Just what we've all been waiting for, Mark Hendrickson back in the starting rotation. Hendo has been good in the bullpen this year and hopefully he'll be able to turn in a few decent starts between now and the end of the year. I'm not holding my breath, but it could happen.
Wade Davis is making his third career start tonight. He was very good in his major league debut, striking out 9 Tigers in 7 innings and allowing just 1 run. He got his clock cleaned by Boston in his next start, allowing 8 ER in just 2.2 innings. I imagine when that happened all of the Red Sox were in the dugout laughing at him. I hear they can be jerks that way.
Davis was drafted by the Rays out of high school in the 3rd round of the 2004 draft. Prior to the 2009 season he was rated the #2 prospect in the Rays system by John Sickels, who at the time projected him to be Gil Meche type pitcher. Kevin Goldstein at BP rated him the Rays #3 prospect in his five star category. Davis made 28 starts for the Durham Bulls, his second year in AAA and had very good numbers although his walks look a little high. Not awful, but a 3.4 BB/9 in the minors could get a person in trouble once he is facing major league hitters.
If the O's can win tonight, it'll be their first back-to-back series wins since 6-12 July when they took 2 out of 3 from the Mariners and then the Blue Jays. The Orioles have won consecutive series 4 times this year. They won their first three of the season against the Yankees, Rays, and Rangers. They took 2 of 3 from the Nats and Blue Jays from 22-27 May, and had a lovely time playing the NL, taking 2 of 3 from the Braves and Mets before sweeping the Phillies on 13-21 June. It'd be nice to take a series before the Red Sox come into town for the final time this season.
Let's Go O's!