with him. Saturday, the O's hope they get the good Rich Hill who seems to alternate between looking amazing and then downright awful. In his last start against Oakland he couldn't find the plate and was pulled in the first inning. Rookie Brad Bergesen starts Sunday, and he has pitched very well as of late, and has been the Orioles most consistent pitcher thus far.