Hoping History Repeats Itself In Braves Vs Orioles

Braves vs. Orioles, 1:05 ET

Today is a special day, everyone. Today is my birthday. Once you get to be my age, the day means a lot less. I mean, I'm working, presents aren't a surprise, but today was special for a different reason. My mother finished her radiation treatments for breast cancer. She has gone through chemotherapy and now radiation. She lost her hair, but never her positive attitude. I'm very proud of her, and honestly, this was the best birthday gift that I could've asked for. She still has a ways to go in terms of recovery - that stuff takes a lot out of you - but the harder parts should be behind her. If I can give myself another gift in the game between the Braves and Orioles, well that is just icing on the cake. 

After a World Series and a few years of being a dominant force in baseball, the Braves look like the injuries and other things may finally be catching up to the squad. The team is sitting at 35-30 and they have lost five games in a row, and six of their past seven games. Of course, I don't think anyone expected them to be the high scoring, ridiculously successful lineup that they were last season. They are still hitting the ball well, however, the runs are not coming as frequently as they did last season. Sure, they are missing last year's MVP, but even before he went out with injury, they still weren't prolifically scoring. Maybe it is a down year, maybe it is a return to the median with production. Either way, they need to get more out of the club in terms of stringing together hits and home runs. Last year they had a ton of guys with 30 homers. They only have 66 this year. The Orioles have 106 for the season. The pitching hasn't been that much better as the club has a 3.70 ERA, but the WHIP is at 1.23 which isn't too bad. Today they send out Reynaldo Lopez to the hill. He's been very good for the Braes this season with 11 starts. He has only allowed three earned runs or more in one start this season. In every other game, Lopez has been in relatively complete control with just 13 earned runs allowed total in 63.1 innings. He has been hit rather well by the Orioles in the past as they are 18-for-50 against him over their careers.

Jun 2, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Cole Irvin (19) throws during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-USA TODAY Sports

While the Braves are struggling, the Orioles are not. So far this season, they are 45-22 and 23-12 at home. There isn't any question that they will make the playoffs again, it is more of a question on if they will be a division winner or a Wild Card winner. The team does virtually everything well. They have an Ace in Corbin Burnes, they have a potential MVP in Gunnar Henderson or maybe even Adley Rutschman (in reality Juan Soto or Aaron Judge will be the MVP). The team is hitting .249 for the season and they have 344 runs for the year. I already mentioned the home runs, but they find ways to beat you when the ball isn't going over the fence as well. Their pitching staff has been great this year with a 3.08 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. This afternoon, Cole Irvin takes the ball and looks to stop the underperforming, but still great, Braves offense. Irvin is 6-2 for the season with a 2.87 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP for the year. After starting the season by allowing nine earned runs over 10 innings, he settled down and has allowed just 11 earned over his past 51.2 innings. He doesn't always go deep into games, but he is either allowing two runs or none in most games. Braves hitters have been very good against him in the past, also going 18-for-50 against him. 

Both pitchers are playing rather well right now, but is this a game where the hitters have the edge? If history is to repeat itself, both offenses should have the edge in the game. I think the best idea here is to take a shot on the over. I know both pitchers are putting up strong performances, but the hitters could have a chance to excel here. I'll back the over 9 in this one and hope history repeats itself. 

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