For a while now, people have talked about the fact that the Orioles don't play another winning team until September 12. That's as crazy now that it's ten days away as it was when it first started. I still have a hard time believing it because as I scan the schedule, I see the Reds on there. They seem like a team that should be good every year, if not great. At least enough to be above .500, surely! But no, not this year. So hopefully they can step up against these mediocre Reds and not succumb to the Central curse.
Pitchers
RHP Mat Latos, Reds
2014: 14 GS, 91.1 IP, 3.15 ERA, 67 SO, 24 BB, .218 BAA, 1.08 WHIP
Last start (vs. Cubs): 7 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 2 HR, 1 BB, 10 SO
Latos has lost about 2mph on his fastball just since last year. His strikeout rate is down compared to the rest of his career, ground ball rate is significantly lower. Despite all of this, his ERA is the second-lowest of his career, as is his batting average against and WHIP. He's gone at least six innings in 11 of his 14 starts, and 10 of those starts have been quality starts. No one ever said life makes sense.
Anyway, here's hoping that today's heat translates into Orioles fly balls going out of the yard tonight. Although that would probably also be bad news for...
RHP Bud Norris, Orioles
2014: 23 GS, 135.0 IP, 4.00 ERA, 105 SO, 41 BB, .249 BAA, 1.24 WHIP
Last start (vs. Rays): 6 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 1 HR, 2 BB, 5 SO
It was something of a rough August for Bud, who came into it with a 3.69 ERA and left it with a 4.00 ERA. But it's okay, because it's September now! No, the idea that just escaping August would be enough for Bud not to struggle is ridiculous.
Maybe instead we could go with the fact that Cincinnati has scored the third-fewest runs in all of baseball and also sports the third-lowest OPS of any MLB team. They are collectively batting .240/.299/.368. Woof.
Well, that is a lineup. Here's hoping it works.