MLB Game Preview - Baltimore at San Diego
Mon Jul 29, 2019 10:10 PM EDT

ATL
3
WSH
6
F
ARI
6
MIA
11
F
PIT
6
CIN
11
F
TOR
7
KC
3
F
LAD
1
COL
9
F
DET
7
LAA
2
F
BAL
1
SD
8
F
Padres prepare for visit from improving Orioles
Mon Jul 29, 2019 1:40 AM

The Baltimore Orioles have the second-worst record in the majors at 35-70. Recently, however, the Orioles have been playing their best baseball of the season.

It took a walk-off homer in the ninth inning Sunday afternoon to deny the Orioles their first sweep of the season in Anaheim.

"We won three of the four games in Anaheim," Orioles manager Brandon Hyde told reporters after the game. "We feel good about that. You win a series on the road and it is a positive."

Later Sunday evening, the resurgent Orioles bussed 90 miles south to San Diego, where they will open a quick, two-game series Monday night against the Padres at Petco Park.

The Padres swept a two-game series in Baltimore at the end of June. But the rematch, even at home, might not be so easy for the Padres.

While the Orioles have won seven of their last 11 games and are 13-12 over the last 25, the Padres are 7-16 over their past 23 games. And they have lost nine of their last 10 games at Petco Park.

The one edge the Padres will have Monday is that they know who their starting pitcher will be. The Orioles haven't identified a starter, although Hyde said San Diego County native Tom Eshelman will play a key role in Monday's game.

Eshelman (0-2, 5.79 ERA) could start the game against the Padres' Chris Paddack (6-5, 2.84) in a match of rookie right-handers. Or the Orioles could start with an opener and then bring in Eshelman. Or they could promote someone from the minor leagues.

Hyde left all the options open Sunday afternoon before the Orioles departed Anaheim. All he did confirm was that Eshelman would be involved at some point in the game.

Eshelman is a 6-foot-3, 210-pound 25-year-old from Carlsbad, which is 25 miles north of San Diego along the I-5 freeway that carried the Orioles south Sunday for the interleague series. A second-round pick in the 2015 draft out of Cal State Fullerton, Eshelman has appeared in four games (three starts) since being promoted to the Orioles on July 1.

He has allowed 16 runs (12 earned) on 21 hits and six walks with 12 strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings. He has a 1.45 WHIP and a .276 opponents' batting average with the Orioles.

Eshelman, of course, has never faced the Padres. And Paddack has never faced the Orioles.

Paddack will be making his 18th start of the season and his sixth since returning from a trip to the minor leagues in June that was designed to limit his innings.

Paddack is 2-1 (and the Padres are 3-2 when he starts) since his return. Over his last five starts, Paddack has given up seven runs on 16 hits and eight walks with 27 strikeouts in 29 1/3 innings for a 2.15 ERA and a 0.818 WHIP.

"Chris is again the pitcher that he was at the beginning of the season," Padres manager Andy Green said recently, alluding to Paddack's 3-1 record and 1.55 ERA through his first seven major league starts. "I love the way he motivates himself for every start. He is focused and driven to succeed."

--Field Level Media

Team Record Comparison

Team Standings GB W-L Aw/Hm Stk L10
Baltimore            
San Diego            

Scheduled Starting Pitchers

David Hess - TB
Matchup
Season
vs. Opp Has not pitched vs. San Diego
Chris Paddack - MIN
Matchup
Season
vs. Opp Has not pitched vs. Baltimore

Hot Batters (Last 10 team games)

Injury Report

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