Thursday, July 2 - Sunday, July 5Baltimore Orioles (35-43) at Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (42-34)
Pitching Matchups
Thursday: BAL - Jeremy Guthrie (6-7, 5.11)
LAA - John Lackey (2-3, 5.06)
Friday: BAL - David Hernandez (1-2, 4.19)
LAA - Ervin Santana (1-3, 7.47)
Saturday: BAL - Jason Berken (1-5, 6.44)
LAA - Matt Palmer (7-1, 5.00)
Sunday: BAL - Rich Hill (3-2, 7.08)
LAA - Joe Saunders (8-5, 4.24)
The Orioles experienced a roller coaster of emotions over the past 2 days. On Tuesday night against the Boston Red Sox, the O's made a miraculous comeback from a 10-1 deficit in the 7th inning, to defeat Boston 11-10. However, yesterday the tables were turned as Baltimore blew a 5-1 lead in the 9th inning, losing in 11 innings 6-5. It was a crushing loss as a win would have given Baltimore a rare series win against Boston. Now the Orioles head West, where they have a history of struggles.
Baltimore opens their West coast trip at Anaheim. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (worst name in sports) have seemed to right the ship after a slow start. They are back in their familiar spot of first place in the AL West and are starting to get some of their injured starting pitchers back.
One of the reasons the Angels have remained upright despite poor starting pitching has been their hitting. The Angels hit .278 as a team, led by 3B Chone Figgins, who is hitting at a .312 clip. CF Torii Hunter has avoided the supposed 33 year old wall and is having a tremendous season. He is hitting .305, with 17 HRs, and 59 RBIs. LF Juan Rivera isn't too far behind his fellow outfielder. Rivera is hitting .304, with 14 HRs and 46 RBIs.
Starting pitching has been an area of injury and inconsistency for the Angels. The Angels team ERA is high at 4.74. John Lackey takes the mound tonight, he missed most of the season and has struggled since returning. Ervin Santana will make his return from the DL on Friday. He is another pitcher that has been consistent for the Angles but has had injury troubles this season. Joe Saunders leads the Angels in wins and he get's the nod on Sunday.
The Orioles only have one bonafide starting pitcher right now and he won't be pitching in this series. Jeremy Guthrie has been up and down, as has Rich Hill, who can throw a shutout one game, and then get shelled and not even last an inning in another. With Koji Uehara on the shelf for the next couple of months, the Orioles have had to keep Jason Berken in the rotation by default, despite him being an abomination.
The Orioles are a bad road team and have a bad set of pitchers set to start this July 4th weekend. If the Orioles can at least get a single win in Anaheim, it has to be considered a success.
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