Pondering the Orioles' possible ALCS rotation
So what will the Orioles' rotation look like for the American League Championship Series? Good luck trying to guess with manager Buck Showalter on that.
The Orioles went Chris Tillman, Wei-Yin Chen and Bud Norris in the Detroit series. Miguel Gonzalez, it appeared was going to pitch Game 3, and then the O's switched to Norris.
Does Norris' outstanding Sunday outing bump him up to second behind Tillman for this series? Does Gonzalez go second because he didn't pitch in the Tigers series and finished the regular season strong? Does Chen go second because Kansas City has four regulars that bat left-handed?
Decisions, decisions.
My guess is the O's go Tillman, Norris, Gonzalez and Chen.
Even though the Orioles have not announced Tillman as the Game 1 starter, that is the strong assumption and it will be a big surprise if anyone else gets the ball Friday night. Tillman pitched a five-hit shutout against the Royals in May.
In his last 22 starts, Tillman is 9-4 with an ERA of 2.42, allowing three or fewer earned runs 21 times. He is the easy choice as Game 1 starter.
A case can made for Norris going second after his brilliant 6 1/3 innings outing at Detroit. Also, Norris went 8-2 with an ERA of 2.44 in 13 home starts for the year. And in his only start against the Royals in 2014 Norris gave up one run and four hits in 7 1/3 innings. Plus Norris went 4-0 with a 2.08 ERA in five September starts.
Norris also has the second best stolen base against percentage among the four O's starters:
.250 - Tillman allowing one steal in four attempts.
.625 - Norris allowing 15 steals in 24 attempts.
.833 - Chen allowing five steals in six attempts.
.857 - Gonzalez allowing 12 steals in 14 attempts.
A case for Chen going second would included a good record in two starts this year against K.C., going 1-0 with a 2.19 ERA and that opponents only tried to steal on him six times all season. Also the Royals have four regulars that bat left-handed in Nori Aoki, Alex Gordon, Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer.
Gonzalez, by the way, went 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in one start versus Kansas City. He has not pitched since the final day of the regular season, but went 5-3 with a 1.75 ERA in his final eight starts.
You could almost slot it any way after Tillman and you might not go wrong.
So how would you line up the Orioles rotation against Kansas City?
Does Norris' outstanding Sunday outing bump him up to second behind Tillman for this series? Does Gonzalez go second because he didn't pitch in the Tigers series and finished the regular season strong? Does Chen go second because Kansas City has four regulars that bat left-handed?
Decisions, decisions.
My guess is the O's go Tillman, Norris, Gonzalez and Chen.
Even though the Orioles have not announced Tillman as the Game 1 starter, that is the strong assumption and it will be a big surprise if anyone else gets the ball Friday night. Tillman pitched a five-hit shutout against the Royals in May.
In his last 22 starts, Tillman is 9-4 with an ERA of 2.42, allowing three or fewer earned runs 21 times. He is the easy choice as Game 1 starter.
A case can made for Norris going second after his brilliant 6 1/3 innings outing at Detroit. Also, Norris went 8-2 with an ERA of 2.44 in 13 home starts for the year. And in his only start against the Royals in 2014 Norris gave up one run and four hits in 7 1/3 innings. Plus Norris went 4-0 with a 2.08 ERA in five September starts.
Norris also has the second best stolen base against percentage among the four O's starters:
.250 - Tillman allowing one steal in four attempts.
.625 - Norris allowing 15 steals in 24 attempts.
.833 - Chen allowing five steals in six attempts.
.857 - Gonzalez allowing 12 steals in 14 attempts.
A case for Chen going second would included a good record in two starts this year against K.C., going 1-0 with a 2.19 ERA and that opponents only tried to steal on him six times all season. Also the Royals have four regulars that bat left-handed in Nori Aoki, Alex Gordon, Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer.
Gonzalez, by the way, went 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in one start versus Kansas City. He has not pitched since the final day of the regular season, but went 5-3 with a 1.75 ERA in his final eight starts.
You could almost slot it any way after Tillman and you might not go wrong.
So how would you line up the Orioles rotation against Kansas City?
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