Patrick Corbin may not be the ace of the Texas Rangers, but he has shown noticeable improvement after a rocky final few seasons with the Washington Nationals. As the Rangers gear up to face the Baltimore Orioles in a three-game series, there’s optimism surrounding Corbin’s performance, particularly regarding his strikeout ability.
This evening’s matchup at Camden Yards features Corbin, who boasts a 4-6 record and a 3.91 ERA, while limiting opponents to a .247 batting average. While his strikeout tally of 53 over 71 1/3 innings might not stand out, recent trends suggest he could excel against the Orioles’ lineup, which has been less than formidable this season. Corbin is coming off two consecutive road starts where he recorded six strikeouts in each game, demonstrating his potential to handle opposing batters effectively.
The Orioles’ batting statistics indicate that they are struggling, ranking among the lowest teams in several major categories. Notably, they are positioned eighth in the league for team strikeouts. This presents an opportunity for Corbin to capitalize, especially against hitters like Gunnar Henderson, who, despite being a bright spot for the Orioles with his .281 average, has struggled against left-handed pitchers and has yet to record a hit against Corbin in five at-bats.
The betting community is picking up on this potential as well, with many expecting Corbin to surpass the over on his strikeout prop set at 4.5. Additionally, Rangers catcher Jonah Heim has recently improved his hitting, which could further assist in boosting the Rangers’ overall performance during this series.
As the teams prepare for their first meeting tonight, anticipation is high for Corbin’s ability to deliver a solid performance that could reflect the positive turnaround in his career since joining Texas. This encounter could be an opportunity for both teams to reassess their strengths and weaknesses moving forward in the season, offering fans a compelling matchup to watch.