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Game 5: Orioles (1-3) @ Tigers (3-0), 1:08

The Orioles are not exactly off to the best start of the season but they look to try to turn around today as Bud Norris takes on the Tigers. The offense, bolstered with return of Hardy and Wieters, will face Rick Porcello.

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

1-3, huh, that's the opposite of how the O's started 2013 (3-1 after beating the Rays twice and the Twins). Sure, playing tough teams like the Red Sox and the Tigers is probably... tough (apologies for redundancy) but it would be nice to able to beat them more. For the game five of the season, the Orioles try to rebound from a pounding they received from the Tigers yesterday, which you can find the recap for here.

Well, if you must take positives, the Orioles have hit Porcello well throughout his career (1-5, 5.14 ERA in 7 starts) and the current roster has a .802 OPS against the young righty. Also, J.J. Hardy is starting, which is great because his back must not be bothering him that much anymore and that pushed Schoop to 3B, which pushes Flaherty and his 0-for-15 (with 7 K's) season batting line to the bench.

The Orioles lineup is constructed with a good amount of power and that hasn't shown too much so far in this extremely young season - perhaps they are due for something today, one could hope! Especially when Hardy and Wieters are back in the lineup.

Making his first start of 2014 season is the former Cal Poly Mustang David Stefan "Bud" Norris (imagine if he goes by Stefan Norris). Numbers from his ST are encouraging (2.65 ERA in 17.0 IP with 15 K's) and if you must find more to feel optimistic, (small sample size alert!) Miguel Cabrera and Torii Hunter are combined 2-for-12 against Norris lifetime and the strongest player in the Tigers roster against the Oriole righty is... Andy Dirks (1.714 OPS against in 7 AB's) but he's not in the lineup. Alright, enough with SSS optimisms - Norris obviously still needs to be cautious versus Miggy & Co. lineup and show that he belongs in that 5th spot of the rotation.


Lineup

BALTIMORE ORIOLES DETROIT TIGERS
David Lough - LF Ian Kinsler - 2B
Nelson Cruz - RF Torii Hunter - RF
Chris Davis - 1B Miguel Cabrera - 1B
Adam Jones - CF Victor Martinez - DH
Nick Markakis - DH Austin Jackson - CF
J.J. Hardy - SS Alex Avila - C
Matt Wieters - C Alex Gonzalez - SS
Steve Lombardozzi - 2B Don Kelly - 3B
Jonathan Schoop - 3B Rajai Davis - LF
Bud Norris - RHP Rick Porcello - RHP