masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgOver the last nine games, the Orioles pitching staff ERA is 6.12.

The Birds have scored just 14 runs in that time and you have to wonder if the lack of offense isn’t finally getting to the starting pitchers, who have worked just 9 1/3 combined innings over the last three games before tonight.

It must be exhausting to feel like you have to throw a shutout every night and that the game hangs in the balance on almost every pitch. We could ask Kevin Millwood about this, but he’s too classy to…Over the last nine games, the Orioles pitching staff ERA is 6.12.

The Birds have scored just 14 runs in that time and you have to wonder if the lack of offense isn’t finally getting to the starting pitchers, who have worked just 9 1/3 combined innings over the last three games before tonight.

It must be exhausting to feel like you have to throw a shutout every night and that the game hangs in the balance on almost every pitch. We could ask Kevin Millwood about this, but he’s too classy to throw the hitters under the bus.

Coming into tonight, the ERA of the O’s starters was up to 5.01 on the year. That’s the highest its been since April 9. I say the lack of runs is a factor in that.

Of course it’s not bothering Jeremy Guthrie so far tonight, who has pitched shutout ball through five innings on just 62 pitches.

He probably figured he would not see much offense vs. Jon Lester, who is 10-0, 2.22 in 13 career starts vs. Baltimore.