As the second half begins, so does trade speculation

As the Orioles begin the season's second half tonight, their win total is low but their doubters are many. The only way to change that is start piling more of the former, which would probably reduce the latter number.

The team has reached a critical point in the season. While a playoff run seems unlikely, it's not too late, but a lot must be different starting now. It starts with the starters. The rotation has easily been the American League's worst and the overall staff ERA for the year of 5.07 ranks last in the majors.

As the portion of the schedule after the All-Star break begins, the Orioles host the Cubs for the second time ever at Camden Yards. The Cubs' only previous visit to Baltimore came in 2003, when the Orioles lost two of three games.

Like the Orioles, the Cubs (43-45) have a losing record. But after 103 wins and a World Series title last year, this was not expected. Chicago was 53-35 at the break in 2016. But the current Cubs have lost eight of their last 12 games. Since they were 30-27 on June 6, the Cubs are 13-18. Chicago has a run differential of zero - they've scored and given up exactly 399 runs. They rank fourth in the National League in team ERA at 4.10, but are 11th in the NL in runs scored.

Chicago lost its last game 14-3 to Pittsburgh on Sunday in a game they trailed 10-0 after the first inning. The Cubs have allowed 80 runs in the opening inning this year after giving up 71 in the first all of last year. Chicago's first-inning ERA of 7.26 ranks last in the major leagues. The Orioles are 22nd at 5.63.

Britton banter: Let the trade speculation begin. But this is not coming from the Orioles. However, the Los Angeles Dodgers and perhaps the Washington Nationals are said to be interested in Orioles closer Zach Britton. If he did become available, other teams would likely be interested as well.

A few days before the 2016 trade deadline and with October in mind, the Cubs traded a package of four prospects for Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman. The package was headlined by now 20-year-old shortstop Gleyber Torres. Then he was ranked as a top 30 prospect and now he's top five. The Cubs made this deal to rent Chapman. He helped them win the World Series and then re-signed with the Yankees as a free agent.

Britton could be controlled by a new team through 2018 and thus could impact two postseasons for a new club. Could he bring a package as good as the Yankees got for Chapman? Could he bring more with more than one season of control left?

The Orioles at the moment seem inclined to hang onto Britton. There are plenty of good reasons to have such thoughts. But with a deep bullpen and some minors talent like Tanner Scott on the farm, maybe the club needs to be open to listening. Especially if some contenders with top farm systems start fighting over the left-hander.

Notes on the Orioles:

* The Orioles have had 21 All-Stars over the last six seasons since 2012. According to STATS, LLC., the 21 Orioles All-Stars since 2012 are tied for the AL lead and are tied for second-most in the majors behind the St. Louis Cardinals (26). The Orioles are one of eight major league teams with at least 20 All-Stars over the last six seasons.

* The Orioles went 2-5 on their road trip to Milwaukee and Minnesota. They averaged 4.1 runs per game on the trip with a team ERA of 5.59. The starters ERA was 8.81, while the bullpen ERA was 1.71.

* In the first three games of the trip at Milwaukee, the Orioles scored just three total runs on 22 hits with one home run. In the four games at Minnesota, they scored 26 runs on 45 hits with eight homers.

* O's starting pitchers begin the second half with the worst rotation ERA in the AL at 5.75. Minnesota is next-worst at 4.95. The O's rotation has gone seven games without a quality start and has recorded just three in the last 20 games and five in the last 33. In that 33-game span, the starters' ERA is 7.94. O's starters have pitched fewer than six innings 25 times in the last 29 games.

* Over his past 42 games since May 28th, second baseman Jonathan Schoop is batting .321 with 12 homers and 35 RBIs.

* In the last three games at Minnesota, third baseman Manny Machado went 8-for-14 (.571) with two homers and six RBIs.

* In his last eight games, catcher Caleb Joseph is batting .440 (11-for-25) with two doubles, a homer and five RBIs.

* Manager Buck Showalter needs nine more wins for 1,480 in his career. That number will tie him with Hall of Famer Earl Weaver for the 24th-most all-time managerial wins.