Orioles’ Jimenez eyes vintage outing vs. Padres
The Orioles have excelled in many areas during the first two-plus months of the season. Buck Showalter’s starting rotation, though, is still trying to reach that proverbial next gear.
Ubaldo Jimenez hopes to rectify some of his own personal foibles in tonight’s showdown against the Padres, with a 7:05 p.m. ET first pitch at Camden Yards. Oddsmakers at online sports book BetDSI prefer the hosts, while Andy Green’s troops embody +152 underdogs. The over/under run figure holds steady at 10.5.
With the O’s in the midst of an arduous part of the schedule, they could use a shot of energy from Jimenez. The former All-Star is carries a 4.85 ERA in 33 starts in Charm City, and he’s enduring a particularly rough 2016. Showalter essentially demoted Jimenez after Friday’s disaster vs. Toronto, but Mike Wright’s recent blowup vs. Toronto created another opportunity for the 32-year-old righty.
This assignment promises to be anything but a cakewalk in light of San Diego’s offensive display roughly 16 hours ago. The visiting crew blasted the Orioles in the series opener, 10-7, behind a 15-hit attack. Such an outburst occurred without the services of Jon Jay, who missed the tilt due to an injured forearm.
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If the Padres want their third straight victory, Matt Kemp will once again be asked to shoulder the load. Coming off a 4-for-6 effort at the plate, the right fielder’s in a good place entering the looming matchup vs. Jimenez. Expect a second successive slugfest on the East Coast, with the Orioles receiving the last laugh.
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