Josh Tomlin, Kevin Gausman Highlight Saturday’s MLB Card

Jul 23, 2016

Josh Tomlin stats, Josh Tomlin pitching preview, Josh Tomlin betting advice

Baltimore right-hander Kevin Gausman has been terrific at home this season, posting a 2.79 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in six starts at Camden Yards. Despite a lack of consistency over the last couple of seasons (management shuttling back-and-forth from Triple-A Norfolk), Gausman improved upon his strikeout, walk, swing strike and ground ball rates last season.

Gausman’s fastball induced a 21% strikeout rate (18th best among 95 qualified starters) last year and he remains a prime candidate for a breakout second half in 2016. Gausman’s 3.78 xFIP (3.80 xFIP in 2015) is backed by a 22.1% K%, 5.0% BB% and a 17.1% K-BB%.

Gausman is also supported by a very good Baltimore bullpen that owns a 3.13 ERA and 1.30 WHIP, together with a 2.90 ERA and 1.28 WHIP at home, a 2.93 ERA and 1.25 WHIP at night and a 2.89 ERA and 0.91 WHIP over the last seven games.

Meanwhile, Cleveland right-hander Josh Tomlin toes the rubber with a 5.14 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in five career starts against the Orioles, including yielding a combined 10 earned runs in his last 13 innings pitched at Camden Yards. Tomlin continues to post an elite walk rate (2.7% BB%; 1.00 BB/9) but remains susceptible to the long ball as evidenced by his 1.84 HR/9 rate (16.8% HR/FB).

The 31-year-old had a 15.3% home runs per fly ball rate in 2015, which was the fourth highest in baseball. Tomlin now faces a potent Baltimore lineup that enters the weekend leading the league in home runs behind outfielder Mark Trumbo, who leads the American League with 29 home runs.  Josh Tomlin faces an unenviable task tonight and is unlikely to succeed.

Technically speaking, the Orioles are 48-23 in their last 71 home games versus .501 or greater opposition (8-1 L/9), 39-14 in their last 53 home games, 19-7 in their last 26 games versus A.L. Central foes and 42-17 in their last 59 home games versus right-handed starters.

With Cleveland standing at 1-7 in the last eight meetings in this series, including dropping its last five games in Baltimore, take the Orioles and invest with confidence.