WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – It’s no secret that Baltimore’s recent stretch of success has been fueled by their pitching staff.
Last night’s five earned runs marked the first time that the O’s allowed four runs or more since May 28 against the Cardinals. That’s also the last time the Orioles had lost before last night.
Tonight, Charlie Morton looks to maintain his individual stretch of success. In his last five games, the veteran has a 1.64 ERA in 22 innings of work, striking out 24 and walking just five. That run includes his last two outings out of the bullpen, in which Morton has completed six innings in each game, allowing just two total earned runs.
His backstop in both of those starts has been Maverick Handley, who gets another start tonight. Handley has been praised by numerous O’s for calling a good game behind the plate, and gets another crack at it with Morton.
“Seems to have been good,” Tony Mansolino said of their relationship. “Hopefully it continues tonight, but so far it has gone pretty well.”
If all goes well once again, Handley will be calling a lot of curveballs tonight for Morton. When the veteran is at his best, that pitch is his go-to.
In Morton’s last two starts, he has thrown 78 curveballs, good for 42 percent of his offerings. Only five of those 78 have gone for hits, and four of them have been singles. Meanwhile, six of the big breakers have gone for strikeouts, and a dozen have resulted in field outs hit with exit velocities below the 95 mph hard-hit threshold.
When the curveball is working, Morton is working.
If you’re hoping to slam the “we’re back” button for the Orioles, though, perhaps you’re still waiting for an offensive outburst to pair with the excellent pitching.
The bats have certainly had some nights where they’re humming, with 13 hits in Tuesday’s 5-1 win and 10 knocks against the Cardinals in late May. The Orioles, however, haven’t scored more than five runs since May 21 against the Brewers. Plus, their margin of victory hasn’t been more than five runs since April 16 against the Guardians.
Tonight may be a golden opportunity for a breakout. A’s starter Luis Severino, despite owning the best ERA of any regular Athletics rotation arm, is second in the American League in total earned runs allowed with 39 in 13 games.
Adding on, Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson are a combined 11 for 15 with three doubles, a walk and just two strikeouts in their careers against Severino.
All phases will need to work in conjunction for Baltimore to continue to right the ship. Out West, Morton’s the captain. Curveballs aren’t usually welcome in navigation, but tonight, they will be.
Breadcrumbs from the Skipper
Coby Mayo recorded his first extra-base hit last night, a welcome sight for Mansolino.
“He’s going to be a good player,” he said. “So, excited to see him put a good swing on the ball. I feel like there’s been more contact in his third trip into the big leagues right now. He’s hanging in there, he’s doing great, so we’re excited about Coby Mayo.”
The skipper is also encouraged with what he’s been seeing from Heston Kjerstad, despite a tough at-bat against Mason Miller last night and Kjerstad’s absence from the last two lineup cards.
“He swung the bat pretty solid it looked like up in Seattle, had some good swings. Feels like he’s progressing a little bit, so we’ve been happy about him.”