O's game blog: Wei-Yin Chen on mound for series opener with the Angels

The Orioles host the Los Angeles Angels tonight to start a three-game weekend series. This will be just their fourth game all year against a non-American League East opponent and just their second against an AL team not from the east coast.

The Angels are 17-17 and have allowed just four runs total in winning their past three games. They are 6-2 since beginning the season at 11-15.

The Angels went 19-14 versus AL East teams in 2014. The O's, though, won the season series, 4-2 against Los Angeles and have won nine of the last 13 between the teams. But the Angels are 53-37 versus the Orioles since 2004.

The Angels have struggled on offense, ranking near the bottom of the AL in many categories. They have scored three runs or fewer in 19 games, going 6-13, and their team OPS of .639 ranks 29th in the majors. They rank 14th in the AL in team batting and runs and rank 15th and last in OBP and OPS, respectively.

The Orioles have had some of their own problems producing runs lately, although they did beat Toronto 6-1 on Wednesday night. But that was just the third time in the last 12 games where the Orioles have scored five runs or more and they have scored 39 runs in those 12 games.

Miguel Gonzalez gave up just one unearned run over 7 2/3 innings Wednesday. That was the O's third quality start over the last eight games and they have a rotation ERA of 4.77 in that time.

Tonight's pitching matchup features left-hander Wei-Yin Chen (1-1, 2.52 ERA) against right-hander Jered Weaver (1-4, 4.98 ERA). Chen ranks ninth in the AL in ERA.

Chen has allowed two earned runs or less in five straight starts. His ERA is 1.78 his past four starts. After pitching 4 1/3 innings twice in his first three outings of 2015, Chen has pitched eight, six and seven innings his last three games.

Weaver took an ERA of 6.29 into his last start, but then he pitched a complete-game, six-hit shutout against Houston on Friday with six strikeouts on 120 pitches. It was his seventh career shutout, but first since Aug. 6, 2012.

Overall, his numbers are not good this year. He is 0-3 with an ERA of 6.38 and has six homers allowed in 24 innings on the road.

He is allowing 10.7 hits per nine innings and 1.7 homers per nine this year - both would be career worsts. He is also averaging a career-low 4.4 strikeouts per nine innings.

Weaver is 7-4 with a 3.46 ERA in 12 career starts versus Baltimore and has allowed just one walk over 33 innings in his past five starts.