Rangers, Scherzer Will Beat Down Birds

Orioles vs. Rangers, 7:05 ET

Baseball returned from the All-Star Break, and we were treated with a full slate of games. Unlike the other sports where you have to wait for what seems like forever, your favorite team plays almost every day during the baseball season. There is very rarely talk about wear and tear on the bodies of baseball players (with the obvious exception of pitchers), but they play double the games of hockey and basketball players, and about 10 times as many as football players. I do recognize the other games are much more physical, but it is still interesting to see the variance across sports. Tonight, we get two very interesting clubs taking to the field as the Orioles take on the Rangers. 

The Orioles have to be one team that was very much looking forward to the All-Star Break. It wasn't all bad, but they had two separate five-game losing streaks in the last 30 days of the 1st half of the season. Since June 21st, they were just 9-14 as they went into the break and lost five of their last six games. Most importantly, they lost the series at home to the Yankees right before the break. Maybe they needed a bit of time off to get back to playing good baseball. They have an opportunity to do just that tonight, but it won't be easy facing Max Scherzer. They do get Grayson Rodriguez to battle him, and he has been very reliable for the team this season. Rodriguez is 11-4 with a 3.88 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. I don't really think of him as much of a strikeout pitcher, but he is 24th in the league with 112 for the season. One concern for the Orioles is that Rodriguez has thrown to a 4.59 ERA in his nine road starts compared with just 3.14 at home. He has not faced the Rangers this season, but they are 11-for-33 against him with three homers and two doubles.

Mar 30, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA;  Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez (30) throws a first inning pitch against the Los Angeles Angels at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

The Rangers probably weren't looking forward to the All-Star Break as much as the Orioles, considering they won seven of their last nine games and nine of their last 11. However, that success was preceded by a six-game losing streak. More than anything, I feel like the Rangers would be looking forward to try and have a fully healthy team. This club has been hurt by injuries this season and although their record is keeping them somewhat in the playoff race, they really need to start playing outstanding baseball if they truly want to have a chance to win. One of the biggest additions to their team came back from the injured list and starts today as Scherzer takes the hill. This will be just his sixth start of the season. However, he has been as good as expected with a 2.96 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP. Although he has five starts under his belt, two were quality starts. His first two were very good outings as well, but he was on a pitch count so he didn't get to make those quality starts. Despite starting just five times, this will be his second time facing the Orioles. In the first outing, the Rangers lost the game 2-1 but he went 5.1 innings and allowed two earned runs on one homer. 

This game should be a chance for redemption for the Rangers. Both pitchers are throwing the ball well this year, but there are causes for concern on both sides. On the Orioles side, Rodriguez is not pitching well on the road. For the Rangers, I don't trust their bullpen much, and Scherzer might not go too deep into the game. The best way to take this is to play the Rangers through five innings. I think Scherzer will outduel Rodriguez and lead us to cashing a unit here.