The Giants two-time Cy Young winner takes to the mound, looking to gain more confidence against the worst team in baseball.
Baltimore Orioles at San Francisco Giants
Baltimore grabbed a 4-1 victory in the second game of this three-game series last night, winning for just the third time in their last 19 games. The Orioles have been outscored 118-45 over that span. Tuesday’s victory also snapped the team’s nine-game road losing streak, as opponents held a 55-19 advantage in those games. OF Adam Jones launched a solo home run in leading the Orioles offense, but the team has still hit just 51 home runs on the year, good for 10th in the American League and 51 behind league-leading Toronto. Baltimore is still the only team in baseball without a home run from its first baseman. Scoring runs is still difficult for the group, managing to score just 39 runs in their last 17 games and 45 runs in their last 19 games.
Orioles SP Jeremy Guthrie is making his 14th start of the year and eighth road start this afternoon. In his seven road outings, the right-hander is 1-3 with a 3.83 ERA and his team is 1-6 in those games (-380). He has posted a perfect 3-0 record and 2.06 ERA in his five career road starts during interleague play. Guthrie looks to avoid losing a career-high tying fourth consecutive start, as he’s posted a 4.43 ERA during his three-game skid. He is making just his fourth daytime start of the year, posting an even 1-1 record and 3.72 ERA.
San Francisco managed to score just a single run in its loss on Tuesday night, but with 3B Pablo Sandoval’s solo home run in the third inning, the team extended its home run streak to eight games. The offense also has managed to produce the second-best batting average in the National League thus far in 2010. The Giants may get a boost to their lineup today, as injured SS Edgar Renteria (groin) is expected to join the team on Wednesday, batting .326 in 23 games this season. The team has gone 13-10 in interleague games since last season, which is third-best in the NL behind Colorado (16-6) and St. Louis (13-7).
Giants SP Tim Lincecum is 6-2 with a 3.12 ERA and will be making his 14th start of the season. The right-hander has compiled 96 strikeouts and 33 walks over 86.2 innings of work, with the Giants winning nine of his 13 outings (+240). He will be making his first career start against the Orioles, going 4-2 with a 3.69 ERA in nine interleague games, tossing at least seven innings in six of those nine outings. Lincecum avoided a third straight home loss in his last appearance, allowing two runs and striking out seven in a 6-2 win over Oakland. “That’s the Timmy we know,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “His confidence grew. It looks like he’s back on track.” He has gone 3-1 with a 2.44 ERA (3.96 night) in seven previous daytime outings this season.
Bettors may decide to play the big underdog, but the team is just 4-11 (-140) over the last three seasons as a road underdog of +225 to +250. On the other side, this is just the second time that the Giants have been placed as a home favorite of -250 to -330 the last three years (-310).
