Tonight's pitchers: Guthrie vs. Gonzalez

RHP Jeremy Guthrie (7-11, 5.28) tonight will make his 23rd start of the year, his 12th at home and the 5th of his career vs. Oakland. Guthrie is coming off a decent outing, but still took the loss on Wednesday night at Detroit. In 7 1/3 innings he gave up six hits and three runs, throwing 109 pitches. In four second-half starts, Guthrie is 1-3, 5.02. The right-hander leads the AL in home runs allowed with 27. He has given up at least one homer in 17 of 22 starts and has allowed ten homers over his last six starts. In 11 home starts, he is 4-5, 4.50. The Orioles are 8-14 with Guthrie on the mound, but have lost his last three starts. Guthrie has allowed a combined 36 runs in the first two innings of his starts and 46 runs the rest of the time. Guthrie is 0-3, 8.57 this year in five starts vs. the AL West. Guthrie, ERA by month: April: 5.20 May: 4.62 June: 5.76 July: 6.16 August: 3.68 Guthrie has ten quality starts in 2009. If he takes a loss tonight, 12 losses would match his 2008 total Guthrie vs. Oakland: 2009: 0-1, 81.00, one start (2/3IP, 7H, 6R-ER, 1 HR, 29P) Career: 1-2, 5.48, five games, four starts (21 1/3IP, 21H) Guthrie was the losing pitcher by a 9-1 score June 5th at Oakland. He lasted just 2/3 of an inning in the shortest start of his career. Jack Cust hit a three-homer off him in the first frame. LHP Gio Gonzalez (3-2, 6.31) tonight makes his 8th start of the year, his 4th on the road and the 1st appearance of his career vs. Baltimore. On July 20th, Gonzalez gave up 11 runs in 2 2/3 vs. Minnesota. But in the three starts since, he is 2-0, 1.93. He picked up a win Tuesday at Texas when he pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings. He gave up just three hits in a 97-pitch outing. The 23-year-old gives up a batting average of .261 vs. right-hander hitters, but lefties hit a whopping .413 against him with 19 hits in 46 at bats. The A's are 4-3 in his seven starts and Gonzalez is 2-0, 4.55 in six games, three starts, on the road. Gonzalez was the 38th overall selection in the 2004 draft.