Orioles Magic

Friday, July 17 - Sunday, July 19

Baltimore Orioles (40-48) at Chicago White Sox (45-43)

Pitching Matchups

Friday: BAL - Jason Berken (1-6, 5.87)
CWS - John Danks (7-6, 3.91)

Saturday: BAL - Jeremy Guthrie (6-8, 5.35)
CWS - Mark Buehrle (9-3, 3.66)

Sunday: BAL - Brad Bergesen (6-3, 3.54)
CWS - Jose Contreras (4-7, 4.54)

Adam Jones, coming off knocking in the winning run in the All-Star Game, and the Orioles return to action tonight in Chicago, taking on the White Sox. The White Sox are right in the thick of things in the AL Central, despite being just 2 games above .500. The Orioles are just 5 games worse than the White Sox but have no hope of contending. It really sucks that they play in the AL Beast. The Orioles goal is try to avoid a late season collapse, which has been the norm over the past 10 years, and maybe even finish at .500. The Orioles would have to go 41-33 the rest of the way for that to happen.

The White Sox have an average offense that contains a couple of major threats. RF Jermaine Dye leads the team in average and HRs, batting .302 with 20 HRs. 1B Paul Konerko leads the team in RBIs with 60, is also hitting .302, and has hit 16 HRs. Other players to watch out for are C A.J. Pierzynski (.299, 10 HRs, 27 RBIs), SS Alexei Ramirez (.281, 11 HRs, 42 RBIs), and DH Jim Thome (.255, 14 HRs, 50 RBIs).

The White Sox throw two of their best starters in this series, John Danks and Mark Buehrle, and hope to get a third straight solid performance out of Jose Contreras. Buehrle leads the White Sox in wins and ERA, and has 66 strikeouts to 26 walks this season. Danks had a tough time against Minnesota in his last start but prior to that had not allowed an earned run in two straight starts. Contreras has an awful record but as mentioned above, he has pitched very well in his last two starts. If Contreras can become consistent it would greatly improve the White Sox hopes of catching the Detroit Tigers.

Every time I write one of these and I see that Jason Berken is starting I want to poke my eye out. Can the Orioles please call someone up to take his place in the rotation? He is absolute garbage and the O's stand no chance of winning any time he pitches. As I have stated in this space many times before Jeremy Guthrie has been a complete disappointment. He started the season as the ace but now could be considered nothing more than our third starter. The Orioles best chance to win in this series will come Sunday, when their new ace Brad Bergesen takes the mound. If Bergesen can continue to pitch at a high level the rest of the season I think he has a great chance at being named AL Rookie of the Year.

Luke Scott was screwed when he wasn't at least given the chance to be one of the final additions to the All-Star team. Scott leads the O's with 18 HRs, and is third on the team with 51 RBIs. Plus, his .305 average leads the team. Someone who needs to get out of a funk is Brian Roberts. Roberts has seen his average dip to .273 while battling injuries. Hopefully, the break gave him some time to heal nagging wounds.

I think the O's get beat tonight and Saturday, before avoiding the sweep on Sunday.