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vs. ASTROS, 8/18


Sessh

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VS.

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Game 1 (7:05)

<IMG SRC="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kRA0kohlwpI/TIQSBQQ2KRI/AAAAAAAADmY/_KuXbW6jxfg/s1600/Orioles+-+baby+bird+2009.gif" HEIGHT="80" WIDTH="80" BORDER="0"> |=======| <IMG SRC="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6b/Houston-Astros-Logo.svg/2000px-Houston-Astros-Logo.svg.png" HEIGHT="80" WIDTH="80" BORDER="0">

* = games back of wild card

Team Records

66-53 |=======| 61-59

3rd, -2.0 |=======| 3rd, -5.5*

Streaks / L10

-2, Lost 3 of 4 / 4-6 |=======| -4, 4-4 over last 8 / 4-6

Team Offensive Rankings (AL)

BA: .261 (7th) |=======| BA: .246 (14th)

OPS: .767 (3rd) |=======| OPS: .736 (10th)

Runs: 552 (5th) |=======| Runs: 530 (10th)

HR: 176 (1st) |=======| HR: 144 (10th)

Last 7 Days

BA: .232 (14th) |=======| BA: .311 (2nd)

OPS: .691 (13th) |=======| OPS: .831 (3rd)

Runs: 28 (11th) |=======| Runs: 46 (4th)

HR: 7 (13th) |=======| HR: 10 (8th)

Team Pitching Rankings (AL)

ERA: 4.23 (10th) |=======| ERA: 3.90 (3rd)

WHIP: 1.38 (12th) |=======| WHIP: 1.28 (5th)

BAA: .258 (9th) |=======| BAA: .258 (8th)

TB: 1703 (7th) |=======| TB: 1758 (11th)

Last 7 Days

ERA: 5.28 (11th) |=======| ERA: 6.05 (14th)

WHIP: 1.55 (13th) |=======| WHIP: 1.36 (10th)

BAA: .262 (9th) |=======| BAA: .285 (13th)

TB: 99 (6th) |=======| TB: 126 (12th)

Starters

ERA: 4.86 (12th) |=======| ERA: 4.22 (7th)

WHIP: 1.44 (13th) |=======| WHIP: 1.37 (11th)

BAA: .270 (12th) |=======| BAA: .270 (11th)

TB: 1149 (8th) |=======| TB: 1189 (12th)

Relievers

ERA: 3.22 (1st) |=======| ERA: 3.34 (3rd)

WHIP: 1.29 (7th) |=======| WHIP: 1.12 (1st)

BAA: .237 (4th) |=======| BAA: .236 (3rd)

TB: 554 (8th) |=======| TB: 579 (10th)

NEW: Quality Start minimum requirements

* - Game ERA must be 4.00 or less with at least six innings pitched

32667.png&w=350&h=254

Kevin Gausman

(3-10)

4.04 (1.33/.266)

121K / 35BB, 21HR

QS: 10

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Gausman had inconsistent control against the Giants walking six in only four innings while striking out nine which is nice, but does not excuse eight base runners in only four innings. He was fortunate to allow only two runs, but has a 3.18 ERA in three August starts. He has allowed only two runs total over his last three home starts totalling 21.2 IP. At least he won't have to face Valbuena who is on the DL with a hamstring strain, but he may be back in the Astros lineup before this series is over. He is 3/4 against Gausman with two homers and three RBI.

Splits & Sits

236 vs. left: .237/.285/.364, 6HR

278 vs. right: .291/.348/.464, 15HR

Bases Empty: .310

RISP: .210

RISP w/2 outs: .224

Men on w/2 outs: .202

Man on 3rd, < 2 outs: .250

2016 Home (8 starts)

(3-1) 2.39 (1.04/.224), 6HR

Career vs. HOU (1 starts)

(0-1) 5 IP, 5H, 4ER, 3HR

vs. Batter

George Springer 2/3, 2 S-HR

Jose Altuve 1/3

Carlos Correa 0/3, 2K

Jason Castro 0/2, K

Evan Gattis 0/2, 2K

Jake Marisnick 0/2

Tyler White 0/1, BB

VS

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Joe Musgrove

(1-0)

1.47 (0.76/.185)

