Five of ESPN.coms MLB beat writers who cover teams battling for wild-card berths were asked to make a case for why their team will be playing a do-or-die playoff game in October. Below, Eddie Matz argues for the Baltimore Orioles against fellow writers Mark Saxon (St. Louis Cardinals), Andrew Marchand (New York Yankees), Katie Strang (Detroit Tigers) and Adam Rubin (New York Mets).For more on the other contenders, check out Wild-card Wednesday.?Matz: The Orioles will nab one of the AL wild-card spots because of -- get this -- their starting pitching. No, really. After blowing chunks for most of the season, Baltimores rotation is rounding into shape when it matters most. Ubaldo Jimenez has magically gone from the worst pitcher in baseball to arguably the teams most dependable starter. Kevin Gausman is currently in midair, making the leap. And Chris Tillman looked good as new in his first start back from the DL, which means that the Os can now banish their most glaring weak link (Wade Miley) to the bullpen. Combine that with a homer-happy lineup thats been scoring in bunches lately and the only reason the Birds wouldnt get a wild-card berth is if they win the division outright.Marchand: The Orioles look as if they are prime position to win a wild-card spot, but the inconsistency they have played with over the year is something that has to be a concern. Plus, they might be pitching well now, but do you really trust those starters to come up big?Saxon: Well, something doesnt add up because FiveThirtyEight has them at just 61 percent even to make the playoffs and 4 percent -- behind the Red Sox and Blue Jays -- to win the World Series. Somebody should put back on his designer black frames and remove the rose-colored glasses.Strang: Not sure I see the Orioles sustaining this level of offensive production, which, admittedly, has been absolutely wild. Youd think that at some point, even a lineup as talented as theirs has to cool off. As for the pitching staff, suffice it to say I dont see the triumphant Jimenez comeback story ending the same way Eddie might envision it. And Tillman, though very impressive in his last start against the Tigers, is not out of the woods yet with that shoulder issue. That has to be an area of concern for Baltimore moving forward.Rubin: The Orioles have several potentially fatal flaws. Among them: streaky hitters, an all-or-nothing offense and a fried bullpen. Since the All-Star break, Baltimores 4.50 ERA is second-to-last in the American League, ahead of only the lowly Twins (5.43). Tommy McDonald Jersey . 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Aaron Harrison scored a 22 points for Kentucky (6-1), which has won four in a row following a Nov. 12 loss to current No. 1 Michigan State. Julius Randle overcame a scoreless first half and added his sixth double-double in as many games with 14 points and 10 rebounds. ATHENS, Ga. -- Georgia offensive coordinator Jim Chaney says the health of the Bulldogs top running backs could help decide who opens the season as the starting quarterback.Star tailback Nick Chubb ran with the first-team offense on Saturday as he continues his recovery from left knee surgery midway through the 2015 season. So far, Chubb has been practicing with no restrictions, but Georgia has not been tackling to the ground.Sony Michel, who replaced Chubb as the starter, is recovering from a broken left forearm he suffered in an offseason ATV accident. He is wearing a cast on the forearm and has not been cleared for contact.Among the options at tailback are freshmen Elijah Holyfield, Brian Herrien and Tae Crowder and senior Brendan Douglas.At quarterback, returning starter Greyson Lambert has been sharing snaps with freshman Jacob Eason and junior Brice Ramsey. Ramsey also is competing at punter.Georgia coaches might be less inclined to give Eason his first start in Georgias opener against North Carolina on Sept. 3 in Atlantas Georgia Dome if Chubb and Michel are not cleared to play.I think youd be a fool if you didnt consider that a little bit early on, Chaney said Saturday.Chaney said first-year coach Kirby Smart is very aware of that and sensitive to those issues. Chaney added that ultimately he wants the best quarterback on the field.Inevitably it will be decided on which one of those boys can move the team down the field and put up points, Chaney said in his first news conference at Georgia.Smart said he has given the three quarterbacks equal opportunities to win the starting job. The three have traded days with the first-team offense. Saturday was Easons turn as Georgia continues to install Chaneys offense.I cant tell you anybody stood out more than anybody else riight now, Smart said.dddddddddddd. Its too early. Theyre still in the installation process which sometimes can be overwhelming.Chaney has led offenses for 30 years at such schools as Arkansas, Tennessee, Purdue and Cal State-Fullerton. He said this is the first time hes had three quarterbacks he would have confidence to start.Its a big deal for me, Chaney said. Ive not had three guys who can go out and play.The depth is nice, but Chaneys impatience to find a starter showed on Friday when he said I got a little upset with them.I told them one of them needs to start emerging a little bit here, he said. Show a little bit more. ... The competition is hot and its alive ... and its been fun to watch.A few hundred fans accepted Smarts invitation to attend an open practice at Sanford Stadium held before the annual fan day schedule.It was a rare opportunity for fans and media to watch a full practice.Eason drew a big cheer when he connected with freshman Tyler Simmons on a long touchdown pass.Game notes Smart doesnt agree with the decision of his former boss, Alabama coach Nick Saban, to block the attempt of Alabama graduate student Maurice Smith, a defensive back, to transfer to Georgia. Saban blocked his transfer to SEC schools. Because Smith is a potential recruit, Smart wouldnt comment on the player. Asked about the rule, Smart said he would support a Georgia player who had graduated and wanted to transfer to another graduate school. Asked if that included another SEC school, Smart said Absolutely. ... DT John Atkins was held out with a knee injury. Smart said Atkins status is day to day.---AP college football website: http://collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '
