O's game blog: The series opener with Cleveland

After a 22-game stretch of games against winning teams – one where the Orioles went 13-9 (.591) – they play a team with an under-.500 record today, hosting Cleveland (23-29) to open a three-game series at Oriole Park. 

The Orioles' 3-2 win over Texas on Sunday enabled them to take the final game of the series, avoid being swept three straight and avoid their second three-game losing streak of the 2023 season.

The Orioles (34-19) are now 16-10 at home and 15-10 this month. They are 12-4-1 in series this year and 11-2-1 in the past 14 series. They are 5-2-1 in home series and 13-4 in series-opening games heading into another one today against the Guardians.

The Orioles scored just eight runs in the three-game series versus Texas. They had 21 hits over the weekend and went 7-for-20 (.350) batting with runners in scoring position.

During the 22-game stretch versus Atlanta, Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh, the Los Angeles Angels, Toronto, the New York Yankees and Texas they scored 94 runs, producing on average 4.27 runs per game.

The club fared better in the pitching department in this span with a 22-game team ERA of 3.46, and the Orioles allowed three runs or fewer in 12 of the 22 games. The rotation ERA was 3.88 as the Birds got 10 quality starts. The bullpen ERA was 2.93 in the 22 games.

In Sunday’s win, starter Kyle Bradish allowed one run over 6 2/3 innings to give the club its 16^th quality start of the season. The O’s rotation has produced three quality starts the past four games and eight in the last 17 games.

Lefty Danny Coulombe got one out to get the win, and closer Félix Bautista struck out the side in the ninth to record his 13^th save. That marked the 13^th time in his career he picked up at least three strikeouts in an inning, and it was the fifth time he fanned the side in order. His fastball averaged 99.9 mph and topped at 101.7 mph. He got five whiffs on nine swings by Texas batters, including on three of three splitters.

Left fielder Austin Hays, batting .312 - fourth in the American League at gametime yesterday - went 3-for-4 with a triple, two singles and two RBIs. He drove in the game-winning run with a single in the eighth inning, his second go-ahead hit in the eighth inning or later this season and ninth of his career. Hays has now recorded eight RBIs in his last eight games, and nine in his last 11. He delivered his second triple of the year. He did not record his second triple of the season last year until Sept. 27 at Boston.

The Orioles have won six of their past nine, eight of 12, 12 of 18, 17 of 27 and 25 of their past 37 games.

A playoff team six times in the last 10 seasons - including last year following a 92-win campaign - Cleveland is now six games under the .500 mark. Yet the Guardians are just 3 1/2 games behind first-place Minnesota in the AL Central. In the AL East, Cleveland would be 14 1/2 games out of first.

Cleveland does come to Baltimore after a walk-off win on Sunday afternoon, when José Ramírez hit a two-run double with two outs in the last of the ninth to lift the club over St. Louis 4-3. One out from a fourth straight series loss, the Guardians got the walk-off win as Ramírez drove in his 27^th and 28^th runs.

But Cleveland has still lost three of five and eight of its past 12 games and is 6-11 in series. Cleveland is 3-6 versus AL East teams. And Cleveland leads the majors with 25 one-run games, going 11-14 in those games. And its 36 games decided by one or two runs put Cleveland atop the major leagues in that category. The Guardians are 18-18 in those games.

The O's starter today is right-hander Tyler Wells (3-1, 3.47 ERA), coming off an outing Wednesday in which he gave up five runs in five innings against the Yankees. Wells is 0-0 with a 2.70 ERA in 6 2/3 career innings versus Cleveland. He is 5-3 with a 3.68 ERA in 19 career games against AL Central opposition.

Lefty Logan Allen (1-2, 3.31 ERA) starts for Cleveland. The rookie allowed four runs (three earned) in six innings Tuesday against the Chicago White Sox. He has allowed two earned runs or fewer in four of his six starts this season.