O's game blog: O's host the Cubs as the homestand begins at Oriole Park

Armed with the best record in the American League and second-best in MLB and coming off two West Coast road series wins, the O’s begin their final homestand before the All-Star break tonight at Oriole Park.

They host the Chicago Cubs for three games and then the New York Yankees for three.

Only Philadelphia (58-32, .644) has a win percentage ahead of the Orioles (57-33, .633) in the majors as play begins tonight.

The Orioles lead the AL East by three games over New York, by 7.5 over Boston, by 13 games over Tampa Bay and 16 over Toronto.

The Yankees (55-37, .598) have lost or split seven consecutive series, the longest active streak in MLB. The Yankees are 6-16 (.273) over their last 22 games, tied for their worst record over a 22-game span in the last 25 years. In those last seven series, they have lost series to the Red Sox twice, the Orioles, the Braves, Mets and Reds.

The Orioles went 4-2 on their road trip. In their four wins they gave up six total runs and in the two losses they allowed 26 runs. They are 28-16 on the road for the season.

Overall, the Orioles have won eight of their past 11 games. They are 8-2 in rubber match games after beating the Athletics 6-3 on Sunday.

The Orioles are 12-11 this season against National League teams, going 4-2 their past six games against the NL.

The Birds begin play tonight first in the majors in homers (146), slugging (.460). OPS (.776) and runs per game (5.16). They rank fourth in the majors in team pitching at 3.57, second in rotation ERA at 3.43 and 13^th in bullpen ERA at 3.80.

The Cubs (42-49) have won three of their past four games but over a longer stretch have lost nine of 14 games. They were 17-9 on April 26, but are 25-40 since that point.  

Right-hander Dean Kremer (4-4, 3.93 ERA) will make his 11^th start tonight. He returned to the active roster and pitched five scoreless allowing two hits on 83 pitches with eight strikeouts Wednesday at Seattle. It was his first O’s start since May 20 after he spent time on the injured list with a right triceps strain.

Lefty batters are hitting .182 with a .678 OPS off Kremer and right-handers are batting .212/.612. The Orioles are 5-5 in his games.

Kremer has yet to allow a run in the first inning in his 10 starts. Kremer is one of four pitchers to make 10 or more starts this season without a run allowed in the first inning (Reid Detmers, Reynaldo Lopez, and Reese Olson).

He has made one career starts against the Cubs, last June 18 at Wrigley Field and he gave up three runs (one earned) on three hits over five innings. He was the winning pitcher in a 6-3 O’s victory.

Right-hander Jameson Taillon (5-4, 2.99 ERA) will pitch for the Cubs. Over 14 starts he has allowed 79 hits in 81 1/3 with a 1.180 WHIP, a 1.9 walk rate and 7.2 strikeout rate.

Taillon has allowed two earned runs or less nine times on the year and has eight quality starts. In seven career games against the Orioles he is 1-1 with a 4.59 ERA over 33 1/3 innings.

The Cubs have only played eight games at Oriole Park all-time, the second fewest of any team (San Francisco Giants – 6).

Gunnar Henderson announced on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball last week that he will participate in the 2024 Home Run Derby in Texas. He will be the third Oriole in the last four seasons to hit in the derby, joining Adley Rutschman (2023) and Trey Mancini (2021).

Henderson leads MLB with 76 runs scored. The 76 are the most through the first 90 team games of a season in O's history; the only players in club history to lead the AL in runs are Frank Robinson in 1966 (122) and Cal Ripken, Jr. in 1982 (121). Robinson is the only player in O's history to lead MLB in runs, when he tied with Atlanta's Felipe Alou.