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Baltimore Orioles: 3 things to watch for in short series vs. Pirates

By Nate Wardle

Jun 1, 2017; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Wade Miley (38) and Orioles catcher Caleb Joseph (36) walk back to the dugout after warming up in the bullpen prior to their game against the Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Patrick McDermott-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 1, 2017; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Wade Miley (38) and Orioles catcher Caleb Joseph (36) walk back to the dugout after warming up in the bullpen prior to their game against the Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Patrick McDermott-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 25, 2016; Sarasota, FL, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Ivan Nova (47) attempts to tag out Baltimore Orioles infielder Chris Davis (19) in the fourth inning of the spring training game at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 25, 2016; Sarasota, FL, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Ivan Nova (47) attempts to tag out Baltimore Orioles infielder Chris Davis (19) in the fourth inning of the spring training game at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports /

Orioles must find their offense against Nova

The Pirates have swapped starting pitchers for the series, with Ivan Nova facing Kevin Gausman on Tuesday and struggling Chad Kuhl facing Wade Miley on Wednesday.

Nova, the former Yankee, has been quite good so far in 2017, pitching to a 5-4 record with a 2.92 ERA in 11 starts. Not a strikeout guy, Nova only has 40 strikeouts in those games, so he relies on outs being made on balls put in play.

Nova has 17 appearances against Baltimore, with 16 starts and two complete games. He is 8-4 in those appearances, but with a high 5.01 ERA. The Orioles have always been a team that has hit Nova well. The Orioles have hit 17 home runs off of Nova, the highest among any team. Of course, Nova has pitched more innings against the Orioles than any other team.

Kuhl, the Delaware native who went to the University of Delaware, has struggled in 2017 after a successful start to his major league career in 2016. Kuhl is 1-5 with a 6.02 ERA and a 1.581 WHIP for the Pirates in 2017.

The 24-year-old right-hander has never started against the Orioles.

As for the Orioles’ starters, Kevin Gausman will see if he can continue his turnaround against a National League foe. Gausman is tied for the major league lead in starts with 12 and has pitched his way to a 3-4 record with a 5.92 ERA and a WHIP above 1.8. Even if the past few starts, where Gausman has seemed to start to put things together, he has struggled through innings.

Up until late 2016, Gausman was a guy with the talent who seemed to lose focus at times. Could that issue be creeping back? Hopefully, the Opening Day starter will have his best start on Tuesday evening and start to show signs of returning to the pitcher he was at the end of 2016.

Gausman has never faced the Pirates, but Wade Miley has. Miley has six starts against the Pirates and a 2-2 record with a 3.11 ERA and a very nice WHIP of 1.088. Miley has also only allowed two home runs to the Pirates, so it looks like a good matchup for him.

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