BALTIMORE — Good evening from Oriole Park at Camden Yards as the Orioles (15-31) look to make it two in a row against the Oakland Athletics (23-23) as Brian Matusz takes the hill against left-handed starter Trevor Cahill at 7:05 this evening.
Matusz hopes to bounce back from the shortest outing of his career, a 2 1/3-inning effort against Texas last Thursday in which the young lefty gave up seven runs and picked up his fourth loss of the season. After winning two of his first three starts in 2010, Matusz has not registered a win in his last six starts. His last victory came against these same Athletics in Oakland on April 18.
Here are tonight’s starting lineups:
Oakland
CF Rajai Davis
1B Daric Barton
C Kurt Suzuki
3B Kevin Kouzmanoff
RF Ryan Sweeney
LF Adam Rosales
DH Jake Fox
2B Mark Ellis
SS Cliff Pennington
SP Trevor Cahill (2-2, 3.68 ERA)
Baltimore
LF Corey Patterson
1B Ty Wigginton
RF Nick Markakis
3B Miguel Tejada
C Matt Wieters
CF Adam Jones
2B Scott Moore
DH Garrett Atkins
SS Cesar Izturis
SP Brian Matusz (2-4, 5.26 ERA)
Don’t forget to join us in the Orange Crush chat tonight at 7:00 p.m., as WNST personalities will discuss tonight’s action from Camden Yards. As always, remember to follow us on Twitter (@WNST) for the quickest updates and quips about tonight’s game.
Check back right here for updates (time-stamped below) leading right up to first pitch at 7:05 p.m.
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6:25 p.m. — Luke Scott is again out of the lineup with a strained left shoulder. Manager Dave Trembley said the slugger’s shoulder has improved considerably and will not need an MRI. There’s a “50-50” chance Scott could be available to pinch-hit if needed tonight, but I wouldn’t bet on it.
Second baseman Brian Roberts and injured relievers Alfredo Simon and Koji Uehara will fly to Sarasota on Friday to begin rehabbing their respective injuries. Roberts was scheduled to fly to extended spring training before a bout of pneumonia left him hospitalized last week.
Roberts and injured closer Mike Gonzalez are eligible to come off the 60-day disabled list on June 9, but it’s highly unlikely either will be ready by then. After a limited spring training and appearing in only four games this season, the second baseman is basically starting over in his preparation to play baseball this season.
Gonzalez has pitched in three extended spring training games without any pain in his left shoulder, but the reliever has not built enough strength in the shoulder to return when eligible. He will complete a long-toss program to build up his strength.
In non-injury news, outfielder Nick Markakis will not be with the team on Thursday as he will be with his wife who will give birth to their second child.
