Gail Burton / AP
Baltimore Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy tags out Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout on a steal attempt during the sixth inning Saturday, May 16, 2015, in Baltimore.
Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2015 | 1:05 p.m.
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We've reset the Play of the Day with fresh bankrolls and turned it into a yearly competition. Our three sports writers have restarted with $10,000 bankrolls to continue using on odds from the South Point.
Baltimore Orioles plus-100 vs. New York Mets: $300 to win $300
A lot has concealed how well Baltimore starter Kevin Gausman is pitching lately. The 24-year-old is showing signs of reaching his potential with strong showings in three of his last four starts.
But it’s gone mostly unnoticed. It didn’t help that his last start, giving up six hits and three runs in seven innings, came opposite Hisashi Iwakuma tossing a no-hitter.
And now he’s going up against the Mets’ Jacob deGrom, who’s been one of the best pitchers in the baseball. Gausman is capable of dueling with deGrom at home, though, and getting the Orioles as a slight underdog at Camden Yards is too good to pass up.
Baltimore might be fighting for a wild card while New York is sitting pretty at the top of the National League East, but the former is the better team. The Orioles have outscored opponents by more than 70 runs this year, a run differential that’s almost 50 better than the Mets.
deGrom hasn’t faced many lineups as strong as Baltimore’s, let alone in a park so hitter-friendly. Gausman has adapted to the elements, giving his team the edge.
Current Standings (as of July 1): Brewer (10-6, $11,440), Bern (6-5, $10,550), Keefer (4-11, $6,216)
Lifetime Records: 2014-15 champion Bern (89-79-1), Keefer (88-94-2), Brewer (80-94-2)
Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.
