Orioles vs Tigers/KC (Wild Card series)

[Malike]

1 minute ago, KojiSplit said:

No but I much rather face a team who is currently not playing well, doesn’t have Skubal and hasn’t hit well with RISP recently.

None of that matters when the playoffs start. Everyone wanted Texas last year and that worked out well. Detroit/KC, who cares, neither is a walk in the park but we faced Detroit with a bunch of DFA guys and could have swept them last week, we actually have our lineup back together, let the chips fall.

[Rbiggs2525]

I don’t really care either way. All the teams are good but if the Orioles lose to the Royals or Tigers it will be a microcosm of this season. We have the most talented roster in the AL but it would be sure nice if our All Star catcher comes out of his funk.

[JR Oriole]

I want NO part of these Tigers.  The entire team has been eating their Clutch Flakes for breakfast since mid-August.  Let Houston deal with them.  

[SouthRider]

KC by a mile as they have cooled off from their hot run.  Also would rather avoid Skubal. 

[LookitsPuck]

PITCHING

Here are the Top 3 pitchers for each potential matchup and relievers:

• Tigers
  • Skubal (LHP) - 2.39 ERA
  • Olson (RHP) - 3.49
  • Holton (LHP, Opener) - 2.22 + Brant Hurter (LHP, Bulk Relief) - 2.61 OR Ty Madden (RHP, Bulk) - 3.60
  • Relievers: 3.57
• Royals
  • Lugo (RHP) - 3.03 ERA
  • Ragans (LHP) - 3.14
  • Wacha (RHP) - 3.28
  • Brady Singer (RHP, 3.73) could also take a spot depending on if/when Lugo and/or Ragans pitched last.
  • Relievers: 4.24
• Twins
  • Lopez (RHP) - 4.11
  • Ober (RHP) - 3.94
  • Woods-Richardson (RHP) - 4.17
  • Relievers: 4.07
• Mariners
  • Gilbert (RHP) - 3.33
  • Kirby (RHP) - 3.53
  • Miller (RHP) - 2.94 or Woo (RHP) - 3.02
  • Relievers: 3.67

If we are just looking at pitching, I'd most want to face the Twins or the Mariners. The Twins are RHP heavy and their bullpen isn't amazing, and the Mariners are really good but also heavy RHP with a so-so offense, but their relievers are great.

I want nothing to do with the Tigers. Way too much LHP and they're a bad matchup with an excellent bullpen and stellar defense. The Royals are second, but they have a porous bullpen.

For pitching, in order of who I'd want to face most to least:

Twins, Mariners, Royals, Tigers

OFFENSE

For RS/G:

• Tigers - 4.2
  • A reasonably well-balanced lineup with no standouts like Witt, but they do have guys like Greene, Meadows, Carpenter, Vierling and a bunch of other young hitters. 
• Royals - 4.6
  • With The Pasquatch out, they're essentially the Witt and Perez show, otherwise a so-so lineup.
• Twins - 4.6
  • Very well balanced lineup with 7 hitters with an OPS over 700, 2 approaching 900 OPS (Correa, Buxton). They're the strongest to me.
• Mariners - 4.2
  • No regulars with an OPS over 750, and the 3 around that OPS are Raleigh (734), Arozarena (740), and Julio (739).

For hitting, in order of who I'd want to face most to least:

Mariners, Tigers, Royals, Twins

DEFENSE

If you go by cumulative dWAR, the Royals are the standouts with the Tigers behind them. 

In order (most to least):

Twins, Tigers, Mariners, Royals

OVERALL

• Mariners have the worst offense, solid defense, and a heavy RHP starting pitching with a solid bullpen
• Twins have the worst defense, a so-so bullpen, a so-so rotation, but an excellent offense
• Royals have an excellent defense, an excellent rotation, but the worst bullpen and a very good offense
• Tigers have a very good defense, excellent bullpen, excellent starting pitchers/strategy, and a so-so offense

In order (most to least):

Mariners, Twins, Royals, Tigers

Edited 5 hours ago by LookitsPuck

[Fiver6565]

1 hour ago, Tony-OH said:

Adam Frazier beating the Orioles with a bloop single is a horror I don't want to think about.

LOL Frazier literally just hit a two-run single in the ninth to probably win the game for KC just now.  A little preview perhaps!!!

[Fiver6565]

And the Tigers come all the way back from down 3-0.  3-3 not done in the bottom of the eight.  Magic dust continues for them, keep me away from these dudes next week.  Yeesh.

[JR Oriole]

Tigers just tied it up.  This team is absolutely terrifying.  None of their hitters have any nerves at all.  Problem is, they will sweep the White Sox and KC has to come to Atlanta where the games will matter a lot.  So I don't see how we can avoid Detroit. Only question is where we play them.

[Sports Guy]

KC about to win

[LookitsPuck]

Just now, Fiver6565 said:

And the Tigers come all the way back from down 3-0.  3-3 not done in the bottom of the eight.  Magic dust continues for them, keep me away from these dudes next week.  Yeesh.

That lineup is so sneaky good. 

Greene, Vierling, Carpenter, Keith, Meadows, Canha, Perez and so many other new guys/role players that are great for them. 

And they just took the lead.

[Fiver6565]

2 minutes ago, JR Oriole said:

Tigers just tied it up.  This team is absolutely terrifying.  None of their hitters have any nerves at all.  Problem is, they will sweep the White Sox and KC has to come to Atlanta where the games will matter a lot.  So I don't see how we can avoid Detroit. Only question is where we play them.

Aaaaaaaand its 4-3 Tigers

[LGOrioles]

1 minute ago, Fiver6565 said:

And the Tigers come all the way back from down 3-0.  3-3 not done in the bottom of the eight.  Magic dust continues for them, keep me away from these dudes next week.  Yeesh.

Crazy how lucky they’re getting. .145 xBA and are over .250 on the day. 2-4 with RISP. A clear strike called a ball to Vierling led to a walk and then a horrible missed check swing call gave Keith a 1-1 count instead of 0-2. He hit a game tying single the next pitch. 

[LookitsPuck]

3 minutes ago, JR Oriole said:

Tigers just tied it up.  This team is absolutely terrifying.  None of their hitters have any nerves at all.  Problem is, they will sweep the White Sox and KC has to come to Atlanta where the games will matter a lot.  So I don't see how we can avoid Detroit. Only question is where we play them.

Yep. 4 games left for the O's and none of these games are gimmes. The Tigers have the easy schedule remaining. Hopefully the O's can squeak out 1 more win, ideally tonight. The Tigers probably won't lose a game the rest of the regular season. 

[LGOrioles]

2 minutes ago, LookitsPuck said:

That lineup is so sneaky good. 

Greene, Vierling, Carpenter, Keith, Meadows, Canha, Perez and so many other new guys/role players that are great for them. 

And they just took the lead.

Even in the last 30 days they have a 97 wRC+ and 27% K rate. They’ve just been very timely.

[LookitsPuck]

Just now, LGOrioles said:

Even in the last 30 days they have a 97 wRC+ and 27% K rate. They’ve just been very timely.

Their pitching is excellent. So even if they only score 3-4 runs/game, that's been enough.