Los Angeles @ Baltimore preview
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Last Meeting ( Apr 19, 2013 ) LA Dodgers 0, Baltimore 0
The Los Angeles Dodgers have been one of the bigger disappointments of the early part of the season, and they take a four-game losing streak into a six-game road trip to the East Coast. The Dodgers begin the trek with three games in Baltimore, where the Orioles are riding the high of a dramatic 10-inning victory over Tampa Bay on Thursday. The teams are playing a split-doubleheader on Saturday after Friday's series opener was postponed because of rain.
Matt Wieters hit a game-ending grand slam - the first for the Orioles since Harold Baines in 1999 - to lift Baltimore to a series victory over the Rays. The Dodgers were swept by the Padres in a three-game set at home, and scored only seven runs in the series. Los Angeles has been shut out three times and held to three runs or fewer in 11 of 15 games.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Hyun-Jin Ryu (2-1, 2.89 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Jason Hammel (2-1, 4.34)
The Korean rookie Ryu has not disappointed, notching quality starts in each of his three outings. He took a tough-luck loss in his Dodgers' debut but has won his last two starts. He struck out nine last time out, holding Arizona to three runs over six innings. Ryu, 26, will face the Orioles for the first time.
Hammel has lasted at least six innings in each of his three outings and has two quality starts to show for it. He picked up his second win last time out against the Yankees, giving up two earned runs over six innings. Hammel saw plenty of the Dodgers while pitching for Colorado - he is 2-5 with a 5.47 ERA in 13 games (nine starts) against Los Angeles.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Orioles have won 98 consecutive games when leading after seven innings, the second-longest streak in MLB history. The Yankees won 116 straight from 1998-99.
2. The Dodgers are 1-for-19 with the bases loading and are hitting .171 with runners in scoring position.
3. Dodgers backup C Ramon Hernandez is 9-for-19 with five doubles against Hammel.
PREDICTION: Orioles 3, Dodgers 2