The striking resemblance to tonight's opponent

Who's going to be the first member of the media today to "remind" manager Buck Showalter of the painful sweep in Houston?

More to the point, who's going to bring up the worst aspect of it besides the losses?

"Hey, remember that time your hitters set the major league record for most strikeouts in a three-game series?"

There's probably a smoother way to ease into it.

The Orioles lost 3-2 in 13 innings, 4-3 and 4-2 from May 24-26, headed to Cleveland to play the first-place Indians and won two out of three. Because baseball's a funny game.

Baseball and football share something in common. They're both contact sports. The Orioles did a much better job of it at Progressive Field after striking out 52 times in Houston.

"They're very frustrated and I'm frustrated for them," Showalter told reporters after the final game against the Astros. "Guys don't want any excuses. Nobody wants to hear about excuses and our guys are the last to use them. So, it's not just one person, it's been a challenge for all of us, even some guys who are normally good contact hitters."

The Astros lost to the Cardinals yesterday, their fourth straight defeat, and sit in third place in the American League West, only two games above .500. The Orioles lost for the sixth time in their last nine games and dropped to third place in the American League East.

Someone needs to protect their pitchers.

Wade Miley was hit on the left calf by a comebacker in his Orioles debut on Aug 4, Chris Tillman felt some discomfort in his right shoulder after last Thursday's start, Yovani Gallardo was hit on the right forearm Tuesday night and Dylan Bundy rolled his right ankle last night.

Does Major League Baseball approve bubble wrap as an alternate uniform?

If I'm Kevin Gausman, I'm requesting the protective screen. At least reduce the odds.

Gausman hasn't completed five innings in two of his last four outings, but he's registered two quality starts in between by allowing a combined four runs and striking out 13 batters in 13 innings. He surrendered six runs and six hits in three innings on July 29 in Toronto and two runs and two hits in four innings on Aug. 13 in San Francisco.

The six walks and nine strikeouts ran up Gausman's pitch count. They also conspired to form a bizarre final line.

Gausman faced the Astros on May 26 and allowed four runs and five hits in five innings, with seven strikeouts, in the 4-2 loss. George Springer homered twice off him.

Who starts on Saturday if Tillman isn't ready? Vance Worley threw 25 pitches on Tuesday, Tyler Wilson threw 29 pitches last night and Ubaldo Jimenez warmed up before the tarp came on the field. They're all available if needed.

Wilson retired all 12 Colorado batters he faced on July 26. In his next two outings, he's allowed three runs and eight hits and let three inherited runners score in 3 1/3 innings.

If you think the Orioles get a reprieve tonight opposing rookie Joe Musgrove, making his fourth major league appearance and third start, it's only while placing him in the same company as Matt Cain, Madison Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto and David Price. Eduardo Rodriguez ain't too shabby, either.

Then again, the Athletics took three of four in Oakland without Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder and Barry Zito.

Musgrove, the 46th overall pick by the Blue Jays in the 2011 draft out of Grossmont (Cal.) High School, has allowed three runs, walked one and struck out 13 in 14 innings in his two starts. In his lone relief appearances against Toronto, he allowed one hit and struck out eight in 4 1/3 scoreless innings.

We're looking at a guy with a 1.47 ERA, two walks and 21 strikeouts in 18 1/3 innings. A guy who was pitching at Double-A Corpus Christi, went 2-1 with a 0.34 ERA in six games and moved up to make 10 starts at Triple-A Fresno, where he was 5-3 with a 3.81 ERA.

Now, he's pitching the opening game for the Astros after a two-game sweep by the Red Sox.

Right-handers are hitting .150 against Musgrove in his three appearances and left-handers are batting .240.