Bundy goes for fifth win as Orioles host White Sox (May 06, 2017)
BALTIMORE-- Dylan Bundy of the Orioles has been one of the top pitchers in baseball the first month of the season, and he will try for his fifth victory when Baltimore takes on the Chicago White Sox on Saturday.
Bundy (4-1, 1.82 ERA) threw well in each of his starts so far this year, giving the Orioles (18-10) a much-needed boost with top starter Chris Tillman on the disabled list since the start of the season.
The 24-year old has not allowed more than three runs in any of his six starts. He is among the league leaders in several categories and has served as an anchor for the Baltimore starters.
Dylan Covey (0-2, 7.29 ERA) will start for the White Sox, and he hopes to improve.
Covey gave up six runs on nine hits in 6 2/3 innings in his last start -- versus the Royals -- where he took the loss. The right-hander has allowed 17 runs in 21 innings, and Chicago is looking for him to turn things around versus Bundy.
The good news for the Baltimore starting rotation is manager Buck Showalter confirmed after Friday's victory that Tillman will come off the disabled list and start on Sunday in the series finale.
Tillman has been on the disabled list since the start of the season with shoulder bursitis, but has been working his way back with rehab starts at three different levels in the minor leagues the last few weeks.
The bad news is that closer Zach Britton again is having problems with his forearm strain. He just came off the disabled list earlier this week but the issue has resurfaced.
"Same forearm strain, I think," Showalter said after the game. "I talked to Zach today and Dr. 1/8Michael 3/8 Jacobs and 1/8others 3/8. Just trying to gather all the information as to which direction to go."
The Orioles again made bullpen and pitching moves before the Friday game. They brought up right-hander Stefan Crichton plus right-hander Gabriel Ynoa and sent back Tyler Wilson to Triple-A Norfolk.
Ynoa wound up pitching six innings of long relief in the 4-2 victory on Friday after starter Wade Miley was hit twice by line drives in the first 12 pitches. Showalter pulled him and put in Ynoa, who threw six scoreless innings.
The Orioles likely will be making more moves before the Saturday game.
This is the first time in 2017 that the Orioles have played against the American League Central. Outside of one series in Cincinnati, the Orioles have spent the rest of their season competing against the American League East.
For Chicago (15-13), Todd Frazier (back tightness) did not start or play on Friday, and the White Sox are hoping he might make it back to the starting lineup Saturday.
Frazier has missed the past two games.
"He's making progress," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "He felt a little better 1/8Friday 3/8. He is kind of day-to-day. Hopefully he'll be back in there tomorrow."
The White Sox also have spent most of their season playing within their division. Chicago played one series versus the Yankees with rest of its schedule against the Central Division.
