Orioles Magic

Friday, July 24 - Sunday, July 26

Baltimore Orioles (41-53) at Boston Red Sox (55-39)

Pitching Matchups

Friday: BAL - Brad Bergesen (6-4, 3.51)
BOS - Brady Penny (6-4, 5.02)

Saturday: BAL - Jeremy Guthrie (7-8, 5.12)
BOS - Jon Lester (8-7, 3.87)

Sunday: BAL - David Hernandez (2-2, 3.55)
BOS - John Smoltz (1-3, 6.31)

This weekend, in what is seemingly Mission Impossible for the Orioles, they travel to AL East rival Boston, and try to win a game on the road. The Orioles dropped to 1-14 on the road this season against the AL East following Wednesday's loss at New York against the Yankees. Things could start to get ugly for the Birds this season as their schedule is filled with games against the best division in baseball, the AL East. However, the Orioles might have a decent chance at success this weekend at Boston. The Red Sox are in the midst of a 5 game losing streak and have fallen out of first place.

The biggest reason for the Red Sox swoon over the past 5 games has been the wall that their offense has hit. Reigning AL MVP 2B Dustin Pedroia leads the Red Sox with a .304 average. LF Jason Bay leads the team with 20 HRs and 72 RBIs. His former Pittsburgh teammate Adam LaRoche was acquired by the Red Sox on Wednesday and figures to make his debut this weekend. Other dangerous offensive weapons for the Red Sox include 1B Kevin Youkilis (.299, 17 HRs, 57 RBIs), 3B Mike Lowell (.289, 10 HRs, 42 RBIs), and DH David Ortiz (.228, 12 HRs, 51 RBIs).

The Red Sox have some definite questions in their rotation, and two of their biggest question marks take the hill this weekend. Friday's starter, Brad Penny, hasn't won a start since June 17th, and the Red Sox have lost the last four games he has started. John Smoltz starts Sunday, and he has been mostly ineffective since making his debut in June. He's been lit up in 3 of his first 5 starts, including his last start, where he gave up 6 earned runs in just 5.2 innings of work. Jon Lester takes the mound Saturday and has been pitching great for the past two months.

The Orioles definitely have the edge in the pitching matchups on Friday and Sunday. I have written often about how excited I am about rookie Brad Bergesen, but another exciting rookie starter that has emerged is Sunday's starter David Hernandez. Hernandez has had just one bad start since being called up in May, and has given up just 5 earned runs in his last two starts. If Hernandez and Bergesen end up being as good as the promise they have showed, along with top prospect Chris Tillman, then the Orioles have a bright future indeed.

I think the Orioles will avoid the sweep this weekend, but I expect the Red Sox to win the series.