Game Preview: Baltimore Orioles (40-34) vs. Cleveland Indians (33-40)

In the final game of the three set against the Cleveland Indians, the surging O's look to pick up the sweep at home while building upon their three game winning streak (have won 17 of last 22). The Indians hope to perceiver against a offensively tenacious Orioles squad to avoid the sweep while simultaneous trying to climb out of the deep hole in their Al Central division (The Indians are 11 games back of the first place Kansas City Royals).

What O's need to do to win:

Attack early and often. Although the Orioles have never faced 30-year major league rookie Toru Murata, they need to startle this pitcher early to have a chance to chase him in the opening innings. Luckily, the Orioles specialize at grinding down pitchers as they can force the opposition to make a great pitch in order to get a well deserved out.

What Indians need to do to win:

Similarly, the Indians will have to attack Tillman from the opening pitch if they hope to score some runs. Tillman has proven to be inept as a starting pitcher and can give up runs in a hurry if he loses his rhythm. If the Indians fail to score within the first third in the game, their chances at stealing a win on the road will drop dramatically as Tillman tends to settle in as the game wears on.

Final Verdict.

While this game may not be as defensive minded as the previous one, it will undoubtedly showcase the capabilities of an Orioles offense that has deflated the morale of several ball clubs throughout the month of June. Although the Indians have a relatively decent chance at avoiding the sweep, their decision to introduce a major league rookie will ultimately be their undoing. Final Score: O's 8 Indians 6  

Rapid Reaction: O's 4 Indians 0

In the first game of their double header, the Orioles displayed their dominant versatility in terms of pitching and hitting. Ubaldo Jimenez (W 7-3, 8 IP, 4 H, 7 K) easily pitched his best game of the year against a woeful Indians team that has lost six out of their last ten games. Offensively, the O's didn't score a multitude of runs, but they had big home run hits from Jimmy Paredes who hit a two run shit in the third (ninth homer of the year) and a clutch solo shot from the red hot Manny Machado (15th homer of the year).

What I liked:
Ubaldo seems to reaffirm that this is his year with every start he makes. While he may not be an ace (yet), he has clearly come into his own as a low strike zone assassin who can now throw strikes seemingly on command. Manny Machado continues to be a monster at the plate, and Jimmy Paredes continues to inflate his hitting and on base percentage with one well timed hit after another.

What I didn't like:
Bauer appeared to start off strong with two strong innings, especially during the second inning where he struck out the side. Although Bauer only gave up four runs through seven innings, it was four too many for a team that has struggled to manufacture runs this year. Worse still, Cleveland catcher Yan Gomes struggled to corral several wild albeit manageable pitches. It gave the O's easy scoring opportunities and ultimately shifted the momentum towards a Baltimore offense that has been relentless at the plate.

MVP: Ubaldo Jimenez, Pitcher, Baltimore Orioles

LVP: Yan Gomes, Catcher, Cleveland Indians

Baltimore Orioles (39-34) vs. Cleveland Indians (33-39) Preview (Game #2)

Although a rain drenched Camden Yards was unable to accommodate a pivotal game 2 between the Indians and Orioles last night, it actually was a blessing in disguise. While Chris Tillman was supposed to take the mound yesterday, it was hard to imagine that his luck of garnering favorable run support would last much longer. For the Indians, they undoubtedly had some trepidations of their own as they were planning on starting rookie Cody Anderson. Since then, this game two matchup has taken on a completely different look with two efficient starting pitchers in the O's Ubaldo Jimenez (6-3, 3.40 ERA) and the Indians Trevor Bauer (6-4, 3.86 ERA). Given that yesterdays matchup had all the fixings of an offensive drag race, today is a prime example of a game that could be predicated on well executed pitching and timely defensive plays.

