La Dodgers Dodgers vs Baltimore Orioles Picks and Predictions August 29th 2024

Bobby Miller Searches for Consistency as Dodgers Face O’s

As the Los Angeles Dodgers work to solidify a dependable rotation heading into the playoffs, right-hander Bobby Miller is emerging as a potential key piece. Miller (1-3, 7.49 ERA) will have another opportunity to prove his worth on Thursday in the finale of a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles are set to counter with left-hander Cade Povich (1-6, 6.10 ERA).

Each team has claimed a victory in the series so far. The Dodgers, with a 6-4 win on Wednesday, maintained their three-game lead in the National League West. Meanwhile, the Orioles missed a chance to tie the New York Yankees for first place in the American League East, remaining a game behind.

Miller’s Rollercoaster Season

Miller was projected to be a mainstay in the Dodgers’ rotation and lived up to that potential in his season debut on March 29, striking out 11 and earning the win. However, inconsistency soon followed, and after experiencing shoulder inflammation, Miller found himself on the injured list by mid-April.

Returning in mid-June, Miller struggled again, particularly in a July 9 outing against the Philadelphia Phillies where he allowed nine runs in just four innings. This performance led to his demotion to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Recalled on August 17, Miller showed promise in his second outing back, delivering a quality start against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday. He struck out nine batters over six innings of three-run ball and credited his curveball for the improvement.

“It was definitely a lot of weight off my shoulders, for now,” Miller said following the game, which ended with Shohei Ohtani’s walk-off grand slam. “It’s been really tough mentally lately, but that was a huge confidence booster for me.” Thursday’s game will mark Miller’s first career start against the Orioles.

Ohtani Continues to Impress

Shohei Ohtani remains a force to be reckoned with, as he continues his pursuit of the first 50-50 season in MLB history. On Wednesday, Ohtani hit a home run and stole two bases, bringing his totals to 42 in each category. He also scored three runs, all on a night where he was honored with his second bobblehead promotion of the season. Fans were eager to get their hands on the collectible, lining up outside Dodger Stadium more than seven hours before the first pitch.

“Man, there’s a high demand for these dang bobbleheads,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts commented. “It took me forever to get inside Dodger Stadium.”

Povich Aims for Improvement

The Orioles will be looking to Cade Povich to deliver a strong performance on Thursday. Povich has not recorded a win in his last five starts, though he showed signs of improvement with a no-decision against the Houston Astros on Friday, which ended a four-start losing streak. However, he still allowed five runs on a season-high eight hits over five-plus innings.

Povich, who will be making his first career start against the Dodgers, will need to step up as the Orioles’ offense has cooled off in recent months. After scoring 163 runs in June, the team managed 115 in July and 112 so far in August.

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Urias Leading the Orioles’ Offense

Despite the team’s offensive struggles, Ramon Urias has been a bright spot for the Orioles. Urias continued his hot streak on Wednesday with two hits, including a two-run double. Over his past 12 games, Urias is batting .371 (13-for-35) with 15 RBIs, providing much-needed production for the Orioles.

“(Urias) has been our offense the last couple weeks with really good at-bats,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “We’re not swinging the bat great right now, and he’s carrying us a little bit offensively. … And he’s playing with a lot of energy right now. He’s playing great.”