O's game blog: Dylan Bundy faces Twins in the opener

Right-hander Dylan Bundy faces right-hander Jake Odorizzi this afternoon as the Orioles host Minnesota to begin their 65th season in Baltimore.

The Orioles beat Toronto 3-2 in 11 innings on opening day last year. They won it on Mark Trumbo's walk-off homer. He won't hit one today as he begins the 2018 season on the disabled list.

The Orioles are 42-22 all time on opening day. They have won seven in a row and 14 of their past 17 openers. They are 43-21 in their home openers over the years.

Bundy went 13-9 with a 4.24 ERA in 28 starts over 169 2/3 innings last season. He recorded 19 quality starts to rank tied for eighth in the American League and he was ninth with a .240 batting average against.

Bundy, the Orioles' first-round pick (No. 4 overall) in 2011, turned 25 in November. He is under team control through the 2021 season.

Lefty batters hit .261 off Bundy in 2017, while right-handers hit .222. He gave up a .248 average when pitching with runners in scoring position which was just .093 (4-for-43) when he pitched with RISP and two outs. Yep, he got some clutch outs.

In two starts in 2017 versus Minnesota, Bundy was 0-2 with an ERA of 6.00. He gave up 11 hits and eight runs over 12 innings. He is 0-2 with a 5.54 ERA in three career games against Minnesota.

The 28-year-old Odorizzi was traded by Tampa Bay to Minnesota on Feb. 17 as the Rays added minor league infielder Jermaine Palacious. Today he becomes the Twins' ninth different opening day starter in the last 10 years.

Odorizzi went 10-8 with a 4.14 ERA last year over 28 starts and 143 1/3 innings. He allowed 7.3 hits per nine innings with 3.8 walks and 8.0 strikeouts. He gave up 1.9 homers per nine innings - the worst homer rate of his career. He allowed 30 for the season and had a WHIP of 1.242.

In four starts last season against Baltimore, he went 2-0 with a 3.10 ERA and 1.131 WHIP. In 18 career games with 17 starts against the Orioles, he is 5-4 with a 4.71 ERA and 1.377 WHIP. He has allowed a lot of homers versus Baltimore batters in his career, yielding 20 over 93 2/3 innings. That is an average of 1.9 per nine.

The Orioles went 2-5 against the Twins last season. That was after going 5-1 versus the Twins in 2016, but 0-7 in 2015. Minnesota swept a three-game series at Camden Yards last May by a 20-10 score, in their only visit to Baltimore last season.

The Twins are 6-2 in their last eight and 14-7 in their last 21 games against the O's, dating back to September of 2014.

Minnesota went 85-77 last year and played in the AL wild card game on Oct. 3, losing at Yankee Stadium 8-4. The Twins 26-win improvement from 2016 (59) to 2017 (85) was the biggest in team history.

Most opening day homers in Orioles history:

6 - Brooks Robinson
4 - Cal Ripken Jr.
3 - Gus Triandos, Frank Robinson, Eddie Murray
2 - Boog Powell, Sam Horn, Miguel Tejada, Luis Matos, Matt Wieters

Most home wins since 2012 by AL clubs:

286 - Orioles
284 - New York Yankees
277 - Cleveland Indians
269 - Los Angeles Angels
268 - Toronto Blue Jays

Long-time O's trainer Richie Bancells, who retired after last season will throw out today's first pitch. He got another honor here earlier today.

A plaque has been installed outside of the trainer's room in our clubhouse, honoring longtime #Orioles Head Athletic Trainer Richie Bancells. Bancells retired last year after 41 years in the organization. We'll welcome him later today to throw the ceremonial 1st pitch. #Birdland pic.twitter.com/wgG4trAQrk

-- Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) March 29, 2018