Deck McGuire has pitched 13 innings in the Majors and started exactly two games, both back in 2016. He's allowed 5 HR's in that brief span. He can strike people out - he doesn't walk many, but this is an Oriole team that swings at almost anything so that could actually hurt him here, not to mention unless he's razor sharp I wouldn't expect him to last more than five innings. We know how poor the Angels' bullpen is, and before yesterday they'd allowed 9 HR's in the previous three games - so, I expect the Birds to score, especially given the 90*+ temperatures with a slight helping breeze. Gausman has been both hot and cold, but this Angels team has destroyed him in the past. Even my friend Luis Valbuena is 5-9 off of Gausman, and as a team LAA hit .360 off Gausman in 100 at bats. Gausman's fly balls are back up, and he's had three straight high-pitch count games, and remember it's toasty, meaning potential fatigue. The Oriole pen is nothing to be afraid of - I don't care that Dan Bellino is calling balls and strikes - he's an UNDER umpire but looking at the list of games he's called, many have been in pitchers' parks or involved elite pitchers, which these two are not.  If it weren't for him being the HPU I'd have considered going bigger here. 

07/01/2018 5:19 AM