Athletics at Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles squandered a chance to move up in the American League wild-card standings by dropping two of three over the weekend but are poised to bounce back with a long stretch of home games. The Orioles will try to take advantage of a last-place club when they host the Oakland Athletics on Monday for the opener of their three-game series.
Baltimore fell four games behind Minnesota and the Los Angeles Angels in the race for the second AL wild card by dropping two of three to the Angels in a series that marked the beginning of a stretch during which it plays 16 of 19 at home. "The competition is us," Orioles manager Buck Showalter told reporters after Sunday's 5-4 loss. "It's us playing better, regardless of who you're playing. Our competition is Oakland now, and it's us. There's opportunity there for us." The Athletics are sitting in last place in the AL West at 54-70 but will have a say in how the AL playoff race plays out with each of its next 15 games against wild-card challengers. Oakland will try to spoil things for Baltimore with Chris Smith on the mound, while the Orioles counter with Wade Miley.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, NBCSN California (Oakland), MASN (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Chris Smith (0-2, 5.26 ERA) vs. Orioles LH Wade Miley (6-10, 5.21)
Smith came on strong with three quality starts in his first three turns of the season but has not been as strong over his last four outings. The 36-year-old is 0-1 with a 7.08 ERA over those last four starts and was reached for three runs in 5 1/3 innings by Kansas City on Tuesday. Smith started at home against Baltimore on Aug. 10 and surrendered a season-high five runs on seven hits - four homers - and a walk.
Miley is getting another chance with the Orioles exploring a six-man rotation and is looking to bounce back after allowing three runs on five hits and three walks in 4 2/3 innings at Seattle on Tuesday. The Louisiana native has issued at least three walks in seven of his last eight starts and is last among qualifying AL pitchers with a 1.69 WHIP. Miley walked three at Oakland on Aug. 10 but yielded only an unearned run and three hits in seven frames.
WALK-OFFS
1. Orioles SS J.J. Hardy (wrist) is set to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Norfolk on Monday.
2. Oakland DH Ryon Healy is 13-for-31 during his eight-game hitting streak.
3. Baltimore SS Tim Beckham went 0-for-5 on Sunday, marking just the second time in 19 games since joining the team that he went without a hit.