Houston @ Baltimore preview
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Last Meeting ( Jul 30, 2013 ) Houston 3, Baltimore 4
After Chris Davis ended his home run drought in the series opener, the host Baltimore Orioles would love for their slugger to continue the momentum on Wednesday against the major league-worst Houston Astros. Davis belted his league-high 38th homer - and first in the second half of the season - to help Baltimore overcome a three-run deficit for a 4-3 victory on Tuesday. "Oh, I'm so happy," Davis said sarcastically. "I can go home and sleep tonight. Just eat food again. I don't have to wake up every three hours and cry."
The victory was just the second in seven contests for Baltimore, which remained five games behind scorching-hot Tampa Bay in the American League East. The setback was more of the same for Houston, which has dropped nine of its last 11 to reach the 70-loss plateau before the beginning of August. Astros right-hander Bud Norris originally was slated to take the mound Wednesday, but Erik Bedard is likely to start as Norris conceivably could switch dugouts since the Orioles are rumored to be a willing trade partner.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, CSN (Houston), MASN (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros LH Erik Bedard (3-8, 4.28 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Miguel Gonzalez (8-4, 3.69)
Bedard suffered his fifth consecutive loss despite yielding one run on three hits and striking out six in a 4-0 setback to Toronto on Thursday. The 34-year-old Ontario native has struggled mightily away from home, posting a 1-6 record with a 5.79 ERA and a .296 batting average against. Bedard has split a pair of career decisions against the Orioles while issuing 13 walks over 26 innings in six starts.
While Bedard has scuffled on the road, Gonzalez resides on the other end of the spectrum at home. The 29-year-old Mexican boasts a 5-0 mark with a 1.15 WHIP, although he has yielded 11 of his 14 homers in Baltimore. Gonzalez won his lone career start against Houston on June 6, allowing one run on five hits while striking out seven in six innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Davis' homer on Tuesday was his first in a season-high 16 days.
2. Houston 2B Jose Altuve had a two-run single in his return after missing a game with left quad tightness.
3. Baltimore SS J.J. Hardy is showing signs of breaking out of his slump. After going 3-for-22 in his previous six games, Hardy had a two-run single on Tuesday.
PREDICTION: Orioles 7, Astros 2