The Baltimore Orioles might want to take a close look at the Cleveland Guardians when trying to break out of their doldrums at the plate.
The teams will meet again Wednesday evening in Baltimore.
“This is a contact team,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said of the Guardians. “I think we could all take a little lesson at times on how they really stay on the baseball and they get enough of the baseball.”
The Guardians won 6-3 in Tuesday night’s series opener, posting their sixth win in their last seven games.
The Orioles have dropped five of their last seven, managing to score more than three runs in only one of those defeats.
“We’re a better team than we’ve played so far,” Hyde said. “I’d like to (be) a little more consistent. … You have honest conversations. You also stay positive.”
The Guardians racked up 11 hits and drew three walks in the first game of the series. They struck out four times.
By contrast, the Orioles fanned 12 times with two walks.
Baltimore got its first run off Cleveland reliever Joey Cantillo, who figures to be a key part of the Guardians’ bullpen as a set-up man.
“For Joey, it’s all about execution of strikes in the zone,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “His stuff plays. You see it.”
The Orioles could have infielder Jackson Holliday, who’s batting .213, back in the lineup after a night off.
“I’m really happy with the improvement defensively,” Hyde said. “It’s not an easy league. You’re going to go through periods of struggle. For the last week, maybe it hasn’t been his best, but I think we’ll see him bounce back.”
Unlike his much anticipated rookie season last year, Holliday might not have quite the scrutiny. Hyde said that could help.
“I think he’s more comfortable,” Hyde said. “I think you can see that.”
Across the lineup, too many bad at-bats for the Orioles have been troubling for Hyde.
“We’re definitely not clicking on all cylinders offensively,” he said.
Right-hander Dean Kremer (1-2, 8.16 ERA) is Baltimore’s scheduled starting pitcher for Wednesday. He hasn’t pitched in a week since allowing six runs in 4 2/3 innings in a 9-0 loss at Arizona. He has worked at least into the fifth inning in each of his three starts.
Kremer is 0-3 with an ERA of 6.50 and 10 strikeouts in four appearances against the Guardians in his career.
Cleveland’s starter will be right-hander Gavin Williams (1-0, 3.46 ERA), whose best outing came last Thursday against the Chicago White Sox. He went five innings and threw 94 pitches, giving up one run on three hits with seven strikeouts in a 6-1 victory.
“It took him a lot of pitches to get through five,” Vogt said. “Anytime we get five clean from any of our starters, it’s a great job.”
Williams gave up six runs in four innings last August at home against the Orioles in his only previous matchup with Baltimore.
With a 9-7 record, Cleveland is two games above .500 for the first time this season.
-Field Level Media
