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The last place Red Sox sure looked like a last place team on Monday night. That's who the first place Orioles get to play again tonight. The magic number starts the night at 11. The best way to make sure it goes down is to beat this baseball team that almost looks like they've given up on the season.
But just in case you were wondering, the Yankees are playing the Rays in Yankee Stadium, while the Blue Jays are at home against the Cubs. Both of the Orioles competitors are also playing bad teams. Beat the bad team in front of you, Orioles!
Pitchers
RHP Anthony Ranaudo, Red Sox
2014: 4 GS, 23.1 IP, 4.63 ERA, 8 SO, 10 BB, .256 BAA, 1.41 WHIP
Last start (at Yankees): 5.1 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 1 HR, 2 BB, 1 SO
Of course it's a small sample size, but there's something funny about a guy who has walked more batters than he's struck out. The Orioles are just the team to reverse his fortunes here, of course. Ranaudo spent most of the season pitching for the Sox Triple-A team, where he started 24 games and had a 2.61 ERA. That's pretty good. It's also his birthday tonight. Unhappy birthday, Anthony.
RHP Chris Tillman, Orioles
2014: 30 GS, 182.2 IP, 3.40 ERA, 128 SO, 61 BB, .230 BAA, 1.22 WHIP
Last start (vs. Reds): 6 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 1 HR, 2 BB, 6 SO
Tillman's quest for another 200+ inning season is still alive. It's down to crunch time. He's probably got three starts left, including tonight, unless they decide to rest him - and if they rest him he basically needs back-to-back complete games in two starts, which, knowing Tillman, is not happening.
He's faced the Red Sox three times so far this season, the most recent of which was June 10. It's a bit of a different look Red Sox team since then, and one might say that their motivation has wavered. Which still means they're capable of beating Tillman, of course, if he has a bad night. He's allowed five runs in 16 innings against the Sox so far this year.
No current member of the Red Sox has hit a home run off of Tillman. Here is hoping that track continues tonight.