Know Your Enemy: Baltimore Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles find themselves in an interesting situation off the field.

Much like the White Sox, there isn’t a whole lot to love on the field right now. The big difference between the two teams, however, is that the Orioles have only two prospects in MLB.com’s top 100 prospects list, while the Sox have seven.

Two top 100 prospects could jump to about five for the Orioles, depending on the deal they make for Manny Machado. Baltimore’s general manager Dan Duquette acknowledged in an interview on 670 The Score that a Machado trade seems “inevitable.”

The Chicago Cubs have expressed the most interest in the shortstop so far, with the likes of Addison Russell and Kyle Schwarber popping up as possible assets on the move. Man, I really think they’ll need to give up more to get the slugger.

Machado has already compiled a 2.6 WAR this season. Schwarber and Russell have a combined 2.3 WAR. Javy Baez has only a 0.8 WAR...but enough with the Cubs talk.

Point is Machado can rake, and a team will have to give up a “King’s Ransom” to complete the deal, much like what the White Sox got back for Chris Sale. Machado’s slashing a robust .347/.424/.665 to go along with 14 home runs and 42 RBIs.

Baltimore is hitting just .232 on the year. Adam Jones and Trey Mancini have been good, but there hasn’t been much production elsewhere in the lineup.

It’s the pitching that has really killed the Orioles this season. The team boasts a 5.08 ERA to go along with a .281 BAA. Only the White Sox and Royals have worse pitching stats on the year.

The Sox will first face Andrew Cashner, who has a career 4.61 ERA against the South Siders. Jose Abreu has four hits in six at-bats against Cashner, while Welington Castillo is a career .417 hitter against the right-hander.

Kevin Gausman will face the Sox on Tuesday. The Sox should run all over this guy. You know how Hawk mentions those “”Lance Johnson jumps” on the air? Yeah, that’s what the Boston Red Sox were doing all night against Gausman, swiping five bags against him last Thursday. Tim Anderson and Yoan Moncada should have a field day if they get on base at all.

Alex Cobb goes on Wednesday, with his 13.50 career ERA against the White Sox. Dylan Bundy, arguably the team’s best pitcher, goes Thursday for the Orioles.

Pitching Probables:

Monday, May 21: Hector Santiago (0-1, 5.29 ERA) vs. Andrew Cashner (1-5, 4.83 ERA)

Tuesday, May 22: James Shields (1-4, 4.88 ERA) vs. Kevin Gausman (3-3, 3.88 ERA)

Wednesday, May 23: TBA vs. Alex Cobb (1-5, 6.56 ERA)

Thursday, May 24: Lucas Giolito (3-4, 6.42 ERA) vs. Dylan Bundy (2-6, 4.70 ERA)