Erik Bedard, LH Scott Elarton, RH
(6-4, 3.06) (7-6, 4.58)
Game time is 7:05 on WNUV and FSN Ohio.
This is a pivotal series for Cleveland, as they can't afford to drop games at this point in the thick of the wild card race. It's also a pivotal series for the O's, since our pipe dream wild card hopes are pretty much hanging on every single game we play from here on out.
Bedard has struggled of late, with his ERA going from 1.89 on July 18 to 3.06 on August 14. Actually that could be better phrased - he hasn't struggled, necessarily, just become hittable. He's mostly been lucky on the road this year. Away from Baltimore, he's 2-2 with a 3.31 ERA, but his WHIP is 1.53 and he's been knocked around pretty well (.295 BAA). At home, his line is 2.91/1.07/.216.
Elarton was a pretty nice low-cost pickup for Cleveland last season, pitching well enough for a back-end guy ,and he's done pretty much the exact same thing for them this year. He's no world-beater and he still gives up a lot of homers (1.78 HR/9), but he does what is asked of him.