Marlins at Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles continue to sink and own the worst record in baseball while trudging along with a seven-game losing streak. The Orioles will try to take advantage of a tired opponent and snap the skid when they host the Miami Marlins in the opener of a three-game interleague series Friday.
Baltimore is last in the majors in runs scored with 234 and totaled five runs while being swept at home in three games by the Boston Red Sox this week. "You have to go out there and be ready to compete and play hard no matter who is on the mound," Orioles utilityman Jace Peterson told reporters after taking on Red Sox ace Chris Sale on Wednesday. "It's no secret we are definitely struggling as a team, but we are big leaguers in here and it's got to turn eventually. We got to keep working, and when enough guys buy in and everyone starts feeling better at the plate and you get a couple to fall, it will just trickle on down." The Marlins aren't much stronger with the bats but snuck a run across in the ninth inning Thursday, only to fall 6-3 in 16 innings to the San Francisco Giants. Miami will hope to get a long effort Friday out of starter Jose Urena, who opposes Orioles righty Kevin Gausman.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Miami), MASN 2 (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Jose Urena (1-8, 4.59 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Kevin Gausman (3-5, 4.58)
Urena worked at least six innings in seven of his last nine turns and is coming off a loss to the San Diego Padres on Sunday in which he allowed three runs and six hits in six frames. The Dominican Republic native's lone win came in his previous start, when he surrendered a season-high 10 hits in five innings at St. Louis but was the recipient of a rare outburst of run support in a 7-4 triumph. Urena is 4-2 with a 3.65 ERA in 14 career interleague games (seven starts) and is seeing Baltimore for the first time.
Gausman is winless in his last five outings (0-3) but posted a quality start last time out while holding the Toronto Blue Jays to three runs on nine hits in 6 2/3 innings. The LSU product is tied for second in the majors with 90 hits allowed, and 14 of those hits left the yard. Gausman is making his first career appearance against the Marlins and is 3-8 with a 6.64 ERA in 16 career interleague games (15 starts).
WALK-OFFS
1. Orioles 3B Tim Beckham (groin) is expected to begin a minor league rehab assignment Friday.
2. Marlins OF J.B. Shuck went 4-for-7 on Thursday, matching his hit total from his previous 24 games.
3. Baltimore LHP Richard Bleier suffered a strained lat Wednesday and underwent an MRI on Thursday.