21K / 2BB, HR

QS: 2

Rookie Joe Musgrove, who has replaced the injured Lance McCullers, has been dominating in two starts and the relief appearance in the start McCullers was injured. With 21 strikeouts and only two walks in 18.1 IP, Musgrove is for real at least for now. In the minors, Musgrove has a 2.83 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 337.1 IP including a 3.81 (1.14) in 59 IP this season at Fresno which is his first stint at AAA ball and a career line of 1.51 (0.88) at Corpus Christi (AA). This start by Musgrove doesn't appear to be a fluke. He's pretty good and seems to have a great deal of potential. He has a 0.6 HR/9 and a 1.1 BB/9 to go with all that as well.

Splits & Sits

27 vs. left: .240/.296/.370, HR

40 vs. right: .150/.150/.225

Bases Empty: .186

RISP: .154

RISP w/2 outs: .000

Men on w/2 outs: .111

Man on 3rd, < 2 outs: .000

2016 Away (1 starts)

(1-0) 7 IP, 6H, 2ER, HR, 7K / BB

Career vs Baltimore (0 starts)

NA

Career @ Camden Yards (0 starts)

NA

vs. Batter

NA

The Orioles, who usually win at home, drop perhaps the two most important games of the season to this point and fall to third place in the division for the first time all season. Boston has won six in a row and are a game behind Toronto who has won two in a row and six of 10. Dropping these two home games like this is slightly alarming to me because for a team that has played extremely well at home all season, dropping these two games and being outscored 13-4 could very well be the beginning of a tail spin. They can't struggle to win on the road and at home and they are four games below .500 since June 30th at 19-23.

Houston has struggled themselves having lost four in a row coming into this four game series and the Orioles have lost three of four and have quite simply not been the same team since June 30th. I'm not quite sure what to make of them, but I do know that losing this series would likely be the end of Houston's playoff hopes sitting 5.5 back coming into this series. The Astros swept the Orioles in a three game series in Houston back in May which was the beginning of a run that almost saw them catch the Rangers who were ahead of them by 10 games. The Astros pitching is certainly capable of a repeat here with the talented Joe Musgrove going in game one, McHugh in game two, Fiers in game three and Keuchel in game four. The Orioles will send Gausman, Miley, Tillman and Gallardo to face them. The Astros have been outscored 25-9 over the last three games, so these are two teams struggling just about as much as the other and in the same ways. However, Houston won four in a row before this four game losing streak and will have to turn it around this series if they want to stay in this thing. Their season is literally on the line here.

The only place Gausman seems to pitch well enough to win is at home and has been very good over the last three home starts, but Musgrove is also very good. Like Bundy though, he will face an adjustment by the league at some point. It may be a bit too soon for that considering how good he seems to be, but the Orioles should have some trouble with Musgrove.

Not much to say that I didn't already say as far as the standings go. Detroit has lost three in a row 3.5 back in the WC and will begin a series against Boston tomorrow in a day game. Seattle beat the Angels and sit two games back of the Orioles for the second WC and we already know Houston's predicament. Seattle has one more against the Angels, so basically, it's between Baltimore, Detroit, Seattle and, at least for now, Houston. IMO, Seattle is probably the best team of the three trailing teams, but Houston has shown the ability to be dominating over long stretches as they wouldn't be in the conversation at all if they couldn't.

Houston should get Luis Valbuena (hamstring) back from the DL this series maybe in game three provided he has no setbacks. McCullers on the other hand hasn't even started throwing again yet and likely won't until sometime next week, so his return isn't imminent. Musgrove has filled in nicely, though. Meanwhile, the Tigers have been decimated with injuries. They have lost Maybin, Zimmermann, Castellanos, Pelfrey and Iglesias in the last 2.5 weeks. Iglesias is progressing nicely, but won't be eligible to return until the 24th. Castellanos fractured his hand and probably has another couple weeks before he'll be back, Zimmermann (strained lat) likely won't be back until September though his recovery is going well, Maybin (thumb) will probably return next week and Pelfrey should be back before the end of August. He hasn't been good for Detroit this season, but he was a bit better in July. The Tigers, if they can stay within reach, will be a team to watch in September as they should have everyone back then. Houston's life is on the line this series in Baltimore.

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