Game #143 Preview: Matz vs Lowther

After a bit of a wild series so far, the Blue Jays and Orioles will finish their four game series in Baltimore this afternoon. The game gets underway shortly, with a 1:05 ET start.

Blue Jays’ Starter

Steven Matz will go for the Jays’ looking to continue his string of strong starts that he has had so far. He has allowed 2 runs or fewer in 7 straight starts now, improving his season numbers to an 11-7 record with a 3.70 ERA. His FIP is right there as well, coming in at 3.66, as Matz is putting up some of the best numbers he has since his rookie season in 2016.

Matz has faced the Orioles twice this year, and hasn’t fared overly well. He went a combined 9.0 innings, allowing 6 runs (5 earned) on 11 hits and 4 walks, striking out 9. He gave up 2 home runs in the game in Baltimore, one to Cedric Mullins and one to Pedro Severino.

Orioles’ Starter

Rookie left hander Zac Lowther will get the start for the Orioles, making just his 7th career appearance and 3rd start. Through 14.1 big league innings, he has allowed 11 runs on 16 hits, striking out 13 and walking 6. He has also been hurt by 6 home runs. However, a lot of that damage came from a start against Boston in May, and otherwise he has done well. His best outing came against the Royals last week, his only outing thus far since being recalled. He went 6 innings, allowing just a run on 3 hits and 2 walks, striking out 3.

As a soft throwing lefty with minimal experience in the Majors, this is the perfect recipe for trouble. He did face the Jays for a couple innings back on July 7, so they’re not going in completely blind. But they also were held to 2 hits and a walk over 2 innings in that one too.

Blue Jays’ Lineup

Orioles’ Lineup

Yesterday’s Heroes

Teoscar Hernández had a good time in the double header yesterday, going 5-8 with a home run and a pair of doubles, scoring 5 times and driving in 3 to take home the Monster Bat award. As you’re all aware, the Jays swept the double header 11-10 and 11-2 over the Orioles.

George Springer, predominantly on the power of his 2-run, go ahead home run in the top of the 7th of game 1, gets the WPA King trophy. Between the two games, he walked away with a .620 WPA. His reward for the effort is an off day today.

Corbin Burnes threw the first 8 innings of a no-hitter, one that was finished by Josh Hader, and that’s probably good enough for the Pitcher of the Day award. Burnes allowed just a walk while striking out 14 batters. But his pitch count ran to 115 after 8 innings, so that was it for him. But everything worked out, and his Brewers beat the Future Guardians 3-0.

Find the Link

Find the link between Anthony Santander and Hall of Famer Jim Thome.

Stats retrieved from Fangraphs and Baseball Savant