Washington Nationals at Baltimore Orioles
Whatever was said at lunch between Baltimore outfielder Nick Markakis and owner Peter Angelos on Thursday must have been the right thing. Since the meeting, the Orioles have won three straight games.
“I think it was up to the point now where it’s no secret - everyone knows what’s going on around here,” Markakis said. “I just felt (meeting him) was the right thing to do, get some answers here and there.”
The O’s, who hold a major-league worst 22-52 record and rank third-to-last in runs, have plated 24 batters during their winning streak. The team overcame five- and six-run deficits in its last two victories – both against the Nationals.
“I think it’s huge,” catcher Matt Wieters said of the win. “No matter what we get down by, we’re going to be able to swing and get our way back into it. I think it’s a big boost.”
The two wins against Washington snapped a string of 11 straight series losses for Baltimore.
“I think we can even play better baseball,” Adam Jones said. “We will take it right now, (but) we’ve got to continue to improve as a team.”
Don’t expect the Orioles to climb back into the AL East race, but they are worth a play while the offence is churning and confidence is high.
Pick: Orioles
Houston Astros at Texas Rangers
With ace Roy Oswalt on the verge of being dealt, the Astros have essentially announced they are in a rebuilding mode. Houston’s lineup on Saturday featuring four rookies confirmed it.
The Astros trotted out four first-year position players – Jason Bourgeois in center field, Chris Johnson at third base, Jason Castro at catcher and Oswaldo Navarro at shortstop – that had combined for 33 big league at-bats. The quatrain went 2-for-14 with four strikeouts.
“We’ll wait and see how everything works out,” manager Brad Mills said.
Oswalt will be on the bump in Sunday’s game and every start from here until the All-Star break is basically an audition for a contending team. The heat index is projected to be 101 at its peak in Arlington Sunday and offences usually struggle in the Texas heat.
Pick: Under