Orioles Game Two gamethread: vs Twins, 7:05 pm

The Orioles have one win in the books, so I think they just need 90 or so more to get into the playoffs. I'm still not sure if they have it in them, but I feel better after Monday's win. Silly? Yes. But such is life.

Tonight marks the Orioles debut for Yovani Gallardo, and I don't know what to expect. Gallardo has a reputation for being durable, and it's true that he has made at least 30 starts every year since 2009. But in the last three seasons he has averaged less than six innings per start. It's a good thing that the Orioles have that kick ass bullpen.

Another worrisome stat is Gallardo's plummeting strikeout rate. From 2009 to 2012 he averaged 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings; over the last three seasons it has been just 6.6. He has still managed to remain effective, so hopefully that means that he has successfully adapted to being a different sort of pitcher as he ages.

Kyle Gibson will be taking the mound for the Twins tonight. Gibson was the Twins' first-round pick back in 2009 and is in his third season with the team. He's also not much of a strikeout guy, averaging just 6 K/9 through is first 73 big league starts.

Gibson faced the Orioles twice in 2015, which will be remembered in history as the Year the Orioles Went 0-7 Against the Twins. In both games he gave up just two runs but wasn't especially impressive. His better start was in July when he pitched 6 innings with six hits, walked one, and struck out seven. In August he pitched just 5 2/3 innings with six hits, walked four, and only struck out two.

Will the Orioles win tonight to get their first series win of the year? I sure hope so.

Let's go O's!