Series Preview: Baltimore Orioles @ Tampa Bay Rays

Today's game is a 7:10 PM start; the other two are 1:05 PM starts.

Friday, August 13: Jeremie Guthrie (4.62 FIP) vs. James Shields (4.57 FIP)

Saturday, August 14: Brian Matusz (4.31 FIP) vs. Andy Sonnanstine (4.87 FIP)

Sunday, August 15: Jake Arrieta (5.13 FIP) vs. Jeremy Hellickson (2.82 FIP)

I feel bad for the Orioles. They're like to 2007 Rays - all this young talent, but players aren't developing as fast as you expected and so you still stink. Get used to them, though - the Rays play nine more games against the Orioles this season. 

Ever since the Orioles hired Buck Showalter as their new manager, they've been riding a hot streak: 8-1 as of Thursday evening (although they're losing as I type this right now). Really, it doesn't matter how many games the Orioles win at this point; their season is a lost cause already, so the most important thing for them is the development of their prospects and young players. Young talent is one things the Orioles have plenty of at the moment, as we're about to see firsthand. Brian Matusz, Jake Arrieta, Matt Wieters, Felix Pie, Adam Jones, Jake Fox: all these players are young, cheap, and have plenty of talent, although some are taking longer than others to develop.   

Keys to the Series:

• Good Pitching- The Orioles don't have a high-powered offense, so this should be a nice start for James Shields to get his feet back under him after the bombing up in Toronto. Sonnanstine and Hellickson also have a chance to shine, although they'll be matched up against two of the Orioles' top pitching prospects: Arrieta and Matusz. Thankfully, the Rays should/could be getting Carlos Pena back this weekend (fingers crossed), which would provide a nice offensive boost.
• Take Advantage- Like I said above, the Rays play the Orioles nine more times this season, but that only helps if the Rays can win these games. The Rays beat the Orioles handily in the first half of the season; let's make it happen again.