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Red Sox, Orioles meet in Baltimore Wed.
By: Zach Cohen - StatFox
Published: 8/17/2016  at  10:32:00 AM
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BOSTON RED SOX (66-52)

at BALTIMORE ORIOLES (66-52)

First pitch: Wednesday, 7:00 p.m. ET
Line: Boston –135, Baltimore +125, Total: 9.0

The Red Sox and Orioles meet for a big divisional showdown in Baltimore on Tuesday.

The Red Sox and Orioles are currently battling for first in the AL East, so this is a big game between the two teams. The Blue Jays are also right there, but the Sox and Orioles can only look at what’s in front of them. Both teams have an opportunity to really help themselves in this race on Tuesday and the starters are set to be LHP David Price (10-8, 4.29 ERA, 167 K) for Boston and RHP Chris Tillman (15-4, 3.46 ERA, 126 K) for Baltimore. While Price is the bigger name in this matchup, Tillman has actually been the better pitcher this season. It’s worth pointing out that Tillman allowed just one earned run in seven innings in his only start against the Red Sox this season. Price, meanwhile, is 0-1 with a 5.54 ERA in two starts against the Orioles on the year and that is something that he will desperately be hoping to change in this game. It won’t be easy though, as the Baltimore is 39-18 against the money line in home games this season.

David Price has not pitched well against Baltimore this season, but he is coming off of a solid outing against the Diamondbacks on Aug. 12 and will be hoping to build off of that in this one. Price pitched eight innings in that game and allowed just three earned runs while striking out eight batters. If he can find a way to avoid giving up homers then it’s likely the Red Sox will win this one. He will, however, be in huge trouble if he is not on point with his control. The guy in the Boston lineup that must be mentioned coming into this game is OF Mookie Betts (.315, 28 HR, 89 RBI). Betts had a three-homer, eight-RBI game on Aug. 14 against the Diamondbacks and then had a two-homer, five-RBI game against the Orioles on Tuesday night. He has a tremendous blend of speed and power and the Red Sox are hoping he’ll do damage again in this one.

Chris Tillman has been a revelation for the Orioles this season and he is pitching very well coming into this one. Tillman has allowed three or fewer earned runs in seven of his past eight starts and the Orioles would certainly take a quality start from him against this dangerous Red Sox lineup. One thing that Tillman will, however, need to do is keep his walks down. The righty has walked two or more batters in eight of his past 10 games and he does not want to give Boston anything easy on Tuesday. Offensively, OF Adam Jones (.274, 23 HR, 70 RBI) and 3B Manny Machado (.305, 26 HR, 69 RBI) are two guys the Orioles will be counting on in this one. Both guys have given Price some trouble in their careers, combining to go 21-for-78 with two homers and seven RBI against the lefty. OF Mark Trumbo (.258, 34 HR, 85 RBI) has been even better than both of those guys, though. The slugger is 9-for-25 with two homers and seven RBI against Price and will be hoping to go yard again in this one.


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