Baltimore Orioles vs Oakland Athletics series preview

The Orioles wrapping their west coast trip with a three game series against the Oakland Athletics.
Nine games in ten days on the west coast. If you stayed up to watch some good and bad moments, congratulations. If you went to bed after a blowout or some misplays, congratulations too.

Baltimore Orioles meet Oakland Athletics to wrap up road trip

Baltimore will travel to Northern California with a 3-3 record in this road trip. The offense scored 17 runs (2.83 runs per game) and the run differential is -11. Some luck or 'the 2023 Oriole Way', this road trip is a mix of feelings.

For the weekend, Baltimore could regain their groove against the Oakland A's. They are the worst record in majors (34-87, only sub .300 team), OPS (.665), batting average (.223), runs scored (435), hits (888) and ERA (5.75). We could hear 'Sell the Team' chants from the stands at some moment in each game. The last series win for the Orioles in Oakland was in 2021.

The Athletics have won just three of their last ten games. They came from a series in St. Louis where they avoided a sweep with an 8-0 shutout win, the largest interleague road win against the Cardinals.

Game 1: Kyle Gibson vs TBD

With the six-man rotation, Baltimore will give the ball to the veteran Gibson, who need to bounce back from his last start when he allowed the most earned runs (9) and hits (12). In the Coliseum, he'll play for the first time since 2020. He's 1-1 with a 4.07 ERA and 20 strikeouts in four apperances. Overall, he's 6-3 with a 3.80 ERA and 54 strikeouts in eleven apperances.

The Oakland A's haven't announced their probable starters as of writing this. So, we'll use the Roster Resource page and Luis Medina is the scheduled pitcher. The 24-year-old threw 4.0 IP against the Washington Nationals. His numbers: 4 hits, an earned run, two walks and four strikeouts for a no-decision.

Game 2: Cole Irvin vs TBD

If Gibson didn't perform well, Irvin was the opposite. The big lefty came from his best outing in an Orioles uniform against Seattle (5.0 IP, 2 H, BB, 6 K). Since July, he posted a 2.70 ERA, 8 walks and 23 strikeouts. His last game against his former team was the last before his somewhat surprising demotion to Norfolk in April.

Per Roster Resource, the Saturday pitcher for the home team is Ken Waldichuk. A former Yankee prosect had a down year with a -0.8 bWAR and 6+ ERA between rotation and bullpen. The lefty had a good outing in DC with a one-run ball in five innings.

Game 3: Kyle Bradish vs TBD

Arguably the pitcher for Game 1 in a playoff series, Bradish continues to shine in 2023. The righty has given insurance to the rotation (goes 6+ innings on seven in the last eight games), struck out opponents (47), limited damage (2.36 ERA, 3.65 FIP), etc. Actually, he's the most reliable pitcher in their rotation. He'll face Oakland for the first time.

The Roster Resource appointed JP Sears for Sunday game. Another former Yankee prospect, the lefty is the best player on Oakland's roster per bWAR (2.3). His last game was Monday in St. Louis, when he threw five innings with 6 hits, 3 earned runs, 4 walks and 6 strikeouts. He'll face Baltimore for the fifth time, third as a member of the A's. In his last outing, he was the losing pitcher. Ryan Mountcastle and Adley Rutschman hit a Home Run each.