O's game blog: Will O's mash more homers in Game 2 in Anaheim?

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Can the often homer-happy Orioles bash more homers tonight against a pitcher that has allowed seven this year over 29 2/3 innings?

The Orioles and Angels play the second game of a three-game series with Kevin Gausman (0-1, 3.00 ERA) facing right-hander Matt Shoemaker (2-5, 8.49 ERA).

While Shoemaker got the win in his last start, allowing three runs in five innings versus the cross-town Dodgers, he is 0-3 with an ERA of 14.40 in three home starts. He has pitched just three, three and four innings in those games, allowing 20 hits and three homers in 10 innings with a .417 average against.

Shoemaker has reverse splits that don't look very good for him. While he has held left-handed batters to a .263 average, right-handed hitters are batting .423 (22-for-52) against him with an OPS of 1.137.

Meanwhile, the Orioles hit four or more homers for the sixth time last night and they are 6-0 in those games. They had just two games of four or more in the season's first 29 games and now have done that four times in the last 11 games. They have hit 24 homers in those 11 games.

Gausman had an ERA of 2.16 through his first four starts. But he allowed 10 hits and four runs over five innings Sunday versus Detroit. Still Gausman has had a good year and his current numbers of a 1.07 WHIP, 7.5 hits allowed per nine innings and 2.1 walks per nine would all be career bests if maintained.

Left-handed batters are hitting just .128 versus Gausman with right-handed batters at .292. In two career starts versus the Angels he has an ERA of 6.39. On Aug. 7 he took the loss in this park, allowing nine hits and six runs over 5 2/3 innings.

The Orioles began today leading the American League East by one game with a 25-15 record at the quarter pole. That puts them on a 100-win pace. They are 9-3 the last 12 games and 14-7 over their past 21. Boston (26-17) beat Cleveland this afternoon to pull within a 1/2 game of first place.

Over his last two games, O's catcher Matt Wieters is 6-for-9 with a homer and two RBIs. He is batting .359 in 11 games this month.

Mark Trumbo hit a two-run homer last night and with 13 is the AL homers leader. His 31 RBIs are tied for sixth in the league. Trumbo has hit five homers his past 11 games and seven in the last 16 contests.

Three Orioles are celebrating birthdays today. Wieters is 30, Joey Rickard turns 25 and assistant hitting coach Mark Quinn is 42.

Most wins in the AL since 2012:
380 - Orioles
370 - Yankees
369 - Angels
365 - A's
364 - Tigers