Suddenly, the Baltimore Orioles don’t look like baseball’s worst team. They have won all three games under new manager Buck Showalter and picked up their first sweep since the All-Star Break over the Angels. On Friday they will face the Chicago White Sox who will be trying to stay atop the AL Central.
The White Sox are favored in this matchup at -170 in baseball money line odds while the Orioles are +150. The run total is 9.
Prior to their sweep over the Angels, the Baltimore Orioles (35-73, 21-33 home) had not put together back-to-back wins since before the All-Star Break and had averaged just over 3 runs per game over that stretch. They bumped that up to 6.7 runs per game during the Angels series.
Orioles players seem very pleased with Showalter. “Guys have a lot of respect for (Showalter). He’s done a great job; he’s going to do a great job,” said Orioles reliever Jason Berken. Showalter is the fourth manager in Baltimore’s history to win his first three games with the club.
The Orioles will really be able to prove themselves during their series with the Chicago White Sox (62-46, 29-26 away). The White Sox have won 9 out of their last 11 and are 38-13 since June 8 (best record in the majors over that stretch).
The White Sox will start a pitcher who has had recent success against Baltimore. John Danks (11-8, 3.40 ERA) is 3-0 with a 2.45 ERA in his last three matchups with the Orioles.
Brad Bergesen (3-9, 6.63 ERA) will start for the home team. The Orioles will help Showalter’s presence can get him out of his rut as well, as he is 0-7 in his last 11 starts with a 7.26 ERA. Another loss would give him the longest active losing streak in the majors. He went 1-1 with a 2.31 ERA in two starts last season against the White Sox as a rookie.
