Orioles focus on own splits vs. Rodriguez (O's up 7-1)

The splits suggest that the Orioles should be stocking their lineup with left-handed hitters for tonight's series opener against the Red Sox.

The splits belonging to left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, their former farmhand. Not necessarily the batters on the Orioles roster.

As I wrote this morning, left-handers are hitting .289 against Rodriguez this season and .273 in his career. Right-handers are hitting .190 this season and .232 lifetime.

Rodriguez is the ultimate reverse-splits guy, according to those numbers.

So why is first baseman Chris Davis the only left-handed hitter in tonight's lineup?

"Most of the time, it also tells you that the best left-handed hitters are staying in the lineup - the three-hole hitter, left-handers who hit left and right," said manager Buck Showalter. "And you also look at your left-handed hitters, whether it's Seth Smith or (Hyun Soo) Kim and how they handled left-handed pitching.

"I think that should answer your question more than anything, that you've got to take each situation, who they're facing and do your guys show the propensity to hit left-handed pitching."

Smith had three hits and a walk last night, but he's a career .205 hitter against left-handers. He's 3-for-9 with a home run this season.

Kim has received only 25 plate appearances against left-handers since coming to the U.S., his only hit this season. He also has five walks and five strikeouts.

The bench also includes infielder Paul Janish and catcher Francisco Peña, who both hit from the right side.

Davis is a career .237 hitter against left-handers, but he's 16-for-57 (.281) with two home runs this season. He's batting .205 against right-handers.

Joey Rickard is hitting .286 against left-handers and .233 against right-handers. He's batting first tonight and playing left field.

Mark Trumbo is hitting .295 against left-handers and .257 against right-handers. He's batting fourth and playing right field despite being 0-for-14 lifetime versus Rodriguez.

Trumbo gave the Orioles a 2-0 lead in the first inning with his eighth home run of the season. His shot to left field followed a two-out single by Manny Machado, who ended an 0-for-18 skid.

Trey Mancini, the designated hitter tonight, is batting .303 against right-handers and .276 against left-handers. All three of his home runs last September came against lefties.

Rodriguez is making his ninth start against the Orioles, the latest reminder that they traded him in 2014. However, it was the only way for them to pry left-hander Andrew Miller from the Red Sox, and he helped the Orioles reach the American League Championship Series.

The Orioles knew they weren't going to re-sign Miller over the winter and never made an offer.

"Every time I see him I go, 'OK, we got Andrew Miller for him. Just stop,' " Showalter said.

"He's good. He's got, what, the eighth-best ERA in the American League? He's got a chance to be special. I remember him at 18-19 when he first came on the horizon and we started watching him. But that's the type of guy you have to give up to get an Andrew Miller.

"I'm happy for him. He's a good kid, he's got a good heart. And he's got good stuff. An electric arm."

It must have been shocking for Rodriguez when he took a nasty spill tonight while warming up, as captured by a MASN camera. He continued to warm up and made his start.

Adam Jones robbed Mookie Betts of a leadoff home run in the top of the first with a leaping catch in front of the Orioles bullpen. Wade Miley retired the side in order on nine pitches.

Meanwhile, infielder Ryan Flaherty will begin throwing next week in Sarasota. He's on the disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis.

Former Orioles outfielder Jeffrey Hammonds, their first-round pick in 1992, will represent the club at the June 12 First-Year Player Draft.

Update: Miley threw 30 pitches in the second inning while allowing a run on Christian Vázquez's two-out RBI single. Sam Travis reached on an infield hit with one out and took second on Davis' error.

Update II: Davis cleared the center field fence in the fourth inning, his second home run in two nights, and the Orioles lead 3-1.

Update III: Adam Jones led off the bottom of the sixth inning with his second home run in two nights to increase the lead to 4-1.

Miley has retired eight in a row and he's at 96 pitches in six innings.

Update IV: Jonathan Schoop added a three-run homer later in the sixth and the Orioles lead 7-1.

Miley threw 109 pitches in seven innings and walked only one batter. It's his fifth quality start.