Orioles @ D-Backs Preview: Orioles Look to Continue Recovery

The Baltimore Orioles are on a road trip and after getting past the San Fransisco Giants, they will now take on another National League West team in the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The D-backs are coming off two losses in a row against, of all the teams, the New York Mets.  With those losses, and the Los Angeles Dodgers still winning, Arizona is now 7.5 games behind.

The Orioles are in a similar position.  They are in third place but are only .5 games away from being in second place.  However, they are 4.5 games behind the Boston Red Sox.  With the Red Sox entering a throw-away series against division rivals, and last place team in the American League East, the Toronto Blue Jays, the Orioles need as many W’s as they can get if they want to secure a post-season run.

The O’s are currently 4-1 on their road trip and will love to sweep the D-backs in this three game series to get that much closer to the Red Sox.

The O’s starter on Monday came over from Chicago in a trade on July 2.  Scott Feldman is a pitcher that is expected to help stabilize Baltimore’s pitching staff, but he also possesses some impressive offensive skills.

Feldman’s last start was his worst for Baltimore thus far.  He pitched 4 1/3 innings before having his plugged pulled and gave up five earned runs in a loss to the Seattle Mariners.  Feldman’s overall ERA is 5.70.

Arizona will send Wade Miley to the mound.  The left-hander struggled in May and June but bounced back in July and August.  In his last seven outings he is 5-1 with a 1.54 ERA.

The Diamondbacks are the favorites to win with a moneyline of -125 over at Bovada.  The Orioles moneyline is at +105.  The game starts tonight at 9:40 p.m. ET.