O's game blog: Looking for a series win in road trip finale

After winning the first game of their series at Dodger Stadium, the Orioles lost the next two games, losing the series to the Dodgers. They need a win today to avoid the same fate at Coors Field.

The Orioles beat the Rockies 5-3 in the series-opener on Friday night, but they lost 7-5 last night. So the O’s and Rockies play the rubber match game to end this series and road trip. The Orioles are 8-5 in rubber match games.

At 78-59, the Orioles begin play today 1.5 games behind the New York Yankees. They are 39-29 on the road and 2-3 on this trip.

The Orioles have lost three of four, six of 10 and 11 of their past 19 games. The O’s are 20-21 since the All-Star game after going 58-38 in the second half.

The Orioles have now played 137 games:

* They went 45-22 (.672) through June 12.

* They are 33-37 (.471) in 70 games since that date.

Nine of the last 13 games have been decided by one or two runs and the Orioles are 5-4 in those nine.

Right-hander Zach Eflin (9-7, 3.72 ERA) comes off the injured list today and will make his fifth start for the Orioles and his 24^th of the year.

In his four games with Baltimore, he is 4-0 with a 2.13 ERA. In 25 1/3 innings he has allowed six runs and 24 hits with two walks to 25 strikeouts and a 1.026 WHIP. Over his past two starts – versus Tampa Bay and Boston – he gave up one run over 13 innings.

In six career games against Colorado, he is 2-3 with a 5.57 ERA and .848 OPS against.

Colorado made a starting pitcher change. Righty Cal Quantrill (8-9, 4.63 ERA) is scratched due to a sore triceps. Lefty Ty Blach (3-6, 6.36 ERA), an Oriole for five starts in 2019, will face the Birds today.

In 18 games, 10 starts this season, he has thrown 63 2/3 innings giving up 92 hits with a 1.696 WHIP. To say the least, he does not have good stats, allowing 13.0 hits for every nine innings and 1.8 home runs.

For the year batters have hit .342 with an OPS of .954 against Blach. Lefty batters hit .257 with a .728 OPS off him and right-handers bat .374/.1.039.

Blach, 33, has allowed 11 hits and nine runs in 4 1/3 innings his past two games. The Rockies are 4-6 in his 2024 starts.

MLB rosters can expand today from 26 to 28 players. And the Orioles have added three players while removing one from the roster to get there.

Today's O's moves:

* Reinstated righty Zach Eflin from the 15-day Injured List. 

* Recalled infielder Coby Mayo from Triple-A Norfolk.

* Selected the contract of catcher David Bañuelos from Triple-A Norfolk.

* Placed infielder Ramón Urías on the 10-day Injured List (right ankle sprain).

* Designated outfielder Forrest Wall for assignment.

The O's 40-man roster contains 40 players.