Series Preview: Twins vs. Orioles
Spring Training has come and gone, and Opening Day is finally here. The Baltimore Orioles start their 2018 campaign at home with a three-game set against the Minnesota Twins. Let’s check out the pitching matchups:
Game One: Jake Odorizzi (0-0, -.– ERA) vs. Dylan Bundy (0-0, -.– ERA)
The Orioles will take on a familiar foe on Opening Day, as former Ray Jake Odorizzi will take the mound for the Twins. Odorizzi went 10-8 with a 4.14 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP over 28 starts in 2017, four of which came against the Orioles. Manny Machado has hit Odorizzi hard throughout his career, batting .279 with four home runs and 11 RBI in 43 at-bats.
Dylan Bundy takes the mound for his 1st Opening Day start of his career against the Twins. Bundy went 13-9 with a 4.24 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP in 28 starts last season, two of which came against the Twins. Logan Morrison, another former Ray, has hit Bundy well, batting .417 with two home runs and three RBI in 12 at-bats against the righty starter.
Game Two: Kyle Gibson (0-0, -.– ERA) vs. Andrew Cashner (0-0, -.– ERA)
Kyle Gibson will take the mound for the Twins in the middle game of the series. Gibson had a poor 2017 season, pitching to a 5.07 ERA and a 12-10 record in 29 starts. Gibson struggled mightily against the Orioles in 2017, giving up 13 earned runs over two starts. Adam Jones has launched four home runs in 20 at-bats against Gibson throughout his career.
Andrew Cashner will make his Orioles debut in game two of the three game set against the Minnesota Twins. Cashner is coming off a string 2017 season, in which he pitched to an 11-11 record and a 3.40 ERA over 28 starts with the Texas Rangers. Cashner, spending only one season of his eight-year career in the American League, has faced very few of the Twins’ batters.
Game Three: José Berrios (0-0, -.– ERA) vs. Kevin Gausman (0-0, -.– ERA)
23-year old José Berrios will get the ball for the series finale Sunday. Berrios rebounded after an abysmal rookie season to the tune of a 13-8 record and a 3.93 ERA in 25 starts. Berrios has pitched well against the Orioles in his short career, winning both of his starts in 2017 while allowing only three runs in each.
Orioles right hander Kevin Gausman will take the mound for the Orioles in the series finale to begin his 2018 season. Gausman regressed after a strong 2016 season last year, posting an 11-12 record and a 4.68 ERA over a league high 34 starts. Gausman has fared well against the Twins; however, slugger Miguel Sanó has two home runs in 11 at-bats against the righty.
The Orioles have started off the last two seasons well, starting the season 7-0 in 2016 and 4-0 in 2017, but with a relatively lackluster roster and the overhanging free agency of Manny Machado and Adam Jones, a hot start is needed this season more than ever.
