Tonight's starting pitchers: Hill vs. Smoltz
LHP Rich Hill (3-2, 6.03) tonight will make his 9th start of the year, his 3rd at home and the first of his career vs. the Boston Red Sox.
Hill, who is a Boston native, has certainly had an up and down year for the Orioles. He had a start where he pitched seven shutout innings vs. Seattle and another when he allowed just two runs to the Phillies.
He's also had two starts where he gave up six earned runs and another when he did not make it out of the first inning.
Hill took the loss in his last start, Thursday at Florida. In 4 1/3 innings he allowed eight hits and six runs (all earned).
While Hill has recorded just two quality starts and pitched six innings or more just twice, the Orioles are 6-2 when he is the starting pitcher.
Right-handed batters are hitting .283 against him while lefties hit only .185 vs. Hill. In two home starts, he is 0-0, 12.27 (10ER in 7 1/3IP).
RHP John Smoltz (0-1, 9.00) tonight makes his second Major League start of this season and the 4th of his career vs. the Orioles.
Smoltz, who signed with Boston as a free agent in January, is coming back from right shoulder surgery in June of last year. He returned to a big league mound for the first time since his surgery last Thusday at Washington.
He gave up four runs in the first inning vs. the Nats and went on to take the loss. For the game he pitched five innings, allowing seven hits and five runs. The 42-year-old Smoltz threw 92 pitches.
Smoltz made six minor league rehab starts before Thursday's outing, going 1-1, 2.63 over 27 1/3 innings.
Smoltz pitched twenty years (1988-2008) with Atlanta. His career record is 210-148, 3.27 in 3,400 innings, making 467 starts.
He is the only pitcher in Major League history with more than 200 wins and 150 career saves. He and Dennis Eckersley are the only two pitchers ever to record both a 20-win season and a 50-save season.
Smoltz is an 8-time all-star. He won the Cy Young award in 1996, going 24-8, 2.94. He is 16th on the all-time strikeouts list with 3,016.
In his career, Smoltz has made six appearances and three starts vs. the Orioles. He is 1-1, 4.37 with three saves. In 22 2/3, he has allowed 23 hits with three walks and 19 strikeouts.
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Categories (click for archive)Orioles News | Steve Melewski |
Steve,
With both Berken and Hill struggling badly, do you see the front office bringing up one of the big 3 early? They can't be any worse?
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No way. They won't panic and mess up the long range plan over a few losses or rough starts. Berken has made six starts, we simply can't judge him yet.
I would be shocked if Arrieta, Matusz or Tillman were here anytime soon. We might not even see any of them this season. Remember, the O's have been there, done that on the rush jobs with pitchers. It does not work.
Steve