Orioles Game 109 Game Thread: at White Sox, 7:10

Another day, another game the Orioles have to win to guarantee they will hold first place for another day. They don't face any old friends this time - just Carlos Rodon, who, although he's struck out a lot of batters this year, has also been very hittable. The fact that Rodon has given up 17 home runs in 98.1 innings pitched this season is encouraging for an Orioles team that lives with, and dies without, home runs.

On the other hand, it seems like the Orioles look poorly against every pitcher with a bad ERA, particularly when those pitchers are left-handed. Rodon has a 4.67 ERA this year. Rodon, at least, is not a soft-tossing lefty, averaging 93mph on his fastball this season, according to Fangraphs.

Chris Davis is dropped to sixth in the lineup for the game. Is that going to stick? Maybe it should until he gets himself going again. It probably won't stick, though, and is just something happening against a lefty.

Speaking of players named Chris, Chris Tillman takes the mound for the Orioles, looking to rack up win #15 on the season. Pitcher wins don't mean anything, of course, but it would still be cool if circumstances can align such that Tillman maintains a chance to be the first 20-game winner for the Orioles in decades. He can help himself towards that goal by pitching well. The Orioles offense can help him by hitting tons of dingers.