Baltimore @ Cleveland preview
Progressive Field
Last Meeting ( May 16, 2010 ) Cleveland 5, Baltimore 1
Before Monday’s game against the Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter said it was about time that the team became more proactive than reactive.
Showalter also said that it was time other teams started adjusting to what the Orioles can do.
They may still own the worst record in baseball, but the Orioles are playing with a newfound swagger.
Since Showalter’s arrival, Baltimore has won six of seven games. The only other manager in Orioles history to start his career with that mark was Earl Weaver, who went on to win 1,480 games and a World Series before being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
The Orioles received tremendous starting pitching and timely hitting on their wildly successful homestand. The team won consecutive series for the first time in more than a year, but now Showalter must see if the magic extends to the road.
Baltimore is 14-40 on the road this season and 2-6 at Cleveland.
Jake Arrieta, who has one of the more powerful young arms in the Orioles’ system, takes the hill for the Orioles. The hurler hasn’t won since July 11. He also received a no-decision in his last start against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, allowing two runs in 7 2/3 innings.
Closer Alfredo Simon blew his fourth save on Monday, but it was also the third time he has worked in the last four days. That could deem him unavailable for Tuesday's contest, leaving Showalter with an interesting decision should the Orioles face a save opportunity.
Mike Gonzalez signed a two-year, $12 million deal with the Orioles over the winter to serve as the team’s closer. He was injured early in the season and has produced just one save thus far, although he has allowed two earned runs in nine appearances - nine innings - since returning.
Despite the Orioles’ recent success, the Indians could be eager to greet them to Progressive Field. Like Baltimore, Cleveland is a last-place team that has played much better of late.
The Indians are 12-11 since the All-Star break. Not too shabby considering 20 of those 23 games have come against the Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins, Tampa Bay Rays, New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox – all teams in contention at the time of the series.
Cleveland’s only series against a non-contender was a three-game set against the Toronto Blue Jays, who lead all of baseball in home runs.
Now that the Indians have survived a murderous start to the second half, their next nine games come against the Orioles, Kansas City Royals and Seattle Mariners.
Justin Masterson will face the Orioles following another gem against the Red Sox, his former team.
Masterson is 2-0 against the Red Sox this season with a 0.64 ERA and nine strikeouts in 14 innings. He is 2-10 with a 5.98 ERA against the rest of the league.