MLB Game Preview - Texas at Baltimore

Sat Sep 7, 2019 7:05 PM EDT

Orioles' Brooks looks to get back on winning track vs. Rangers

Consistency has been an issue for the Baltimore Orioles all season.

Nobody represents that problem better than right-hander Aaron Brooks.

He'll get a chance to bounce back from another disappointing start when he takes the mound on Saturday night against the visiting Rangers in the third game of their four-game series.

Brooks (4-7, 5.81 ERA) tossed back-to-back gems to cap last month after going 0-3 his first three starts of August.

He gave up one run and seven hits in five innings and earned the win when the Orioles beat the visiting Kansas City Royals 8-1 on Aug. 21.

Brooks was even better six days later at the Washington Nationals, blanking them for six innings on two hits in a 2-0 victory.

But after facing the same Royals lineup 11 days earlier, Brooks gave up three runs and six hits while only lasting 4 1/3 innings on Sunday. He did not factor in the decision in a 6-4 loss.

"I just thought he had a tough time finding his rhythm," Orioles manager Brandon Hyde told reporters after Brooks' last start. "A lot of sliders in the middle. I didn't think he had his fastball command, but he settled in and did a nice job after the first inning."

Brooks, who is 0-0 with a 3.38 ERA in two career appearances (one start) against the Rangers, agreed that he didn't have a good feel for his pitches in his latest outing.

"Kind of had to grind a little bit, nibbled a little bit," he said. "Threw too many balls and fell behind and they got a few base hits when they needed to."

Hyde said there's no doubt that the Orioles are only as good as their pitching.

"The games that we've won, we've pitched," he said. "We get guys out that we should get out late in the game. The games that we've won, our starters have given us a chance and our bullpen has held on to leads and gotten guys out. The games we've lost, we just do a really nice job of battling back, and we're having a tough time holding leads."

The Orioles led three times on Friday night, but gave the lead away each time in a 7-6 loss. The Rangers also won the series opener 3-1 on Thursday.

Willie Calhoun continues to be one of the bright spots for the Rangers this season. He homered twice on Friday night and drove in four runs, both career highs.

Calhoun has been getting extra playing time in the outfield while Joey Gallo recovers from surgery on his right hand. Gallo thought he might miss the rest of the season, but has been taking batting practice recently and could return next week.

Elvis Andrus drove in the final two runs with a single in the seventh inning of Friday's victory. After hitting a quiet .250 in August, Andrus is 7-for-24 this month.

"I need to be the example," Andrus told the Dallas Morning News before the series opener. "As a player and as a team, we need to have really good self-awareness and discipline. Personally, I have to set that example, and everybody has to buy in going forward."

--Field Level Media