O's game blog: O's go for three-game sweep at Anaheim

By Steve Melewski

Orioles

May 22, 2016, 8:44am

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ANAHEIM, Calif. - After 9-4 and 3-1 wins the last two nights here, the Orioles go for a three-game sweep of the Angels today in the afternoon sunshine at Angel Stadium.

Los Angeles had won six of seven games heading into this series, but the Orioles have slowed their recent run and have out-homered the Angels 5-0 in the two games and outhit them 19-16. They have held Mike Trout and Albert Pujols in check. Trout is 2-for-9 and Pujols is 1-for-6 and neither has an RBI in the series.

On the mound in the series finale, Ubaldo Jimenez (2-4, 5.60 ERA) faces Los Angeles right-hander Jered Weaver (3-3, 5.76 ERA).

Both pitchers got off to decent starts, but have struggled in their last few games. Over his first four starts, Jimenez pitched to an ERA of 3.91. But he is 1-2 with a 6.55 ERA over his past four starts, allowing 30 hits and 13 walks over 22 innings. Weaver had an ERA of 3.86 through his first four games, but is 0-3 with a 7.77 ERA in his past four starts, allowing six homers over 22 innings.

Weaver has already allowed 10 home runs over 45 1/3 innings with a batting average against of .333 and OPS of .965 versus lefty batters. Those numbers against right-handed hitters are .324 and .908.

As for Jimenez, one year after posting a career-best walk rate of 3.3 per every nine innings, that mark is 4.8 this year. It was 5.5 in Jimenez's first season with Baltimore in 2014. Jimenez has allowed six runs twice in his past four outings.

He has a 1.756 WHIP through eight starts and has allowed what would be a career-worst 11.0 hits per nine innings. Those numbers obviously must improve or Jimenez is in for a long year.

He has allowed a batting average of .240 when pitching with runners in scoring position and .167 with RISP and two outs to help him minimize some jams at times.

The Orioles (26-15) can move a season-high 12 games over .500 with a win today. They have won 10 of 13 and 15 of their last 22 games. They are 9-7 on the road and are 9-4-1 in their 14 series so far.