O's game blog: The Orioles face eight-game winner Domingo Germán

The Orioles offense produced seven runs and 13 hits last night, including eight for extra bases. But tonight, as they try to bounce back from Monday's blown lead and 10-7 loss, they face one of the best pitchers in baseball this year.

The O's face right-hander Domingo Germán (8-1, 2.50 ERA). He is the major league leader in wins. He is fifth in the AL in ERA, second in the AL and fourth in the majors with a .175 batting average against and ranks fourth in the league and eighth in the majors in WHIP at 0.95.

According to Elias Sports Bureau, Germán is the first Yankees pitcher to record at least eight wins in his first nine appearances since Tommy John went 8-0 in his first nine games (eight starts) in 1979. John went 9-0 over his first 10 games (nine starts) that season before his first loss on May 26 at Cleveland.

Germán is just the 18th Yankees pitcher to earn eight wins by the end of May and fourth since 1980. That list also incudes Luis Severino, 8-1 in 2018, Masahiro Tanaka, 8-1 in 2014 and Mike Mussina, 8-4 in 2008.

Over 50 1/3 innings for the season, Germán has allowed 33 hits and just four homers. He's given up 5.9 hits per nine innings with 2.7 walks and 9.3 strikeouts. He's allowed one earned run or less in four of his starts, throwing four quality starts his last six games.

Germán beat the Orioles in his last start on Wednesday, throwing seven innings of one-run ball. He is 2-0 with an ERA of 2.08 in two starts this year against Baltimore. In four career games, he is 2-0 with a 2.95 ERA.

The Orioles send right-hander David Hess (1-5, 5.58 ERA) to the mound tonight as he tries once again to limit the longball. He's allowed an AL-leading 14 homers this year and allows 3.1 per every nine innings, up from 1.9 last season.

Hess went six innings but gave up five runs (four earned) last Wednesday versus New York. He gave up solo homers that day to Gary Sánchez, Cameron Maybin and two to Gleyber Torres. He allowed three homers in the first two innings and four in four frames. In three games versus New York this season he is 0-2 with a 5.54 ERA, allowing seven home runs over 13 innings.

Hess got his 2019 season off to a good start following up on a strong finish to last season. But over the past five games he is 0-3 with a 7.59 ERA, allowing 10 homers in 21 1/3 innings. The Orioles are 2-6 in his eight starts.

The Orioles (15-32) have lost six of seven and 10 of 12 games. They are 6-16 at home and 2-7 this season with six straight losses against New York. The Yankees (29-17) are 11-3 their last 14 games and 21-7 since April 19, the best record in the majors in that span. They are 13-4 in games within the AL East, going 12-2 in their past 14 division games.