Orioles Game 143 Game Thread: at Red Sox, 7:10

There are now just 20 regular season Orioles games remaining. These are the 20 games that will determine their place in the playoffs, which could end up being no place at all. OK, that's not strictly true, as the Orioles could either clinch a playoff spot or be eliminated before all 20 games have been played. Bear with me here. Specifics are too much of a mouthful for bold declarations, you know.

However many games that matter remain to the Orioles, it is an undeniable and likely lamentable fact that this one, tonight, will be started by Wade Miley. The Orioles' "you gotta have a lefty in the rotation" acquisition, who has pitched for more than five innings just twice in seven Orioles starts and sports a 7.15 ERA in orange and black, will be opposed by another lefty, David Price. The Orioles being bad against lefties is well-documented, including today on this very website.

Price has pitched against the Orioles three times this year. He has allowed nine runs in 19 innings pitched across those games. Not great, but not a disaster. Worrisome for the Orioles is that they hit Price for five runs in five innings in April and didn't do so well against him in either of the other two games - though they did win a game where Price went eight innings and was outdueled by Chris Tillman. Alas, Tillman is not pitching tonight.

Out-of-town scoreboard watch for tonight: Root for the Rays against the Blue Jays, the Dodgers against the Yankees, the Twins against the Tigers, and if you're worrying deeper into the wild card standings, the Rangers against the Astros, the Angels against the Mariners, and the Athletics against the Royals.