Bundy set up to top last year's innings total

If anyone chose July 18 as the date that Dylan Bundy surpassed last year's innings total, go directly to the window and wait to collect your money. Shake your head in amazement if you're denied. Question your luck. Change hobbies immediately.

It's not a sure thing with two innings required, but your chances are pretty solid. Take your place in line.

Bundy has amassed 108 innings after totaling 109 2/3 in 2016. He isn't on a serious roll at the moment, but it's no joke that he's been the club's most effective starter.

Bundy's ERA has climbed from 2.89 to 4.33 over his last seven starts. He's worked five, six, five, 4 1/3, seven, four and five innings.

In his last two outings, Bundy has allowed 11 runs and 12 hits in nine innings. He's walked two batters and struck out 11.

The Orioles are offering Bundy extended rest to freshen him up and better control his innings. He hasn't pitched since July 6 in Minnesota. In three career starts when he's had at least six days rest, Bundy has gone 1-2 with a 6.28 ERA in 14 1/3 innings.

The Rangers haven't provided much resistance in their small sample size against Bundy. He's allowed two hits in 11 scoreless innings in three appearances.

In his only start, Bundy shut out the Rangers on one hit over seven innings in a 5-1 win on Aug. 2, 2016. He retired the first 10 batters, walked Ian Desmond and carried a no-hitter into the sixth before Elvis Andrus singled with two outs. Bundy threw 88 pitches, 60 for strikes.

The current group is 2-for-20 against him, with Andrus and Delino DeShields Jr. each having one single.

Tyson Ross is making his sixth start this year, and his eighth career appearance against the Orioles, the last coming on Sept. 16, 2012 while he was pitching for the Athletics. He allowed three runs in one third of an inning at Camden Yards.

The only start occurred five months earlier, also in Baltimore, when he surrendered nine runs and 11 hits in four innings in a 10-1 loss.

The other five appearances against the Orioles came in 2010.

Ross is 2-1 with a 5.33 ERA in five starts this season, allowing 15 runs and 19 hits in 25 1/3 innings. He hasn't exceeded 5 2/3 innings in four of the five games.

Ross is 0-2 with a 17.10 ERA against the Orioles, with 19 runs and 19 hits in 10 innings. He's registered a 28.00 WHIP.

The current group is 13-for-38 (.342) against him. Adam Jones is 4-for-6, Welington Castillo is 3-for-8 and Mark Trumbo is 3-for-10.

Castillo is 12-for-24 lifetime against the Rangers.

Manny Machado reached base four times last night and has five multi-hit games in the last seven. He's hitting .358 (19-for-53) this month.

Seven of Seth Smith's 10 home runs have come at Camden Yards. Nine are solo shots.

Down on the farm, Double-A Bowie left-hander Tanner Scott allowed one hit last night in three scoreless innings against the Hartford Yard Goats and was allowed to come back out for the fourth. Scott surrendered two runs and was removed with two outs.

(I didn't know that a yard goat was different than any other goat, but I digress ...)

(Yard Goat actually is an old railroad term for an engine that switches a train to get it ready for another locomotive, but I still digress ...)

Scott allowed two runs and three hits in 3 2/3 innings, with three walks - two of them coming in his final inning - and five strikeouts. He was stretched out to 62 pitches, 36 for strikes, and his ERA crept up to 2.05.

The Orioles had been using Scott in three-inning stints before last night, when he turned in his longest outing. And they continue to receive calls from teams asking about his availability.

There's a decision to be made about his future role - starter or reliever - but they seem convinced that he's worth keeping.