Guthrie looks to reverse recent trend for the starters today

By Steve Melewski

Orioles

June 26, 2011, 10:24am

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I am sure Orioles manager Buck Showalter is not at all opposed to Jeremy Guthrie pitching deep into today's game with Cincinnati. In case you have not noticed, Orioles' starters have not been pitching deep into recent games. This weekend, Chris Jakubauskas went just five against the Reds Friday and Brian Matusz only 4 2/3 innings last night. Over the last nine games, Orioles' starters have pitched six innings or more just twice. They have just one quality start and an ERA of 5.32 in that nine-start stretch. The Reds pushed Guthrie into throwing 28 first inning pitches, trying to throw a wrench into any plans he had to go deep into this game. But Guthrie has not allowed a run through three innings today and is at 57 pitches after throwing just 12 in the second and 17 in the third inning after pitching around Mark Reynolds' second error of the game. He needed five more pitches after that two-out error to finish the top of the third. Guthrie is 1-4 with an ERA of 4.22 in eight home starts this year and, in 17 career interleague starts, is 5-6 with a 3.22 ERA. He is facing the Reds for the first time today.