TEXAS @ BALTIMORE (BAL -166, 9)
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RANGERS VS. ORIOLES 6/30/24
Tonight, the nationally televised four-game weekend series between the Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles concludes in Baltimore. While the Orioles are attempting to close the gap with the Yankees in the AL East, the Rangers are attempting to catch up to division-leading Seattle in the AL West Division. Two southpaws will square off in Sunday night's pitching matchup: Andrew Heaney (2-9, 4.17) of the Rangers and Cole Irvin (6-4, 3.74), of the Orioles.
Over the course of the previous week, the Texas Rangers both quickly gained and lost momentum. The Rangers appeared to be finding their footing after defeating the Royals at home last weekend, snapping a five-game losing streak. Before starting this four-game series against the Orioles in Baltimore, the Rangers were quickly destroyed in a three-game series in Milwaukee against the Brewers.
Having lost the first three games of the series, the Rangers are hoping to avoid a sweep going into tonight. The Rangers gave up a 5-1 lead to the Orioles in yesterday’s, but ultimately lost 6-5. Michael Lorenzen coughed up a grand slam and gave up four hits and four walks before being tagged with five runs.
In the series finale against the Orioles, the Rangers will send lefty Heaney to the hill. In 16 games this season, Heaney is 2-9. In 77.2 innings pitched, he has given up 80 hits, 12 of which have been home runs. Heaney has walked 22 batters while striking out 75 and has a 4.17 ERA and 1.31 WHIP. Heaney lost 3-1 after going five innings in his last start at Milwaukee. He gave up six hits and two runs while striking out four against the Brewers.
The Orioles haven't had a prolonged losing streak in the previous two seasons, but they were swept by Houston last week. The Orioles lost five games in a row before avoiding another sweep when they managed to win one against the Guardians. After winning 6-5 on Saturday to extend their winning streak to three games, the Orioles will attempt a four-game sweep tonight.
The fourth and final game of this series will see the Orioles send lefty Cole Irvin to the hill. Irvin has made 15 appearances this season and is 6-4 with a 3.74 ERA and 1.31 WHIP. This season, Irvin has struck out 54 batters while walking just 15. Irvin only lasted four innings in his last start, a 10-8 loss to Cleveland. He gave up 8 runs (4 earned) on 10 hits.
Despite his recent poor performance, Irvin has managed to keep the Orioles in almost all of his starts this year. The Rangers have dropped three of Heaney's last five starts. The Orioles lead all baseball in scoring, have the deepest lineup in the league, and have hit the most home runs of any team. The Rangers have the fifth-worst bullpen ERA in all of baseball and they have lost six straight games and nine straight on the road.
FREE PICK: RANGERS-ORIOLES OVER 9
Andrew Heaney has pitched better recently. He’s allowed 3 ER or less in 11 straight starts, but he hasn’t gone that deep in most of those starts. That means opponents get 3, 4, and sometimes 5 innings against the fifth-worst bullpen in the majors. On the other end, Cole Irvin has a 3.74 season ERA, but his ERA in June is 5.47. He’s allowed 4 and 5 ER in his last two starts and didn’t make it to the fifth inning in either. The Over is 4-1-1 in Irvin’s last six starts with game totals like 18, 22, 9, and 9 in his last four games. The Orioles are the top scoring team in baseball. The O’s continue to lead the majors with a 43-31-9 O/U record.
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