This month’s long road trip through three cities without a day off begins Friday in Chicago with a familiar face on the mound, as former Orioles right-hander Miguel Gonzalez opens the weekend series at U.S. Cellular Field against his old mates.
Given the familiarity with him among the Orioles hitters and his familiarity with them, manager Buck Showalter said it's mostly a wash as to who has the advantage when old compatriots meet in these situations.
"I think it kind of equals out," Showalter said. "Miguel did some good things here, and he's doing them again. I think everybody here likes Miguel and pulls for him every time he pitches — except against us. It kind of negates the familiarity."
Gonzalez was released in spring training after giving the Orioles four seasons of work, posting a 3.82 ERA with the club but struggling in 2015 and again this past spring. He signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox and has a 4.06 ERA and a 1.311 WHIP in 17 appearances (16 starts) since debuting in late April.
A good deal of Gonzalez's 2016 resurgence has been credited to a return in his fastball velocity and the introduction of a cut fastball, which opponents are batting .233 off of this season.
"He may have broken out something new," Showalter said. "We haven't gotten that far along yet. We have a pretty good idea of what he's going to do, and if he does it he'll be successful."
This article from last month on Beyond the Box Score outlines Gonzalez's use of the cutter this season, a pitch that hasn't been part of the repertoire of many Orioles pitchers of late.