Polar opposites in the best way to construct a baseball staff shall be on the identical area as the Baltimore Orioles proceed their three-game sequence with the host San Diego Padres on Tuesday.
The Padres have invested closely in free brokers and traded away many high prospects to build up expertise. They reached the playoffs in two of the previous three seasons, however now they’re seven video games underneath .500 and fading from the NL wild-card image as one of many greatest disappointments of the 2023 season.
San Diego had only one homegrown participant from their farm system within the lineup on Monday, catcher Luis Campusano.
The Orioles have rebuilt via the draft whereas culling expertise from the waiver wire. They personal the American League’s greatest document regardless of taking part in within the very aggressive AL East. In amassing that expertise, nonetheless, they’ve posted only one successful season prior to now six and have not been to the postseason since 2016.
Four of Baltimore’s first-round draft picks had been on the sphere Monday — catcher Adley Rutschman (2019), designated hitter Ryan Mountcastle (2015), second baseman Jordan Westburg (2020) and beginning pitcher Grayson Rodriguez (2018). Two different draft picks had been within the beginning lineup together with a Rule 5 draft decide, one participant signed off the waiver wire, a purchase order, and one other participant launched by his earlier staff.
Shortstop Gunnar Henderson, who hit a three-run double in Baltimore’s 4-1 win on Monday, is 22. Rodriguez is 23. Westburg is 24. Rutschman is 25.
“We have young, homegrown players who grew up in our system who are gaining confidence with every game,” Orioles supervisor Brandon Hyde stated not too long ago. “The development has been exciting.”
The Padres cannot boast the identical pleasure degree as the Orioles, however they’ve scored 10 or extra runs 12 occasions. Conversely, they’ve been shut out 10 occasions.
San Diego scored 10 runs at Arizona on Friday, nevertheless it scored a complete of six runs within the 5 different video games amongst its previous six — all losses. Twice the Padres had been shut out in that span.
“We’re in a place now where it’s more about us,” San Diego supervisor Bob Melvin stated Monday. “We don’t worry about the opponent right now. It’s how we play. We’ve played some or our best games against the best teams. Other times … if I knew for sure why that is, we’d try to take care of that.
“We’re in search of that recreation that might get us on a roll.”
On Tuesday night, former St. Louis Cardinals teammates will oppose each other in a matchup of right-handers when Michael Wacha (8-2, 2.84 ERA) starts for the Padres against the Orioles‘ Jack Flaherty (8-7, 4.33).
Wacha was the National League Pitcher of the Month for May when he posted a 3-0 record with a 0.84 ERA and a .147 opponents’ batting average in five starts. His success continued in June, but he has made only one start since June 19 and has been on the injured list since July 2 due to shoulder inflammation.
The Padres, who are also without staff ace Joe Musgrove (shoulder) desperately need Wacha to flash his May-June form. Wacha is 2-1 lifetime against the Orioles with a 5.87 ERA in nine starts — including a 2-0 record and a 5.40 in three starts last year while a member of the Boston Red Sox.
Flaherty came to the Orioles from St. Louis on Aug. 1 in a trade for three minor-leaguers. The 27-year-old is 1-1 with a 3.27 ERA through his first two starts for Baltimore.
Flaherty is 2-0 in four career starts against the Padres with a 2.01 ERA and a .207 opponents’ batting average.
—Field Level Media
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