masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe Orioles are averaging just three runs per game at home this year and have scored three runs or fewer in 12 of their 17 home games. They are 9-8 in those games and will try to get their bats going at the Yard tonight.
In the second game of this series between first-place teams, Ubaldo Jimenez (2-4, 4.73 ERA) faces lefty Drew Smyly (2-2, 2.96 ERA).
Smyly, a reliever in 2013, has made four starts this season. In eight career innings against the Orioles, he has not given up a run and allowed…

The Orioles are averaging just three runs per game at home this year and have scored three runs or fewer in 12 of their 17 home games. They are 9-8 in those games and will try to get their bats going at the Yard tonight.

In the second game of this series between first-place teams, Ubaldo Jimenez (2-4, 4.73 ERA) faces lefty Drew Smyly (2-2, 2.96 ERA).

Smyly, a reliever in 2013, has made four starts this season. In eight career innings against the Orioles, he has not given up a run and allowed just two hits. The Orioles bat just .077 (2-for-26) against him.

Jimenez has been a different pitcher in May than he was in April. In the first month he went 0-4 with an ERA of 6.59; this month he is 2-0 with an ERA of 0.71.

In April, Jimenez walked 17 in 27 1/3 innings and he’s walked three in 12 2/3 May innings. His average against dropped from .300 to .208. His ground-to-air out ratio went from 0.68 to 3.17. Maybe that is an indication his split-finger fastball has been very effective his past two starts.

But Jimenez does not have good career numbers versus Detroit. He is 5-9 with a 5.32 ERA over 16 starts and has more losses against the Tigers than any other team.

Jimenez has thrown at least 115 pitches in each of his May outings, his first consecutive outings of 115+ pitches since Sept. 27-Oct. 2, 2010.

The Orioles are having their own problems this year against the AL Central, going 3-7 so far. That is 1-3 against Detroit and 1-2 against Minnesota and Kansas City.

The Orioles’ player development department has named right-hander Tyler Wilson of Double-A Bowie as organizational Pitcher of the Month for April and outfielder Dariel Alvarez of Bowie as organizational Player of the Month. Wilson, 24, went 4-0 with a 2.76 ERA in five starts. Alvarez, 25, batted .361/.370/.567 with 11 doubles, three homers and 20 RBIs in 23 Baysox games.