Previews and Lineups

Orioles vs. Red Sox: series preview June 14-16

Tillman, Wilson and Gausman for the O's. Price, Wright and Rodriguez for Boston.

By Tyler Young@_TyYoung Jun 14, 2016, 10:00am EDT

Back to Fenway we go as the Orioles will play the Red Sox for the second time in Boston and the third time overall this season. Over that pair of series so far, the Birds are a combined 4-3 against the BoSox. Whomever wins this three-game set will take over first place in the AL East. Big money, big money. No Whammies! STOP!!

It has not been long since these two sides last met (June 2). Since then, the Red Sox have gone 4-4 over the past week and a half of games. They still lead MLB in team batting average (.291), runs scored (369), on-base percentage (.357) and slugging percentage (.483) though, so this is a tall task for the thin Baltimore pitching staff.

Big money, big money. No Whammies! STOP!!

Tuesday, June 14 at 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN 2

RHP Chris Tillman (8-1, 3.01 ERA) vs. LHP David Price (7-3, 4.63 ERA)

A Tillman start is exactly what we need to cleanse the palette of that two-day old “Ubaldo taste”. But it will be the ace's first time facing the hard-hitting Red Sox this season. So, this is a big test for him.

Price is coming off of one of his better starts of the year, having tossed eight innings and allowed two runs to San Francisco last week. His lone start against the Birds as a BoSock came back in April when he was really struggling. On that day he gave up five runs in five innings. A repeat performance this time around would be appreciated.

Wednesday, June 15 at 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN 2, ESPN 2

RHP Tyler Wilson (2-5, 4.73 ERA) vs. RHP Steven Wright (7-4, 2.09 ERA)

The 26-year-old Wilson's performances have continued on their downward trend. He battled in Toronto last week and still put his team in a position to win the game, but the bats had to bail him out. He has seen Boston twice this season; once as a starter, once as a reliever, and has held his own (9.2 innings, 10 hits, two walks, six strikeouts, three runs).

Wright has come out of nowhere to really anchor this otherwise mediocre Red Sox rotation. His 2.09 ERA is the best in the AL. At the end of May, he threw a complete game against the O’s while allowing two runs on four hits, five walks and seven strikeouts. These kinds of performances have to run out eventually, right?

Thursday, June 16 at 7:10 p.m ET, MASN

RHP Kevin Gausman (0-3, 3.45 ERA) vs. LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (1-1, 6.06 ERA)

Will this be the day that Gausman earns his first win of the season? “Earn” probably isn’t the right word. He has “earned” more than a win or two so far, but will his offense finally help him out a bit?

That said, he stunk against Boston last month. Over six innings he allowed five runs on five hits, two walks and eight strikeouts. He will likely need to do a bit better if he wants that first W.

Rodriguez made his season debut against the Orioles on May 31 (also against Gausman) and, of course, he was pretty good: six innings, two runs, three strikeouts, no walks. But since then, he has struggle in two games (one vs. Toronto, one vs. Minnesota). Over his last 10.1 innings he has given up nine runs on 10 hits, four home runs, seven walks and four strikeouts.