It's deja vu all over again with this pitching matchup. Garrett Richards and lefty Bruce Zimmermann squared off six days ago in Boston and the Orioles smashed the Red Sox, 11-3. 

Now the same two pitchers go at it in Baltimore. The Red Sox don't appear any better than the Orioles this season and Richards hasn't shown anything. So give me the home 'dog.

Richards couldn't last three innings against the Orioles this past Sunday giving up six runs on seven hits in two-plus innings. The same command issues that plagued him during spring training weren't resolved. 

Zimmermann, on the other hand, threw six solid innings against the Red Sox giving up three runs on four hits with one walk and six strikeouts. Boston is 8-19 in its last 27 games facing a lefty starter, including 1-2 this season. 

The Orioles hold a bullpen edge, too, with Cesar Valdez emerging as an early-season star with two saves and a win. Valdez has five strikeouts and one walk in 4 1/3 innings.