Baltimore Orioles vs Chi. Cubs Cubs Picks and Predictions July 9th 2024

Feeling Snubbed by ASG, Orioles Take Aim at Cubs

The Baltimore Orioles are back home after a West Coast trip that went pretty well, but they might be in a bit of a surly mood anyway.

Orioles Return Home with ASG Discontent

The Baltimore Orioles are set to begin a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night. Despite a successful West Coast trip, the Orioles are likely still miffed about having only three representatives in next week’s All-Star Game.

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All-Star Selections and Team Sentiments

The Orioles will use their six-game homestand to honor All-Star Game selections Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, and Corbin Burnes. However, both the players and the staff believe that more team members deserved to be recognized, particularly closer Craig Kimbrel and infielder Jordan Westburg.

“The guys, they’ve had some really awesome first halves,” Henderson said. “Kind of disappointed (we) didn’t get to see more of them in there. I really don’t know what else to say.”

Pitcher Grayson Rodriguez echoed this sentiment, stating, “I think we should have had more than three All-Stars, for sure. There’s a lot of guys in that clubhouse that are deserving to be there.” This feeling of being snubbed is bound to be a topic of conversation for the next few days.

Cubs’ All-Star Pitcher and Recent Performance

The Orioles will face another All-Star right away. Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga (7-2, 3.16 ERA), who is set to pitch the series opener, was recently selected to the midsummer classic. The 30-year-old rookie hasn’t posted a victory since June 15, but he struck out eight Philadelphia batters in six innings last Wednesday.

“He’s a rookie in this league and a rookie just being here as a Major League Baseball player in Chicago,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “How he has handled that part of it with everything new that gets thrown out at you, with everything that is different, has been the best part.”

The Cubs have won three of their past four games as they start a seven-game road trip across six days before the All-Star break. This matches Chicago’s best stretch since April.

“That’s what we needed to start doing — we need to win series,” Counsell said. “That’s kind of the goal you put in front of yourself every three days, every four days. We won a series and we’re going to play a really good baseball team now in Baltimore. It will be a challenge, but that’s kind of the mindset we have to put ourselves in.”

Orioles’ Recent Success

The Orioles are back from a 4-2 road trip to Seattle and Oakland, having won their past three series overall. Part of Baltimore’s boost has come from outfielder Heston Kjerstad, who’s batting .407 with three home runs in 10 games since being recalled from Triple-A Norfolk.

“He has got that power potential and he’s taking good at-bats,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “He’s popping one every once in a while and getting some big hits for us.”

Pitching Matchup: Dean Kremer

Right-hander Dean Kremer (4-4, 3.93 ERA) will be the starting pitcher for Baltimore, marking just his second appearance with the big-league team since May. Kremer has something to build on after blanking Seattle across five innings last Wednesday, striking out eight batters.

This will be Kremer’s first outing at Camden Yards since surrendering six runs (three earned) in 5 2/3 innings against Arizona on May 12. In parts of five seasons in the majors, Kremer’s lone outing against the Cubs resulted in a 2023 victory when he worked five innings and gave up three runs (one earned).

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Conclusion

When facing the Cubs, the Orioles feel a blend of frustration and determination. Feeling overlooked by the All-Star selections, the team is eager to demonstrate their value on the field. Baltimore hopes to continue their winning streak and make a strong impression before the All-Star break, led by standout performers like Logan Gilbert and the up-and-coming Heston Kjerstad. The next series will serve as a challenging assessment of their perseverance and competence as they work towards maintaining their achievements.