The Indians kick off Memorial Day weekend with a Friday night match up against the Baltimore Orioles at 7:10pm. Trevor Bauer (3-2, 4.31) makes his sixth start of the season for the Indians. He’ll face off against Baltimore’s 26-year-old right hander Mike Wright (2-3, 4.97).
In 2015, the Orioles took five out of six against the Wahoos. Baltimore’s lack of postseason success may mask the Orioles’ accomplishments over the past four seasons, but they have been remarkably consistent. The franchise has more wins than any other American League team since 2012 (381) while hitting more home runs (920, 67 more than Toronto) and making fewer errors (347) than any AL team during that time span. Chris Davis also leads all the majors with 169 home runs since 2012.
This season’s Orioles club has certainly exhibited some prodigious power. They rank second in the majors in home runs (one behind Tampa Bay) and are led individually by Mark Trumbo (14), Manny Machado (13) and Chris Davis (10). No Indians hitter has more than eight (Mike Napoli). The Orioles started the season 7-0, which was the best start to a season without a loss in team history.
The Orioles are in second place in the American League East, two games behind Boston. The Indians enter the weekend in second place in the Central, just a half game behind the White Sox after taking three of four this week. The White Sox begin a three game series in Kansas City tonight. The Indians move into first with a win tonight and a Chicago loss.
For the Orioles, Mike Wright makes his first career appearance against the Indians. In two career starts against the Orioles, Bauer is 0-2 with a 6.35 ERA. Manny Machado is two for five with two homes runs against Bauer.
First pitch is scheduled for 7:10, with fireworks immediately following the ballgame. Starting line-ups below:
