O's game blog: A look at the O's pursuit of home run records

With 28 games remaining in the regular season, the 2016 Orioles' 213 homers already rank sixth among all clubs in team history. The Orioles are on a pace to hit 257 homers, which would tie the team record set in 1996. That total is tied for third-most in major league history.

The O's all-time single-season homer leaders:
257 - 1996
217 - 2015
214 - 1985, 1998, 2012
213 - 2016
212 - 2013

As you can see, the Orioles' next homer will be No. 214 and tie this club for the third-most in club history. The Orioles need to hit just five more homers for second-most ever by an O's squad. The top mark is well within reach and so is the major league record.

The 1997 Seattle Mariners hit 264, the most ever and the Orioles have a shot at that. Texas hit 260 in 2005 for second-most ever. That 1996 O's team with 257 is tied with the 2010 Toronto Blue Jays for third-most in major league history.

The Orioles are certainly mashing a lot of homers lately, hitting four last night. In the last 15 games, they have hit two or more in a game 11 times, homering 36 times in that span. In the last 30 games, they have 18 multi-home run games, hitting 59 homers in that time.

At the pace they have kept over those last 30 games, they would hit 55 more homers the rest of this season to end up with 268. That would set a new major league record. So we'll see if this team can keep up that pace.

There are 11 players in the majors with 33 or more homers. Toronto has two of those players and the Orioles are the only team with three. Mark Trumbo has 41, while Chris Davis and Manny Machado have 33 each.

Trumbo, Davis and Machado are the first set of three Orioles teammates with at least 30 home runs each in a season. According to STATS, LLC., the O's have had two teammates with at least 30 home runs eight times.

As Pedro Alvarez reached 20 homers Friday night, this O's club became the 19th team in major league history with six players with 20 or more home runs. The last was Toronto in 2010 with seven players. The 1996 Orioles are the only other club in O's history to previously do so, and they had seven players hit 20 or more.

"There was the potential for that, so not surprised the team could do this," Alvarez said of the homers. "Most importantly, it's been a lot of fun to play alongside all these guys. To have such a good group of talent together has been a privilege and a treat. The thing that we do so well is we go out every day and compete, and we don't really focus on numbers and stats. All that stuff takes care of itself at the end of the day and is a byproduct of the work we put in each day and the trust that we have in our abilities."

A win either tonight or tomorrow against the Yankees and the Orioles will end a five-series American League East losing streak. On the mound, right-hander Kevin Gausman (6-10, 3.73 ERA) faces left-hander CC Sabathia (8-11, 4.31 ERA).

Gausman has been very good this year against New York, going 1-1 with a 0.98 ERA in four starts with two scoreless starts. That includes seven scoreless innings at Yankee Stadium last Sunday. Gausman has thrown 13 scoreless innings over his past two starts. In 27 2/3 innings on the season against New York, he has allowed 23 hits and three runs with three walks, 24 strikeouts and a 0.94 WHIP. Gausman has allowed two runs or fewer in seven of his past nine starts, going 5-4 with a 3.04 ERA.

Sabathia gave up three runs and six hits over 6 2/3 on Sunday against Baltimore. In four starts this year versus the Orioles, he is 1-2 with a 2.49 ERA. In 37 career starts, he is 19-9 with a 3.35 ERA. He has made 22 career starts at Camden Yards, going 11-6 with a 3.51 ERA.

Farm notes: Double-A Bowie right-handed reliever Jesus Liranzo tossed two scoreless innings of relief and struck out three in Game 2 of a Friday doubleheader. In 10 games with the Baysox, he has pitched to a 2.00 ERA with 20 strikeouts over 18 innings and eight scoreless appearances in that 10-game span

Single-A Frederick catcher Yermin Mercedes has hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games, batting .375/.405/.425 (15-for-40) with two doubles, seven runs scored and four RBIs.

Single-A Delmarva outfielder Cedric Mullins has hit safely in seven of his last eight games, batting .400/.417/.743 (14-for-35) with three doubles, three home runs, eight runs scored and seven RBIs in that span.

Short-season Single-A Aberdeen first baseman Preston Palmeiro has hit safely in five of his last six games, batting .280/.308/.400 (7-for-25) after going 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored Friday night.