O's game blog: Orioles face Wei-Yin Chen at Camden Yards

The search for offense continues today in Baltimore. After being shut out for the eighth time last night - and fourth time in the last 15 games - the Orioles host Miami in the second game of a three-game set.

The Orioles' 234 runs scored are the fewest in the majors, 10 less than Miami, which ranks 29th. The O's have scored 19 runs the last 10 games and 48 in the past 23. They have gone 3-for-58 (.052) with runners in scoring position over the last eight games.

The Orioles (19-49) are trying to break an eight-game losing streak. They've also lost 10 in a row at home. Miami (27-43) has won four of five and seven of its past 11 games. Miami leads the all-time series between these teams 21-7.

Right-hander Alex Cobb (2-8, 7.23 ERA) will make his 12th start today. His last one did not go well, as he took the 13-3 loss Sunday at Toronto. Cobb allowed 11 hits and nine runs over 3 2/3 innings at Rogers Centre. The 11 hits tied his season high and the nine runs tied his career high, first set on June 3, 2017 for Tampa Bay at Seattle.

Cobb's postgame quote on his outing Sunday: "I felt actually really good to start this game. Was looking forward to a nice outing and it turned quickly. Probably fell victim of trying to do too much. Trying to make too good of pitches and coming out of my delivery on certain pitches and they really capitalized when I fell behind in the count. So, yeah, I got bled to death a little bit early on in that second inning, but I just kind of came unraveled in the fourth.

"I thought I (his season) was trending in the right direction for sure. But you know these games this year where I struggled, I've really struggled. I mean, they were just terrible outings and no good can really come from them. You're hurting the bullpen and not giving your team a chance to win. That's tough to swallow."

Cobb has allowed five runs or more in five of his 11 starts. He has five quality starts, but the Orioles are just 2-9 in his games. He is 0-3 with a 5.71 ERA in three home starts.

Cobb will be making his 19th career interleague start. His record is 10-5 with a 2.53 ERA in his previous 18 games against the National League. Since making his major league debut in 2011, Cobb's 2.53 ERA in interleague games is the fifth-best among all major league hurlers (minimum 15 starts). He has made quality starts in 15 of his 18 starts and has averaged 8.51 strikeouts/nine innings against the NL.

Former Orioles lefty Wei-Yin Chen (1-3, 6.13 ERA) will make his 10th start for Miami. Left elbow issues limited Chen to 22 starts in 2016 and five last year. He began this season on the DL, but was activated April 28.

In January 2012, the Orioles signed Chen out of Nippon Professional Baseball to a three-year deal which had an option for a fourth year. The O's paid Chen approximately $15.5 million for four years. From 2012 to 2016, Chen went 46-32 with a 3.72 ERA in 117 starts. He won 16 games for the O's 2014 American League East championship team. In January of 2016, Miami signed Chen to a five-year deal worth $80 million in the largest contact they've ever given a free agent pitcher.

Over his past three starts, Chen is 0-1 with an ERA of 8.71, allowing 10 runs and 16 hits in 10 1/3 innings. In five road starts, he is 0-3 with a 10.31 ERA. Today, he pitches against the Orioles for the first time.

Friday marked the second game at home this season without a home run by either team and the Orioles are 0-2 in homerless games at Oriole Park. There were six such games last year and the Orioles went 4-2. According to STATS, LLC., it was the 252nd homerless game at Oriole Park since opening in 1992.

Orioles top draft pick Grayson Rodriguez is Collegiate Baseball's National Player of the Year. Out of Central Heights High School in Nacogdoches, Texas, the right-hander was taken 11th overall by the Orioles in round one and has already signed with the club.

Rodriguez posted a 12-0 record this season with a 0.19 ERA, 11 complete games, 17 walks and 156 strikeouts in 75 innings. He tossed one no-hitter and nine shutouts. He also played shortstop, and hit .479 with 10 doubles, three triples, nine home runs and 49 RBIs.