What O's need to do to win:

Today, the O's will need to find some consistency in their pitching if they hope to win the first game of the double header. Luckily, Ubaldo has provided that in spades as he has held the opposition to three earned runs in his last three starts. Along with that, the Orioles need to find a way to fluster a starting pitcher that as been all over the place in terms of his last few starts. At his most confident, Bauer is a lights out pitcher that can throw confidently in the strike zone. At his worst, Bauer can struggle with his pitching command which results in a high walk rate(1.33 WHIP). Having center fielder Adam Jones back in the line up could do wonders in helping disrupt this finicky pitcher early on.

What Indians need to do to win: 

For the Indians, they need to force Jimenez to throw legitimate strikes before taking a strong cut at one of his many deceptive pitches. While Jimenez may not have the fastball that he had when he played for Cleveland, he has done an incredible job of developing his breaking and off-speed pitches, particularly when it comes to attacking the bottom of the strike zone. Although the Indians are familiar with Jimenez as a pitcher, they haven't seen the versatile Jimenez that stands before them now. If they hope to get a much needed win on the road, they'll have to be patient at the plate.

Final Verdict:

While this matchup will be an intriguing one from start to finish, the end result will come down to which pitcher breaks first. Although Bauer has the potential to be a great starter, his consistency issues could put him in a rough spot early on. Combine that with an Orioles offense that has flourished on a regular basis (along with the return of their productive leader Adam Jones) and you have the makings of a game that will start competitive early but could boil down to one big hit down the stretch. Final Score: Indians 4 Orioles 6

Game Preview: Baltimore Orioles vs. Cleveland Indians (Game #2)

While it may be farfetched to suggest that the Baltimore Orioles are destined for their 3rd playoff berth in four seasons, this smash mouth offense has proven that it can overcome even the most intimidating run deficits. Although the starting pitching has had it's moments of brilliance and unspeakable melt downs, the Orioles have provided starting pitcher Chris Tillman with ample run support (season average of 6.47 runs per game).

The Matchup:
Thus far, the Orioles suspect starting rotation has found it's groove when it comes to pitching against the Cleveland Indians (haven't allowed the Indians to score more than 3 runs in four meetings this season). On top of that, The Orioles offense has found ways to score against the Indians in the later innings of the ball game, stifling any confidence the Indians have attempted to create for themselves.

What O's need to do to win:
The O's key to success is to play their style of baseball which is predicated on a high-powered offense that can score at any time. Combine that with a clutch bullpen that is capable of baffling even the most prolific hitters (especially with Zach Britton closing) and you have a team that is designed to be aggressive at the plate and lights out on the mound. While Chris Tillman's 6.22 ERA is definitely a cause for concern, Cleveland's offensive output is decent at best (21st in MLB in runs per game). If Tillman can get into a groove as he did the last time he pitched against the Indians (6.3 IP, 2 ER) the Orioles dynamic offense should take care of the rest.

What Indians need to do to win:
Simple. Be aggressive at the plate against Tillman and hope that rookie pitcher Cody Anderson can quiet a red hot Orioles offense. Although Anderson's first start in the majors was impressive (7.2 IP, 0 ER, 4 SO against Rays), it's hard to predict how a young pitcher will react against a team that loves to play at home. Along with that, this Cleveland offense needs to score runs quickly and consistently if they hope to keep the home team at bay.

Final Verdict:
The Cleveland Indians high risk yet high reward decision to allow a rookie pitcher to take the mound will make for a interesting matchup. Despite the inexperience, it allows the Indians to use deception to their advantage by forcing the Orioles to figure out this new starter on the fly rather than relying on past experiences to help them score early. However, the Orioles line up in recent weeks has proven that they can hit 1-9 effectively given the opportunity. Regardless of the unknown nature of the starting pitcher,it seems safe to say that the Orioles can't be bet against until someone finds the blueprint for slowing down this potent offense. Final Score: Indians 5 O's 8.

Update: Game Postponed due to inclement weather. Double Header to be played tomorrow at 1:35 & 7:05 respectively.