A few notes and thoughts ahead of the season finale

The Orioles began this series versus Houston desperate for innings and quality starts from their rotation. They've gotten both the last two days and three games, but they still lost three in a row to the Astros.

When this series began Friday night, O's starters had thrown just two quality starts the last 19 games. Now they've gotten three in three games from David Hess, Dylan Bundy and Yefry Ramírez. That trio allowed seven runs in 19 innings in a series in which the Orioles offense has produced just six runs in three games.

Ramírez allowed three runs in six innings in Game 2 last night, and it was his first career quality start and a career high in innings pitched. His previous most was 5 2/3 on Sept. 15 against the Chicago White Sox. Ramírez went 0-2 with a 3.20 ERA in 10 appearances this season at Oriole Park (seven starts), as opposed to going 0-4 with a 11.95 ERA in seven road games (five starts).

Houston has outhomered the Orioles 6-1 and outscored Baltimore 11-6 over the weekend.

The Orioles will not set a major league record for losses, but with 115 they are now tied for fourth-most in the modern era (since 1901) with the 1935 Boston Braves. The only clubs to lose more were the 1962 New York Mets (120 losses), the 2003 Detroit Tigers (119 losses) and the 1916 Philadelphia A's (117 losses).

When this season began on March 29 at Camden Yards there was some hope that the additions of free agent pitchers Alex Cobb and Andrew Cashner could help the club contend for a postseason berth in the tough American League East.

But that never came close to happening. The Orioles lost 14 of their first 20. On May 8 the Orioles were 8-27 and already 17 games out of first place. By that point their season was essentially over. Yes, it was pretty amazing for it to happen so fast and go so bad so quickly.

The Orioles offense has been bad all year. Remember the first series of the year? They didn't score a single run off Twins staring pitchers over three games. We didn't know it then, but we'd see a lot more of games like that in 2018.

The worst season in Orioles history ends later today. Then, probably at some point soon after, we begin to survey the fallout that 115 losses will bring about. Who is going and who is staying and who will be running the Orioles and leading the rebuild?

If today turns out to be Adam Jones' final game as an Oriole, I'll miss watching his on-the-field talents and being around for his candor, honesty, humor and so much more inside the clubhouse. I can remember interviewing a young Jones and him telling me he wanted to become a leader of this team. He did just that, and so much more. He was a big part of the group that turned the Orioles from losers into winners. They changed everything. Sadly, if this is it for him today in orange and black, the club is losing again, and the relationship between Jones and team management is strained. It's not a great way to go out, but endings in sports can be hard. This one figures to be.