Astros vs Orioles: A Must-Watch Game for Fans
Astros vs Orioles: A Game to Remember
There’s no nice way to put it; last time out, Corbin Burnes stunk. In fact, the Orioles ace is coming off the worst start of his major league career, having allowed 10 hits, 8 ER and 2 HRs in only four innings. Tonight, Burnes has the perfect opportunity to redeem himself, as the O’s square off with the Astros in a battle of two playoff hopefuls.
The Stakes Are High
It’s not only Burnes looking for a shot at redemption against Houston. The Orioles fell flat on their face the first time they faced off with the Stros back in June. Houston swept the three-game set at Minute Maid Park and outscored the Orioles 27-13. In his start from that series, Burnes wasn’t his sharpest, giving up four runs over seven innings.
- Since that series, the teams have gone in somewhat opposite directions.
- Houston is 30-18 since they last played Baltimore.
- In that same time frame, the Orioles are 25-26.
Pitcher Matchup
The Orioles do get a reprieve in that they’re throwing their ace while the Astros are throwing their fifth starter. Rookie Spencer Arrighetti has been a strikeout machine, punching out 134 hitters in 110.2 innings, but all of his other stats are less encouraging. He walks 10.7% of the batters he faces, which would be the worst rate in the majors if he had enough innings to qualify.
- His 1.4 HR/9 would rank him among the 10 worst pitchers in baseball.
- His .255 BAA is 11 points higher than the major league average.
When Arrighetti finds success, it’s due to his sweeper and curveball. He primarily throws his curveball to left-handed batters, welcome news for Gunnar Henderson and Anthony Santander. Henderson leads the Orioles in demolishing curves, with a .441 average, 1.088 slugging percentage and five HRs off curveballs. Tony Taters is not far behind with .368 average, .763 slugging and four homers on curves.
Final Thoughts
Make sure to tune in to see how this pivotal matchup unfolds as both teams fight for their playoff dreams.
This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.