Baltimore Orioles Daily: Birds set to kick off interleague play against Phillies

The Baltimore Orioles are surging, but a two-game slate against the rock-solid Philadelphia Phillies will provide a tough test.

After a torrid 5-1 stretch and a much-needed day off, the Baltimore Orioles are set for their first interleague series of the year: a two-game slate against the surprisingly competitive Philadelphia Phillies.

Before the season, most observers projected similar records for these two teams, but it was plain to see that they were heading in opposite directions — while the Birds are saddled with a top-heavy roster and a thin farm system, the Phillies have an influx of youth and improved their Pythagorean record by 10 wins last season. Both teams have accelerated down their respective paths in 2018, so while Philadelphia is sitting pretty with a 23-16 record, the O’s are toiling away at 13-28.

Yes, the Birds are in fine form right now, but posting 5-2 record against the Royals and Rays isn’t exactly a herculean feat. They’ll get a taste of tougher competition in the form of Gabe Kapler’s young squad starting tonight at 7:05 p.m. ET. Until then, here’s what you might have missed yesterday.

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Best of Orioles news and analysis across the web from 5/14/18

Orioles’ third base platoon to remain in flux as position’s production lags: The Orioles have replaced injured third baseman Tim Beckham with a complex platoon of three flawed players: Danny Valencia, Pedro Alvarez and Jace Peterson. In this piece by Jon Meoli of the Baltimore Sun, Buck Showalter describes the situation as “day-to-day, like all of us are.”

David Hess has earned more of a chance with the Orioles: Hess was solid in his MLB debut on Saturday, giving up three runs over six innings. In this piece, George Battersby of Camden Chat makes the case for the young Tennessean to see more playing time in the coming weeks.

Orioles’ Gausman is prioritizing precision over power in early-season success: The rotation has had its share of low moments this season, but Gausman has been the least of the Orioles’ problems. In this analytical piece, Tyler Young of Camden Chat lays out the righty’s formula for success.

Next: The top 5 strikeout pitchers in Orioles history

How will the Birds fare against the Phillies this week? Let us know on social media, and keep it here at Birds Watcher for more updates on the Baltimore Orioles.