Houston @ Baltimore preview
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Last Meeting ( Jul 31, 2013 ) Houston 11, Baltimore 0
After taking a moment to introduce himself to his new teammates, Bud Norris will face his former ones on Thursday in the rubber match of a three-game series. Traded from the last-place Houston Astros on Wednesday, the right-hander will look to do his part in pushing the Baltimore Orioles toward the postseason when he takes the mound in the series finale. "This team (Baltimore) is a young club, they know how to contend," Norris said of the Orioles. "They had an amazing year last year. I just want to be any piece of the puzzle I can to help this team keep pushing ourselves to the World Series."
Baltimore, which resides 5 1/2 games behind American League East-leading Boston, certainly didn't look like a World Series contender on Wednesday as it dropped an 11-0 decision to fall for the sixth time in eight outings. Jason Castro belted his first career grand slam and Brett Oberholtzer scattered three hits over seven innings in his first major-league start. The victory was just the third in 12 outings since the All-Star break for struggling Houston.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, CSN (Houston), MASN (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Jordan Lyles (4-4, 4.92 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Bud Norris (6-9, 3.93)
Lyles saw his winless stretch extend to six games on Friday after he yielded four runs on five hits in a no-decision versus Toronto. The 22-year-old, who last won on June 18, is 0-3 while yielding at least four earned runs in five of his last six outings. Lyles gave up three of his eight homers this season in his last two starts.
Sitting in limbo as Houston found a suitable trading partner, Norris was traded to the Orioles for outfielder L.J. Hoes, left-hander Josh Hader and a 2014 draft pick. The 28-year-old Norris last pitched on July 24, allowing three runs in 6 1/3 innings in a no-decision versus Oakland. Norris has struggled with his control, issuing at least three walks in four of his last six outings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Hoes didn't fare well in his first outing with his new team, going 0-for-5 with a pair of strikeouts.
2. Orioles slugger Chris Davis has struck out in a franchise-high 24 consecutive games.
3. Baltimore placed RHP Jason Hammel on the 15-day disabled list with right flexor mass tightness. The 30-year-old Hammel was the team's Opening Day starter, but hasn't won a game since May 27.
PREDICTION: Orioles 4, Astros 1