Tonight's pitchers: Tillman vs. Weaver

RHP Chris Tillman (0-0, 5.19) tonight will make his 4th Major League start of 2009, his 2nd at home and the 1st of his career vs. the Angels. In Tillman's first two starts, he gave up a combined 8ER and 14 hits in 10 2/3 vs. KC and Detroit. Last Saturday at Toronto, Tillman pitched very well, allowing just four hits and two runs over 6 2/3 innings for his first career quality start. He walked three, fanned four and threw 110 pitches. Tillman, still looking for his first win or loss, has allowed 18 hits, including five homers, in 17 1/3 innings. Right-handed batters are hitting .275 off him and lefties bat .259. The 21-year-old has allowed seven of his ten runs so far in the first two innings of his starts. The Orioles are 1-2 in Tillman starts. Earlier, in 18 starts at Triple-A Norfolk, Tillman went 8-6, 2.70. At the time of his callup he was 4th in the league in strikeouts and 7th in ERA. In 84 career minor-league games, Tillman is 29-24, 3.79 in 398 2/3 innings. Tillman was selected in the second round of the 2006 draft by Seattle. As of this start, Tillman's four Major League starts have come opposite Zack Greinke, Justin Verlander, Brett Cecil and Jered Weaver. The four have a combined record of 41-17, 3.29 this season. RHP Jered Weaver (12-3, 3.73) tonight makes his 24th start of the season, his 11th on the road and the 4th of his career vs. Baltimore. Weaver is 5-0 over his last nine starts and has not taken a loss since June 20th vs. the Dodgers. The Angels are 17-6 when Weaver starts, winning his last seven outings. Over his last two starts, Weaver has walked just three with 22 strikeouts over 13 2/3. He has fanned a career-high 11 batters in back-to-back starts. He has fanned nine or more in four of his last seven starts. Despite his winning ways, he is not pitching as well now as he was earlier in the year. Weaver, first 15 starts of 2009: 8-3, 2.65 Weaver, last 8 starts of 2009: 4-0, 6.04 Right-handed batters hit just .187 off Weaver, while lefties bat .272 and he yields an average of just .211 when pitching with runners in scoring position. His next win will match his career high total of 13 wins in 2007. Weaver at home: 8-1, 2.76 in 13 starts Weaver on the road: 4-2, 5.25 in 10 starts Weaver is tied for 4th in the AL in wins, 7th in strikeouts, 12th in innings and 15th in ERA. Weaver vs. the Orioles: 2009: No appearances 2008: 0-1,5.14, one start Career: 2-1, 1.71, three starts (21IP, 15H, 4B, 16K) O's hitters vs. Weaver: Huff: 0-3 Jones: 0-3 Markakis: 2-9, HR Mora: 4-9, 2 rbi Roberts: 0-9 Wigginton: 0-3