O's game blog: Hess against Scherzer in series finale

After taking the first two games of this series by 6-0 and 3-2 scores, the Washington Nationals can complete a three-game sweep of the Orioles tonight. The last and only Nats' three-game sweep in Baltimore was June 12-14, 2007.

Coming into this series, the Orioles were 15-7 at home versus Washington since the 2013 season. Coming into the series, the Orioles were 7-4 in their previous 11 home games this year, but they've scored just two runs on 16 hits and have gone 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position against the Nats.

Washington (31-22) has won nine straight on the road. That streak ties a team record set in 2005. They also won nine straight on the road from Sept. 12-26, 2011. Washington's 19-8 road record produces a .704 win percentage that is the best in the major leagues. They are 5-0 on this current 10-game road trip.

Jeremy Hellickson was the latest starter to give the Nationals a solid game. Gio Gonzalez threw 7 2/3 scoreless innings Monday and Hellickson allowed two runs over five to get the win last night. Washington starting pitchers have allowed three earned runs or less in 27 of the last 28 games. During that stretch, the Nationals own the best rotation ERA in the majors at 2.25.

Since beginning the year 11-16 through late April, the Nats are 20-6, outscoring their opponents 119-70.

The Orioles (17-38) have lost four in a row and six of eight and are 21 games out of first place. The Baltimore offense has produced just eight runs over the last five games, 23 in 10 games and 36 runs in the last 14 contests. The Orioles have scored three runs or fewer in 10 of the last 11 games and 12 of the past 14.

The Orioles are now 10-15 at home, 0-7 on Tuesdays and winless in three interleague games. Last night, they fell to 0-35 when trailing after seven innings and to 0-36 when behind after eight. Tuesday's contest was the 32nd game when Baltimore pitchers allowed at least 10 hits.

In 25 games in May, Adam Jones is batting .330 (34-for-103), hitting safely 21 times. Manny Machado is now batting .367 (33-for-90) with 10 homers in 25 home games. He began play Tuesday tied for third in the American League in home runs and fourth in batting average at home.

Right-hander David Hess (2-1, 4.15 ERA) will make his fourth start for the Orioles. His two wins have come against Tampa Bay, the most recent on Sunday when he threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings. Hess allows a .345 average to lefty batters and .211 against right-handers

Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (8-1, 2.13 ERA) gets the start for the Nationals. For the season over 71 2/3 innings, he has given up 47 hits with 18 walks and 108 strikeouts. He has allowed two runs or less nine times and has nine quality starts. The Nats are 9-2 in his starts. He is 3-0 with a 2.76 ERA in five starts this month.

Scherzer ranks first in the National League in wins and strikeouts, second in WHIP and third in ERA.

Scherzer made one start versus the Orioles last year, allowing four hits and two runs over eight innings in a no-decision. In 10 career starts, he is 5-2 with a 3.20 ERA and 1.052 WHIP.

Farm notes: With a win tonight, Triple-A Norfolk would improve its record to 29-21 through the first 50 games of the season. Since the Tides became an Orioles affiliate in 2007, only two other teams have had a better record after 50 games, as the 2009 team went 34-16 and the 2013 squad was 31-19. The Tides today activated infielder Steve Wilkerson, whose 50-game suspension is over.

Earlier today via Twitter, I reported that the Orioles got some good news about the disabled list stints of Double-A Bowie outfielder Austin Hays (right ankle) and Norfolk's DJ Stewart (right hamstring) as both injuries are said to be on the minor side. Both could return when their seven-day DL stints are up. That would be this Saturday for Hays and Sunday for Stewart.