Public Likes Orioles
Luke Scott doesn’t usually play against left-handed starters. Baltimore Orioles manager Dave Trembley may have a hard time keeping him out of Saturday’s lineup, however.
Scott looks to lead the Orioles to consecutive wins for only the second time this month as they continue a four-game series against the visiting Detroit Tigers.
Oddsmakers from SBG Global have made Baltimore -119 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for tonight’s game, the over/under has been set at 10 total runs (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 88% of bets for this game have been placed on Baltimore –119 (View MLB Bet Percentages).
As he has most of this season, Scott started Friday’s game because a right-hander, the Tigers’ Armando Galarraga, was on the mound. The left fielder had his best game of the season, hitting a solo homer in the second inning before adding a game-clinching two-run shot in the eighth off left-hander Bobby Seay.
It was Scott’s second multihomer game of the season and fourth of his career.
Three of Scott’s 16 home runs have come off left-handers, and he’s batting .241 (14-for-58) against them this season.
Obtained from Houston in December, Scott has endured an up-and-down season. He was batting .324 on April 26, .262 on May 10, .281 on June 17 and .254 at the All-Star break.
"Everyone goes through it,” Scott said of his hot-and-cold streaks. "I’m not immune to it. No one’s immune to it. You’ve just got to take the highs with the lows. I believe that a big second half is coming.”
If Trembley decides to stick with the hot bat, he could start Scott over right-handed hitting Jay Payton, even against Detroit left-hander Nate Robertson (6-8, 5.26 ERA).
Left-handed hitters are batting .313 against Robertson this season.
Aubrey Huff hit his team-leading 19th home run and Melvin Mora connected for the second straight night as Baltimore (46-49) won for only the second time in 10 games Friday. The Orioles, who haven’t won two straight since July 1-2, also ended a six-game skid against the Tigers (48-48).
Baltimore’s Adam Jones has reached base safely in 18 consecutive games, batting .386 (27-for-70) during that span.
Ivan Rodriguez went 4-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs for Detroit, which hit into three double plays and went 4-for-15 with runners in scoring position.
"When you get 14 hits,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said, "you’re supposed to get more than four runs.”
Robertson seeks his fifth straight win against the Orioles. Since losing his first appearance against Baltimore in 2005, the left-hander has gone 4-0 with a 1.98 ERA in his last six meetings.
He continued his inconsistent 2008 in his last start before the break, allowing five runs and 10 hits over seven innings in a 6-5 loss to Minnesota last Saturday. That came after he allowed one run through nine innings against Seattle on July 6 in Detroit’s 2-1, 15-inning victory.
Robertson has had little trouble against two of Baltimore’s best hitters – Nick Markakis and Brian Roberts – holding them to a combined .143 average (4-for-28).
Daniel Cabrera (6-5, 4.33) seeks his second win in 11 starts for Baltimore. Since winning five of his first six decisions, the right-hander is 1-4 with a 5.25 ERA in his last 10 outings. He has pitched at least six innings seven times during that span despite issuing 33 walks in 61 2-3 innings.
Cabrera struggled in his final start before the break, but managed to allow only one earned run despite permitting 13 baserunners though 4 1-3 innings in a 2-1 loss at Boston on Sunday.
He’s 3-1 with a 5.61 ERA in six starts against the Tigers, helping the Orioles win five of those games.
Did you like this article? Subscribe to our Baseball news feed for the fastest updates delivered right to you – Click here to Subscribe