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Radio: Twins Radio Network.
Know Thine Enemy: Camden Chat
Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winning streak. Let's make it three in a row tonight, and let's extend Baltimore's losing streak to nine games.
After a rough opening day start, Carl Pavano has turned in two straight eight inning gems, giving up only one run and 8 hits over 16 innings. Last time out, Pavano left after 104 pitches, only to see Joe Nathan blow it (with some help from his plodding outfielders) in the ninth, and then Matt Capps blow another save in the tenth. I'm a bit concerned by a reduction in Pavano's ground ball rate, as it's more in line with his 2009 numbers than 2010. But for the moment batters aren't hitting many line drives off Pavano.
Jake Arrieta is one of four promising young Orioles starters, along with Brian Matusz, Chris Tillman and Zach Britton. Arrieta's season numbers have been skewed by a 3 inning 8 run blow-up at home against Texas, where he gave up two home runs. Last time out, Arrieta gutted out a 6 inning, 3 run outing at Yankee Stadium, leaving with a 5-3 lead that would be blown by his bullpen. Arrieta throws a fastball in the low-to-mid 90s, reaching 95-96 at times. He complements the fastball with a solid slider and mixes up change up and curve ball as well. He doesn't strike out a ton of batters (4.8 per nine innings in his 21 MLB starts so far), but he struck out nearly a batter an inning throughout the minors, so I would expect Arrieta to eventually strike out around 7 batters a game when he gets more comfortable. Walks have been a problem, 4.1 per nine innings so far in MLB, pretty much in line with his minor league numbers.