The defending World Series champion Houston Astros close the 2018

Baltimore this weekend Ivan Nova Jersey , and the first game of their four-game series with the Orioles is set for Thursday at 7:05 p.m. ET at Camden Yards.Houston already has clinched the American League West and will play the Indians in the Division Series. That starts on Oct. 5, and the Astros get home-field advantage there.The only time Houston would not hold the home-field advantage is if it meets Boston in the AL Championship Series as the Red Sox already have that locked up.Article continues below ...David Hess (3-10, 5.14 ERA) will start for the Orioles versus Houston right-hander Gerrit Cole (15-5, 2.92) on Thursday.Cole has given an already-strong Astros’ starting staff even more punch this season. He has won five in a row and last lost on Aug. 10. This will be the first time Cole has pitched against the Orioles this season — and in fact, he’s never gone against Baltimore in his career.Hess has been up and down during this rookie season. The right-hander has gone 1-5 in the past two months but pitched effectively on several occasions.This will be the first time he’s ever pitched against the Astros.Houston (100-58) is coming off of a 3-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday in a game that really meant nothing. The Astros actually clinched the division total very early Wednesday morning when Oakland lost to Seattle.However, Houston officially celebrated in the locker room after the loss in Toronto, and now will prepare for this four-game series in Baltimore that really holds little meaning except that the Astros want to go into the playoffs on a good note.“We’re the only team that can repeat http://www.piratesfanproshop.com/authentic-josh-bell-jersey , and our team needs to know that,” Houston manager AJ Hinch told reporters. “It’s important for us to have our moment and lock back in. In a week, we’re going to play real baseball.”Baltimore is starting the final series of an historically poor season. To make matters worse, the Orioles have run out of pitchers at times, especially in the starting rotation, which is a big reason they went with a committee approach in Wednesday’s day-night doubleheader in Boston.Plus, most of the pitchers Baltimore is using do not have a lot of major league experience and are being hit hard as they get used to life at this level.“There are better days ahead for those guys Brad Hand Jersey ,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said of the young pitchers. “But it’s a tough learning curve. (However) it’s never as bad as it seems or as good as it seems.”The Orioles are coming into this series after splitting a day-night doubleheader in Boston on Wednesday. Boston crushed Baltimore 19-3 in the first game — the biggest margin of defeat the Orioles (46-112) have suffered in this forgetful season.However, Baltimore bounced back and pulled out a 10-3 victory in the nightcap, thanks to seven runs in the final three innings. FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Michael Pineda thinks he’ll be ready to return to the major leagues with the Minnesota Twins after a layoff of 1½ seasons.Pineda needed Tommy John surgery in 2017 while with the New York Yankees. He signed with the Twins in December 2017 and as he neared a return late last season, he tore the meniscus in his right knee.The 30-year-old right-hander hasn’t pitched in the major leagues since July 5, 2017. Nine days later, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman revealed the injury http://www.padresfanproshop.com/authentic-brad-hand-jersey , and Cincinnati Reds medical director Dr. Timothy Kremchek operated that July 18.“Right now, I feel great,” Pineda said. “I came here to spring training early. I came in here ready to emerge.”At 6-foot-7, Pineda has long generated great expectations. Yet, he was 40-41 with a 4.05 ERA for the Yankees, including an 8-4 record at the time of the injury.He became a free agent after the season and signed a $10 million, two-year deal with Minnesota that included a $2 million salary in his first season. Pineda made four injury rehabilitation starts in the minor leagues last summer Tyson Ross Jersey , then hurt the knee.“It’s very hard and frustrating doing rehab,” Pineda said. “Nobody likes doing rehab. My mentality has always been be strong because this is a gift right now, a baseball life. Whatever happens, you have to be strong mentally.Minnesota projects him to be part of its rotation.“I actually don’t look at it quite like a wild card,” new manager Rocco Baldelli said. “We have expectations for him because he’s put himself in a great spot. Physically, he’s worked exceptionally hard. He’s spent a lot of time here this offseason getting his work in. He’s in great shape.”