(Sports Network) - The Baltimore Orioles have an opportunity to earn a rare sweep today as they visit the LA Angels of Anaheim in the finale of three weekend games.
Baltimore will give the ball to Jeremy Guthrie, and like the vast majority of Orioles pitchers, the righty's numbers aren't impressive. Guthrie is 7-13 with a 4.13 ERA and has allowed 11 earned runs in his last two starts. On Tuesday, he permitted six runs on 10 hits in 6 2/3 innings against the White Sox.
For his career against the Angels, Guthrie is 2-2 with a 5.02 ERA.
He will oppose Jered Weaver this afternoon. Weaver's 3.21 ERA is strong, and he is aiming for his 12th win of the season. The standout righty hasn't received consistent run support this season, and his last two outings have resulted in defeat, including the most recent contest against the Twins.
Weaver is 2-2 lifetime versus the Twins with a 4.44 ERA.
On Saturday, Josh Bell hit a two-run homer and Kevin Millwood pitched his best game of the season, as the Orioles shut down the Angels, 5-0, in the second test of a three-game series.
Millwood (3-14) gave up six hits over eight scoreless innings for the Orioles, who have won three of four. He also struck out five and walked one in just his third victory of the year.
"I threw my fastball where I wanted to all night," Millwood said. "I tried to stay in there to finish but I understand the situation."
Baltimore was without outfielder Adam Jones (left shoulder) and second baseman Brian Roberts (left hip).
At 15-11, the Orioles recorded their first winning month since they went 15-12 in June of 2008. The last winning August for the O's came in 1997.
Craig Tatum, Jake Fox, and Cesar Izturis each drove in a run for Baltimore, which leads the season series with Los Angeles, 5-0.
Scott Kazmir (8-12) went 5 2/3 frames, allowing four runs on eight hits to suffer the loss for the Angels, who have dropped five of six.
"Kazmir threw better than his line score indicated," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He showed fastball command and he had a good changeup. Our offense has been limited and it puts pressure on our pitchers."