Baltimore Orioles (58-52) vs. Boston Red Sox (54-57)
It is a great battle in the AL East on Thursday when the Baltimore Orioles travel to Fenway Park to take on the Boston Red Sox. This is a battle of two teams that have had a long-standing rivalry, but now it is heated up even more, with both clubs battling for one of the final wildcard spots in the American League.
This is the first time that both clubs have been relevant in more than a decade with Baltimore entering Wednesday night’s contest holding the final wildcard spot in the league while Boston is 4.5 games out. The Orioles have been red-hot over the last 23 games, going 15-8 while Boston has gone ice cold, 7-17 in their last 24.
Despite the struggles, oddsmakers still place Boston as the f avorite at -135 while the Orioles are at +115. The total is set at 9.5 (over: -120, under: +100).
The Baltimore Orioles have been the story in Major League Baseball since the start of July, going 23-10 in that span. That has moved this team into the wildcard picture, and they could be the team that no American League club wants to face come playoff time.
Just going to leave this one here ?? pic.twitter.com/xxOOhaFa9t
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) August 10, 2022
This Baltimore club looks like an entirely different team. They are allowing 4.24 runs per game, 11th overall, but the team ERA over the last 23 contests is 3.63. Right-hander Austin Voth has been one who has been unbelievably impressive since the start of July. In five July starts he posted a 2.75 ERA, allowing six runs in 19.2 innings. He gave up three runs in 5.0 innings in his start against Pittsburgh (August 6), but has now given up three or fewer runs in 14 straight appearances, including holding clubs to two or fewer runs in 12 of those outings. Voth is 2-1 with a 5.53 ERA overall. He has cut his ERA nearly in half since May 30 (10.13).
Baltimore is averaging 4.31 runs per game, 19th overall, however, they have stepped up their game over the last 23 contests, scoring 107 runs, an average of 4.65 runs per game. The Orioles are 15th in homeruns (115) and have a .698 OPS.