vs. TIGERS, 5/15

Baltimore Orioles (23-12, 1st, +1.0) vs. Detroit Tigers (15-21, 4th -8.5)

Streak / L10

BAL: +7, Won 9 of 11 / L10: 8-2

DET: -4, Lost 10 of 11 / L10: 1-9

NEW: Quality Start minimum requirements

- 6 IP, 2ER

- 7 IP, 3ER

- Game ERA must be under four

Game 4 (1:35)

(QS=2)Kevin Gausman (0-1) 2.16 (0.80/.170), 23/5 (2HR)

vs.

(QS=0)Michael Fulmer (2-1) 6.00 (2.00/.364), 16/6 (3HR)

Kevin Gausman: Gausman has not allowed more than three runs in a game yet in four starts and has gone at least six in the last three. What's awesome about Gausman right now is he's not walking a whole lot of people, but has allowed only 15 hits in 25 innings. I'm sure it won't last, but he has been fantastic so far in 2016 for the Orioles. He has been even better at Camden Yards this year and has done ok against the Tigers, but the ERA is a bit high. The sad thing is despite these performances, he has yet to record his first win of the season.

Splits & Sits

43 vs. left: .098/.140/.116

52 vs. right: .234/.288/.385, 2HR

Bases Empty: .186

RISP: .000

RISP w/2 outs: .000

Men on w/2 outs: .000

Man on 3rd, < 2 outs: .000

2016 Home (2 starts)

(0-0) 1.29 (0.57/.146), HR

Career vs. DET (3 starts)

(1-1) 4.24 (1.00/.238), 2HR

vs. Batter

Ian Kinsler 3/7, 2B

Victor Martinez 0/7

Miguel Cabrera 1/5, 2RBI

Anthony Gose 1/4

Nick Castellanos 1/3, HR, 2RBI

James McCann 1/3

J.D. Martinez 0/2, BB

Jarrod Saltalamacchia 0/2 (I hate spelling your name. Your new name is "Rod Salt" or "Salt Jar")

Michael Fulmer: Fulmer is considered Detroit's top prospect this season and though he has no quality starts, he has been OK in two of them. He has gone five innings in all three starts and has allowed three or fewer runs in two of them, but allowed five in the other on 10 hits and two walks. He gave up seven hits in the other two games and has increased his walk total by one in each start with three in the last. His FB/GB ratio so far is 27/23, so that's good at least. He has not thrown 100 pitches yet.

Splits & Sits

35 vs. left: .394/.429/.400

37 vs. right: .333/.405/.595, 3HR

Bases Empty: .361, HR

RISP: .267

RISP w/2 outs: .125

Men on w/2 outs: .286

Man on 3rd, < 2 outs: .667

2016 Away (3 starts)

(has not pitched a game at home yet, Away stats same as season stats)

Career @ Camden Yards (0 starts)

Debut

Career vs Baltimore (0 starts)

Debut

vs. Batter

sighs

The Tigers show once again this game that they are snakebitten. They finally got a two run blast from Cabrera in the top of the sixth with Sanchez pitching very well, but a misjudged rocket off the bat of Trumbo was misplayed by Moya which led to the Orioles putting up three runs in the bottom of the sixth and none of it should have happened. Trumbo smoked that ball, but it was completely catchable and Moya just couldn't track it. The Orioles got another run later on a solo shot from Schoop which ended the night for Sanchez, but then Detroit pulled to within one run in the top of the eighth only to have the Detroit bullpen give up five runs including a grand slam which was Schoop's second home run of the game which makes the final score 9-3. The winning streak increases to seven as the Orioles continue to take advantage of underachieving teams. Eventually though, the Orioles will start playing teams that are playing well and know how to win. Beating up on the A's, Twins and Tigers is like taking candy from a baby and sometimes, the baby gives the candy over willingly. So, while all this winning is nice, it would be a good idea to keep that in mind going forward.

Anyway, Gausman and Fulmer. It's not hard at all to see an Orioles sweep here, but Fulmer could give us some trouble. Big things are expected from him in Detroit, but it doesn't seem like he is at the point of realizing that potential just yet. Gausman on the other hand is realizing it and with the Tigers in the state that they are currently in right now, it seems like an easy outcome to predict. I find myself wondering who is next in line to blow it for the Tigers tomorrow afternoon. It is just awkward to watch them at times.

Boston won today of course, so the division lead remains at one game. Every AL East team won today except Toronto who are currently down 5-2 to Texas in the late innings. The AL in general seems to be weak this season with only six teams above .500 (BAL, BOS, CWS, CLE, SEA and TEX) assuming a Toronto loss tonight which would make them the only AL team with a .500 record. Meanwhile, the NL has nine teams above .500 ( WAS, NYM, PHI, MIA, CHC, STL, PIT, LAD and SF) and Colorado will be the only NL team if they win tonight and are currently up 7-4 on the Mets in the sixth. The AL looks awfully weak thus far. Whether that's a mirage or not is yet to be seen as there's still four and a half months of baseball to play and absolutely anything can happen, but the NL looks like the stronger league halfway through May.

The Orioles have an off day Monday before squaring up with the M's for three who are one of the best AL teams right now followed by three with the Angels in LA before another Monday off day. We then play Houston and Cleveland for three each before returning home to face Boston for four games, the Yankees for three and the Royals for three. We go on the road again to Toronto for four, off day, then to Boston for three followed by another homestand with Toronto, a make up game against Texas in Texas followed by two against the Padres at home and a Thursday off day. Most of June will be home games for the Orioles.

As impressive as the O's have been here, it is equally important to point out how ASTONISHINGLY awful the Tigers' bullpen is. Holy crap.

As impressive as the O's have been here, it is equally important to point out how ASTONISHINGLY awful the Tigers' bullpen is. Holy crap.

The Orioles have six arms in their bullpen with a lower ERA than Detroit's best (2.87), not counting yesterday's call up.

The Orioles have six arms in their bullpen with a lower ERA than Detroit's best (2.87), not counting yesterday's call up.

I haven't checked recently, is the Reds' bullpen still worse?

Just checked...lowest ERA is 3.18.

Miguel "Yankee killer" Gonzalez is starting against the Yanks. It's not going too well for him in the first so far.

Glad that B Rob is doing the game. Should be better than Bordick.

Hello, all,

Interesting to see Brian Roberts in the booth, but I'd rather he replaced Bordick then Palmer.

Let's go, Orioles! Keep the winning streak going.

A Nike sign in the background? Under Armour probably isn't too happy about that.

JD Martinez has hit 2nd in all four games, Gary.

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Not a good start.

What a piece of hitting by Cabrera.

Hello, all,

Interesting to see Brian Roberts in the booth, but I'd rather he replaced Bordick then Palmer.

Let's go, Orioles! Keep the winning streak going.

Is he going to replace Palmer? Is Palmer retiring after this season or something? Or did you mean just this game?

Lol "Alvarez hasn't made a throw like that in 50 years".

Thorne: "I don't think Alvarez has made a throw like that in the last 50 years."

Does he know how old Alvarez is? :laughlol:

Dunno where that first pitch was, but once down 2-0, wouldn't've have been better just to walk him?