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As we approach a weird 8/31 trade deadline in a weird season, there’s been some buzz about the guy who’s been the Orioles’ best starter in 2020, Alex Cobb. After injuries derailed Cobb’s first two seasons of a four-year, $57-million deal signed back when Dan Duquette and the guys still thought they could pump some life into a flagging team, some understandably soured on the deal.
Well, Cobb has picked a weird year for it, but it looks like the righty is finally back to the form he had in 2017, when he went 12-10 with a 3.66 ERA for Tampa Bay. Cobb is 1-2 this season with a 3.73 ERA over six starts, and a lot of the time he’s looked better than his numbers indicate. The Cobb Splitter, a pitch he started throwing in 2017 and that’s been his best weapon this year, has generated an impressive swing-and-miss rate of 35%.
It’ll be bittersweet if Cobb ends up getting dealt just as he’s getting rolling again. Whatever the baseball gods decide, I have definitely enjoyed watching him work this season.
On the bump for Toronto is longtime Mariner Taijuan Walker, who joined the Blue Jays just two days ago in a trade with Seattle for a PTBNL. The last time Walker faced the Orioles was 2016, back when the lineup included the likes of Hyun-Soo Kim, Joey Rickard, and Pedro Alvarez. Few of the current bunch have faced Walker, but Hanser Alberto is 1-for-2 against him, José Iglesias 1-for-3, and Pat Valaika 1-for-2. So far this season, Walker is 2-2 with a 4.00 ERA in five games, but he hasn’t pitched since August 19.
The Orioles offense has been quiet lately, so it’s great to see José Iglesias back out in the field and back in the three hole. Tonight, Brandon Hyde is once again going with the double-catcher one-two punch, with lefty Chance Sisco catching and hitting sixth, and Pedro Severino in at the DH slot. I hope it works out well for the Orioles tonight.
Orioles lineup
1. Hanser Alberto 2B
2. Anthony Santander RF
3. Jose Iglesias SS
4. Renato Nunez 1B
5. Pedro Severino DH
6. Chance Sisco C
7. Ryan Mountcastle LF
8. Rio Ruiz 3B
9. Cedric Mullins CF
RHP Alex Cobb
Blue Jays lineup
1. Cavan Biggio 2B
2. Randal Grichuk CF
3. Rowdy Tellez 1B
4. Teoscar Hernandez RF
5. Vladimir Guerrero DH
6. Travis Shaw 3B
7. Derek Fisher LF
8. Danny Jansen C
9. Joe Panik SS
RHP Taijuan Walker