O's game blog: The homestand begins against Detroit

After losing two of three at Colorado in a quick road trip two times zone away, the Orioles return home this afternoon to host the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers (19-31) will be at Camden Yards for three games and, after Thursday's off day, the San Francisco Giants play three in Baltimore starting Friday night to complete a six-game homestand.

The Orioles (16-37) are 6-19 at home and have lost eight of the last nine games at Camden Yards. They were swept four straight at home by the New York Yankees before heading for Coors Field.

While O's pitchers allowed 22 runs in Colorado, Baltimore batters scored 22 runs in the series, going 38-for-112 (.339) with eight doubles, a triple and five homers. The O's hit .417 (15-for-36) with runners in scoring position. Since scoring one run in the last two games of a series at Cleveland May 18-19, the Orioles have scored 43 runs, batting .292 the last seven games. They've hit 11 homers in that span and batted .356 (26-for-73) with RISP.

But overall, the Orioles have lost eight of the last nine, 11 of 13, 15 of 18 and 21 of their last 27 games. Baltimore pitchers have allowed homers in nine straight games, yielding 23 in that stretch.

On the mound this afternoon, right-hander Gabriel Ynoa (0-1, 5.60 ERA) will get the start, his first in the majors since Sept. 27, 2017, when he gave up four runs over three innings against Pittsburgh. Ynoa, at least for now, is taking the rotation spot of Dan Straily, who was moved to the bullpen.

The 26-year-old Ynoa posted an ERA of 0.79 with one walk and 11 strikeouts in his first five games over 11 1/3 innings. But in his past four outings, his ERA is 14.22. Over 6 1/3, he has yielded 14 hits and 12 runs (10 earned) with five walks and seven strikeouts.

Ynoa has made seven career major league starts - three with the 2016 New York Mets and four with the 2017 Orioles. He is 1-3 with a 4.02 ERA in those games.

Left-hander Daniel Norris (2-2, 4.30 ERA) will make his 11th appearance and eighth start for the Tigers. For the season, he has given up 52 hits in 46 innings with 11 walks, 33 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.370. He has allowed two earned runs or fewer in three of his five starts this month, going 1-2 with a 4.55 ERA. In five road games and three starts, he is 1-0 with a 3.32 ERA and 1.615 WHIP.

Hanser Alberto has hit safely in seven of his last nine games and he's hitting .440 (11-for-25) with four extra-base hits during this span. He is hitting .404 (21-for-52) against left-handed pitching this season, best in the majors among qualifying hitters. Alberto's 21 hits off of left-handed pitching leads the AL and is tied for seventh-most in the majors.

In observance of Memorial Day, all Orioles players and coaches will wear a Memorial Day patch on the side of their caps and a "Lest We Forget" poppy patch on their jerseys for today's game. Once again, MLB will participate in the National Moment of Remembrance, a cause to honor Americans who have lost their lives while in service to our country. Today, all MLB clubs whose home games and pregame workouts are in progress at approximately 3:00 p.m. (local time) will pause for an extended moment of silence in observance of the National Moment of Remembrance.

These words from the facade of the former Memorial Stadium in Baltimore embody what Memorial Day is about. Thankful for brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice so that we could enjoy freedom. - "Time will not dim the glory of their deeds." pic.twitter.com/fY8A8fnVVq

-- Pete Kerzel (@masnPete) May 27, 2019