O's game blog: O's host A's in homestand opener

After a 3-2 road trip to Texas and Miami, the Orioles begin the second homestand of the season tonight. It's a seven-game homestand, which begins against Oakland and continues Monday when the New York Yankees come to town.

Tonight, the Orioles (8-10) host the hottest team in the majors. Oakland (12-7) has won 11 in a row and is tied with Seattle for first in the American League West. The A's began the year 0-6, then split the next two games before their win streak started.

Their 11 consecutive wins have included four that came by two runs or less, including their last win, 13-12 over Minnesota on Wednesday afternoon. Before that game, Oakland had pitched shutouts in four of its previous five games. The A's have outscored their opponents 71-33 during the streak, hitting 22 homers and averaging 6.5 runs per game. The team ERA in the streak increased from 2.20 before Wednesday's win to 2.91 after it.

The last team to win 11 in a row was also Oakland. That was from May 16-27, 2019. The last team to win more games was Houston, which won 12 in a row from June 16-18, 2018. This is the ninth streak of 10 or more wins in A's history.

The Orioles went just 1-6 on their first homestand versus Boston and Seattle. Orioles pitchers have surrendered 16 home runs in seven games at Oriole Park, the second-most home runs allowed at home in the AL. Oakland tops that list with 18 in 14 games. The Orioles' 6.32 team ERA at home is the highest in the majors.

Orioles pitchers have not allowed a home run in four straight games. The four-game stretch is their longest this season and the longest since July 21-24, 2016. The last time O's pitchers did not allow a home run in five straight was July 8-16, 2016. All seven of the games in which O's pitchers have not allowed a home run this season have come on the road.

Shortstop Freddy Galvis has hit safely in five of six games and in eight of 11. Six of his seven extra-base hits have come in his last six games. In his last 11 games, Galvis is batting .394 (13-for-33) and has raised his season batting average from .115 to .271.

Orioles pitchers have allowed 14 runs in the last six games and 28 runs over the last nine. The team ERA is 3.18 in those nine games. O's starters have an ERA of 3.25 over the last seven games. The O's bullpen has an ERA of 0.89 over the last six games and 1.82 in the past nine.

Right-hander Jorge López (1-2, 8.56 ERA) will make his fourth start tonight. After pitching to an ERA of 11.42 in his first two, he gave up just two runs and two hits in five innings last Friday at Texas. That night, he averaged 94.5 mph with his two-seam fastball and topped at 97 mph. He fanned eight - his most as an Oriole - and his 14 swings and misses were the most he's ever had for this team.

Lefty Cole Irvin (1-2, 4.60 ERA) gets the start for the Athletics. For the year, he has thrown 15 2/3 innings, allowing 16 hits and eight earned runs with two walks and 11 strikeouts. He has a WHIP of 1.149.

The Phillies' fifth-round pick in 2016 out of the University of Oregon, he allowed eight runs in 9 2/3 innings in his first two starts of 2021. Then he pitched six scoreless innings on four hits on Saturday against Detroit, throwing 93 pitches.

Irvin, who made his second career opening day roster this year, will be making his 23rd career appearance and seventh start tonight. He has never faced the Orioles.