Tuesday night Orioles game thread: vs. Angels, 7:05

Spenser Watkins is the latest starting pitcher with the chance to be a hero and end the Orioles dreaded losing streak. He’s on the mound tonight for the first of three games against the Angels.

After bursting onto the scene in Baltimore with a 1.76 ERA in his first three major league starts, Watkins has been trending downward. In his past five starts, the right-hander has an 8.37 ERA and .337 BAA. But tonight is as good a night as ever to turn things around.

Guess what? There’s a familiar face on the mound for the opposing team. It’s Dylan Bundy, who’s making his first career start against the O’s. After being traded to the Angels in December 2019, Bundy had a strong year with Los Angeles in 2020. He went 6-3 with a 3.29 ERA, 2.95 FIP, 1.04 WHIP, and 9.9 SO/9. Bundy even finished ninth in the AL Cy Young voting. Most surprisingly, he only averaged 0.7 HR/9.

But this year has not gone well for Bundy. He enters play tonight with a 6.04 ERA and is averaging 1.9 HR/9. When he was demoted to the bullpen — a stretch that lasted from late June to late July — Bundy had a 6.78 ERA. Since returning to the rotation, he has a 3.72 ERA and .171 BAA over four starts (19.1 innings), with only two home runs allowed. In 70 career appearances at Camden Yards (including 58 starts) Bundy has a 4.49 ERA and has allowed 62 home runs in 346.2 innings. That comes out to 1.6 HR/9.

Jahmai Jones, batting eighth and playing second base, is making his Orioles debut. Plus, he’s facing his former team.

Orioles lineup

1. Cedric Mullins CF
2. Ryan Mountcastle 1B
3. Trey Mancini DH
4. Anthony Santander RF
5. Austin Hays LF
6. Ramón Urías 3B
7. Pedro Severino C
8. Jahmai Jones 2B
9. Jorge Mateo SS

RHP Spenser Watkins

Angels lineup

1. Shohei Ohtani DH
2. David Fletcher 2B
3. Phil Gosselin 3B
4. Jared Walsh 1B
5. José Iglesias SS
6. Max Stassi C
7. Brandon Marsh CF
8. Jo Adell LF
9. Juan Lagares RF

RHP Dylan Bundy