O's game blog: The homestand continues against the Chicago White Sox

The Orioles have won the first two series they’ve played on this nine-game homestand that continues tonight at Oriole Park as the O’s host the Chicago White Sox for the first of a three-game series.

The Orioles (81-49) have 32 games remaining in the 2023 regular season and begin play tonight leading the Tampa Bay Rays by two games atop the American League East. Tampa Bay, off tonight, begins a series with Miami on Tuesday night.

The Orioles have won four of five, seven of nine, 18 of 26 and 32 of their past 46 games. They are 40-25 at home and 27-14 in the second half. After Sunday’s one-run loss to Colorado, they still lead the majors in win percentage in games decided by one or two runs.

MLB team leaders, one and two-run games:

.678 – Orioles (40-19)

.606 – Miami (40-26)

.603 – Milwaukee (38-25)

While the Orioles have scored 56 runs their past nine games and have hit 14 homers the last eight games, they have struggled in recent games in batting with runners in scoring position. The past eight games they are 7-for-41 (.171) with RISP.

The White Sox (52-79) won the last two games of their weekend series with Oakland, by 6-2 Saturday and by 6-1 yesterday. But over longer stretches, Chicago has lost four of seven, 10 of 15 and 22 of its past 33 games.

The White Sox, who are 8-17 versus the AL East, are in fourth place in the AL Central, 16 games behind division-leading Minnesota.

The White Sox, who have eight rookies on the team, are 12-26-4 in series play and are 12-30 in series-opening games.

Right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (3-3, 5.38 ERA) will make his 18^th start tonight, and the Orioles are 10-7 in the first 17. In his first 12 big league starts, Rodriguez failed to go six innings, but he has now done that in four of his past five starts.

Since rejoining the O’s from Triple-A on July 17, he is 1-1 with a 3.24 ERA over seven games, and has made four quality starts. In this span, he has thrown 41 2/3 innings, allowing 32 hits and just two homers with a .218 batting average against and .576 OPS. He has given up 1.08 WHIP and recorded a 56.6 groundball rate in this stretch.

Right-hander Michael Kopech (5-11, 4.95 ERA) will make his 25th start for Chicago, which is 9-15 in the first 24. Kopech's last three starts have all been 4 1/3 innings or less, and he has a 9.49 ERA in those 12 1/3 innings, with 13 walks.

Bases on balls have been an issue for Kopech, who has walked four or more batters 13 times in 24 games. He averages 6.0 walks per nine with 9.2 strikeouts. 

While Kopech had a 4.08 ERA in 16 first-half starts, he is 2-4 with a 7.15 ERA and 1.824 WHIP in eight in the second half.

He faced the Orioles on April 15 and got a no-decision, allowing three runs over five innings on 97 pitches. In four career games he is 0-1 with a 4.15 ERA versus Baltimore batters.