masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgOne big series ends and another one begins. No time to lower your guard and relax. The next challenge is right around the corner.
The Orioles took two of three from the Tigers, the team hounding them for the second wild card. They flew to Boston last night for a three-game series against the team that holds a two-game lead in the American League East.
Moving into a second-place tie in the division is an accomplishment that won’t carry much weight if the Red Sox sweep the Orioles at Fenway…

One big series ends and another one begins. No time to lower your guard and relax. The next challenge is right around the corner.

The Orioles took two of three from the Tigers, the team hounding them for the second wild card. They flew to Boston last night for a three-game series against the team that holds a two-game lead in the American League East.

Moving into a second-place tie in the division is an accomplishment that won’t carry much weight if the Red Sox sweep the Orioles at Fenway Park.

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The Orioles have captured three straight series to solidify their spot in the playoff picture. I was convinced that their best chance to win at Comerica Park came on Friday with Kevin Gausman opposing rookie Michael Fulmer. They lost Friday and won the next two games, proving again that baseball is funny and unpredictable.

Left-hander Wade Miley needs to supply the next surprise. He’s 1-4 with a 7.15 ERA and 1.676 WHIP in seven starts with the Orioles, and his spot in the rotation isn’t promised to him.

Miley hasn’t worked more than five innings in five of his seven starts. He’s never faced the Red Sox, but he pitched for them in 2015, going 7-5 with a 4.30 ERA in 14 starts at Fenway Park.

Hanley Ramirez is 5-for-24 (.208) with a double and home run against Miley. Chris Young is 4-for-11 with two doubles and Ryan Hanigan is 3-for-7.

Left-hander David Price has allowed two earned runs or fewer in five consecutive starts, a streak that began when he limited the Orioles to one run over six innings on Aug. 17 at Camden Yards.

Price is 1-1 with a 4.26 ERA in three starts against the Orioles this season and 9-5 with a 2.87 ERA in 22 career starts.

Mark Trumbo is 9-for-28 with two doubles and two home runs and Drew Stubbs is 4-for-8. Trumbo definitely will be in tonight’s lineup and Stubbs could force his way into it based on a small but successful sample size.

Nolan Reimold is 4-for-33 with a home run, and his lack of success likely will keep him on the bench. Michael Bourn is 3-for-22. His two home runs since joining the Orioles won’t get him a start tonight.