Despite getting swept in Houston, the Baltimore Orioles have to feel positive about their recent 7-game road trip after taking 3 of 4 games from the Yankees in New York. The O’s are treading water in the East, but they can make up some more ground as 2nd place Toronto comes to town for the April 9th AL free pick. There’s signs that the Orioles bats are coming to life, can the Jays shut them down to continue their stellar early season play?
J.A Happ Pitches Monday Against an Old Foe
Toronto’s J.A Happ (1-1) makes his third start of the year Wednesday after an inconsistent start to the season. The left hander has allowed 3 HR through 2018 and has an ERA of 5.40 after allowing 6 ER in 10 IP. Happ has yet to pitch out of the 6th inning this season, as he’s struggled with high pitch counts early in games. Unfortunately for Blue Jays fans, Happ has struggled a bit against Baltimore, going 0-3 against them in 2017. That being said his ERA was just 3.05 as his total run support was just 4 ER in 3 starts. Happ is 1-2 with a 4.05 ERA in six career starts at Camden Yards.
The Toronto offense will try and get things going for Happ in the April 9th AL free pick against Baltimore starter Dylan Bundy. The Blue Jays have been plating some runs this season, ranking 6th in the MLB in runs/game (5.20). Toronto has scored 7+ in 3 of the last 5 but that might be hard to continue against Bundy. The Jays have hit just .136 against the right hander.
Bundy Looks to Continue His 2018 Domination
The Orioles have pretty good value at -115 in the April 9th AL free pick considering Dylan Bundy is on the hill. He’s been Baltimore’s best starter thus far, allowing just 1ER in 13.0 IP for a nice ERA of 0.69. He’s struck out 15 total in two games but has also been a victim of poor run support and a flailing defense in recording two no decisions. Bundy dominated Toronto in 2017, going 2-0 over 3 starts while allowing just 2ER in 19 IP (0.95 ERA).
Bundy may not even need his best stuff tonight if the Orioles offense continues to shine, especially as they’ve done against J.A Happ. The Orioles scored 23 runs in a four game set over the weekend at Yankee Stadium. Manny Machado is showing signs of breaking out of an early season funk after getting hits in 7 of his last 15 AB – including his first 2 HR of the season. Adam Jones is coming in off a 3-hit game and although he’s questionable Monday with an illness, Chris Davis finally hit his first HR of the season two games ago. All three players have 2HR in their career against Happ.
April 9th AL Free Pick Betting
Toronto has won or split all three series’ they’ve been in this year, but it’s hard not to like Baltimore on Monday night. Dylan Bundy has been amazing on the mound for the O’s and the offense should be able to produce some runs against Happ. The Orioles went just 1-2 in their only home series of the year against the Twins, but are slight -120 favorites to take this series against Toronto. That gets started with a W tonight.
Free Pick: Baltimore Orioles -115
