Orioles’ Chris Tillman turning back time, tames Tigers

12:29 AM ET

BALTIMORE — For the Orioles to stay relevant through September, they’ll need Chris Tillman to turn back the clock. So far, things are looking good.

On Friday night, Tillman outdueled Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander, tossing seven scoreless innings to lead the Orioles to a 1-0 win over visiting Detroit. It was the sixth consecutive W for the Birds, whose .647 winning percentage is the best in baseball (not including teams from Chicago). More importantly, for an O’s rotation that came into the season with more issues than the complete historical library of the Baltimore Sun, it was further proof that 2016 Chris Tillman is less like the awful version that surfaced last season and a whole lot more like the 2012-14 vintage.

Chris Tillman muzzled the Tigers on five hits over seven innings Friday to lead the Orioles to a sixth straight win. Rob Carr/Getty Images

Last season, Tillman was Baltimore’s Opening Day starter and alleged ace but went on to post a swollen 4.99 ERA that was the second highest in the majors among qualifiers. The down year came out of nowhere, following a three-year stretch in which the former second-round pick had finally seemed to figure it out. From 2012 to 2014, Tillman had a combined 3.42 ERA and won a total of 38 games, tied for 11th in the American League. Not coincidentally, the Orioles made it to the playoffs in two of those three years. Last season, Tillman’s struggles mirrored those of his team, which had to win its final five games just to finish with a .500 record.

Coming into this season, the O’s rotation — which finished 14th in the American League last season with a 4.53 ERA …

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