O's game blog: O's host first-place Astros in series opener

Two years ago, the Houston Astros lost 111 games. They lost 106 in 2011 followed by 107, 111 and 92.

So that team is now in first-place? Yep. The 29-16 Astros have the second-best record in the majors (behind only Kansas City at 28-15) and they begin a three-game series in Baltimore this afternoon.

Since starting the season 3-5, Houston is 26-11. The Astros have won two in a row and nine of their last 12. They have the best road record in the majors at 14-6.

The Astros are 11-4 in one-run games and 11-3 in day games and play two of those in this series. They are 25-1 when they score four runs or more. They lead the majors in runs scored from the seventh inning on with 81.

It is all very impressive. So is their 6 1/2-game lead atop the American League West, the largest division lead in the majors.

Wei-Yin Chen (1-3, 2.90 ERA) will try to slow their roll this afternoon when he faces the league leader in ERA in left-hander Dallas Keuchel (6-0, 1.67 ERA).

Chen has allowed two earned runs or less in six of his eight 2015 starts and has pitched seven innings or more in three straight and four of his last five starts.

Chen has allowed just four hits in 34 at-bats this year for an average of .118 against when he pitches with runners in scoring position.

Keuchel has allowed one earned run or less in six of his nine starts and the Astros are 8-1 in those games. He had an ERA of 0.80 after six starts and it is 3.66 his past three starts.

He is the first Houston pitcher to start a season 6-0 since Roger Clemens went 9-0 in 2004. He is unbeaten since last Sept. 14, going 8-0 with an ERA of 1.58 his past 11 starts.

The Orioles lead the Astros 14-8 in the all-time series. Baltimore took the season series last year, 4-3 and the Birds have gone 10-2 all-time against the Astros at Camden Yards and 4-6 in Houston.

Today, the Orioles will hold Military Appreciation Day. Active duty soldiers will join Orioles players on the field prior to the national anthem. The Orioles will wear special home jerseys featuring an authentic, military-digital camouflage design licensed from the United States Marine Corps as well as camo-patterned caps. The jerseys and caps will be autographed, authenticated and auctioned on www.orioles.com/auction beginning Monday at 1 p.m. and ending June 1 at 10 p.m. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Fort Meade Alliance.

Major League Baseball and the Orioles will also join the National Moment of Remembrance, where all teams with games in progress will observe a moment of silence at approximately 3 p.m. followed by a commemorative video. MLB has participated in the initiative since 1997.