Game Preview
The Houston Astros‘ 7-1 road victory over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday salvaged an otherwise lost week against the majors’ poorest teams and set the setting for a pivotal final homestand of the regular season.
The only other major league clubs with 100 losses are the Oakland Athletics and Kansas City Royals, both of whom Houston lost four of six games to. Despite the Astros’ problems, the Texas Rangers’ 9-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday capped an unexpected three-game sweep for Cleveland and gave the Astros a 1.5-game lead in the American League West.
The Astros will send out right-handed pitcher Justin Verlander. Since being acquired from the New York Mets at the trade deadline, he has made eight starts for Houston, posting a 5-3 record with a 3.86 ERA. While making three starts this month, Verlander was 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA and allowed seven home runs in 20 innings. He went 4-0 in August, winning each of his past four outings while posting a 2.86 ERA.
After 24 career starts, Verlander has a 10-6 record and a 3.62 ERA against the Orioles. Verlander lost 2-0 on the road to Baltimore in his previous start on September 22, 2022. He went six innings, allowing two runs on six hits and striking out four.
On Monday, Orioles lefty John Means will make his second start of the season. On his first start of the season, he took a defeat by the score of 5-2 against the St. Louis Cardinals after allowing three runs on five hits (including two home runs) with one strikeout. Only 55 of his 75 pitches were strikes.
On Sunday, the Orioles secured their first playoff berth since 2016. Sunday’s 5-4 come-from-behind win against the Tampa Bay Rays in extra innings contributed to the positive momentum by allowing the Orioles to salvage a split of the four-game series and restore a two-game lead in the American League East.
The Orioles’ season has been a resounding success, and they are on the cusp of winning their division. Their stunning ascent to the top of the AL East after finishing in fourth or last place for the previous six seasons has been one of the season’s biggest surprises.
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Baltimore Orioles vs Houston Astros Game Information
- Date: 09/18/2023
- Time: 08:10 PM ET
- Location: Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas.
- How to Watch: Orioles vs Astros MLB.TV
- Live Stream: MLB.TV
