Gausman on mound for last home series opener before playoffs
By Roch Kubatko
The Orioles begin their final home series of the regular season tonight by sending Kevin Gausman to the mound.
Will they send Gausman to the bullpen for the Division Series or slot him in the rotation?
The only guarantee so far is Chris Tillman pitching Game 1 on Oct. 2 at Camden Yards. Confirmation may come before the Orioles fly to Toronto for the final road series. I'm assuming that Wei-Yin Chen will follow him in Game 2.
The Orioles won't go with a five-man rotation in the playoffs, so there's no way to include Gausman, Bud Norris and Miguel Gonzalez. One of them will have to step aside.
Manager Buck Showalter will study the matchups. We don't know whether the Orioles will overtake the Angels for best overall record and home field advantage, or host the Tigers or Royals.
The rotation has posted a 1.69 ERA in the last 16 games since Sept. 2. The team ERA of 3.46 ranks third in the American League, and the starters' 3.62 ERA ranks sixth.
Gausman is focused on the Red Sox. The rest can wait.
Gausman is 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA in five career games (two starts) against the Red Sox, allowing three earned runs in 15 innings. He gave up one earned run in 5 1/3 innings in his only start this season on July 6.
David Ortiz is 2-for-5 with a double and home run against Gausman.
Allen Webster has made one career start against the Orioles, which took place at Camden Yards on Sept. 29, 2013. He didn't allow a run or hit in three innings, but he walked three batters.
The current Orioles are 0-for-9 against him. Nick Hundley has the most at-bats with three.
Showalter indicated that center fielder Adam Jones will be rested tonight. David Lough could get the start, with Alejandro De Aza in left field and Nick Markakis in right.
Lough's status for the Division Series is uncertain. He's been with the club all season, but De Aza has become the regular left fielder and he's another left-handed hitter with plus-defensive skills.
De Aza is 16-for-49 (.327) with two doubles, three triples, two home runs and nine RBIs in 12 games since joining the Orioles. Lough batted .197 in 63 games in the first half, but he's hitting .318 in 43 games since the break.
The Orioles may keep an extra infielder with Chris Davis serving his suspension. They may no longer have to choose between Jimmy Paredes and Kelly Johnson, who can join Ryan Flaherty as options at third base.
Flaherty and Johnson have been used as defensive replacements when Paredes starts. Showalter is most comfortable with Flaherty backing up all four infield positions.
It's conceivable, but far from certain, that the Orioles could carry infielders Flaherty, Paredes, Johnson, J.J. Hardy, Jonathan Schoop and Steve Pearce; outfielders Markakis, Jones, De Aza, Nelson Cruz and Delmon Young; and catchers Caleb Joseph and Nick Hundley.
At this point, we don't know for sure that the Orioles will go with a 12-man pitching staff. We're working on assumptions here. The roster will come into better focus after they hit the road next week.
Gausman is focused on the Red Sox. The rest can wait.
Gausman is 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA in five career games (two starts) against the Red Sox, allowing three earned runs in 15 innings. He gave up one earned run in 5 1/3 innings in his only start this season on July 6.
David Ortiz is 2-for-5 with a double and home run against Gausman.
Allen Webster has made one career start against the Orioles, which took place at Camden Yards on Sept. 29, 2013. He didn't allow a run or hit in three innings, but he walked three batters.
The current Orioles are 0-for-9 against him. Nick Hundley has the most at-bats with three.
Showalter indicated that center fielder Adam Jones will be rested tonight. David Lough could get the start, with Alejandro De Aza in left field and Nick Markakis in right.
Lough's status for the Division Series is uncertain. He's been with the club all season, but De Aza has become the regular left fielder and he's another left-handed hitter with plus-defensive skills.
De Aza is 16-for-49 (.327) with two doubles, three triples, two home runs and nine RBIs in 12 games since joining the Orioles. Lough batted .197 in 63 games in the first half, but he's hitting .318 in 43 games since the break.
The Orioles may keep an extra infielder with Chris Davis serving his suspension. They may no longer have to choose between Jimmy Paredes and Kelly Johnson, who can join Ryan Flaherty as options at third base.
Flaherty and Johnson have been used as defensive replacements when Paredes starts. Showalter is most comfortable with Flaherty backing up all four infield positions.
It's conceivable, but far from certain, that the Orioles could carry infielders Flaherty, Paredes, Johnson, J.J. Hardy, Jonathan Schoop and Steve Pearce; outfielders Markakis, Jones, De Aza, Nelson Cruz and Delmon Young; and catchers Caleb Joseph and Nick Hundley.
At this point, we don't know for sure that the Orioles will go with a 12-man pitching staff. We're working on assumptions here. The roster will come into better focus after they hit the road next week.
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