Notes on the rotation, Schoop chases Cruz, Santander rakes

The Orioles rotation, much maligned this year for obvious and deserved reasons, is making a brief resurgence. Now we await the next few games and weeks to find out if it is merely a small sample of good pitching or a bigger turnaround.

The Orioles have won four straight games. Over that stretch we've seen Kevin Gausman throw 8 2/3 scoreless innings. Then Wade Miley allowed two runs over five innings. Then Ubaldo Jiménez allowed one run over seven innings and last night Dylan Bundy gave up one unearned run over eight innings.

That is a run of 28 2/3 innings allowing 19 hits and four runs (three earned) with seven walks and 24 strikeouts. That is three quality starts out of four games and Miley was an inning away from making it 4-for-4. That is a rotation ERA of 0.94 in that span.

Over the last eight games, the Orioles have five quality starts with a rotation ERA of 3.18. The rotation ERA is 4.20 over the past 15 games, during which the Orioles are 10-5. That doesn't sound all that impressive, but consider that in those 15 games we've seen three times when an O's starter allowed six runs or more. It happened just this past Friday at Texas when Chris Tillman gave up eight runs in 4 1/3 innings. So 4.20 over that stretch is not bad at all.

But as right-hander Jeremy Hellickson gets set to make his O's debut tonight, the Orioles have a chance to sweep the Kansas City Royals. A team that was 10-1 in its previous 11 games before arriving in Baltimore.

Jiménez and Bundy have combined to pitch 15 innings over the last two nights, allowing eight hits and two runs (one earned). You can win a few games with pitching like that.

The Orioles could truly have a chance to make a playoff push if the trend of the last 15 games continues for a much longer stretch.

Schoop hits - and speaks: Jonathan Schoop's RBI surge has not slowed down much in recent days. He singled in a run in the first inning last night and has driven in at least one run in 13 of the past 15 games with 24 RBIs in that span. Schoop has 59 RBIs his last 60 games since May 28.

Schoop feels he's better and more relaxed now when batting with runners in scoring position than earlier in his career.

"I think I'm more mature," he said. "I learned. I've learned through the years. First year, I was really learning. I know they're not going to give me something to hit. If they don't give something to hit, I pass it to the other guy and be more patient and wait for a good pitch and don't miss it."

One of the players that mentored Schoop, ex-Oriole Nelson Cruz, is the only player in the American League currently with more RBIs than the Orioles second baseman. Cruz, now with Seattle, sits atop the AL with 80. Schoop is second with 78.

"Me and Nelson," Schoop said. "You put me there in a pretty good group (with) Cruz, I guess. That's my daddy. He teach me everything when I got called up in 2014. It's pretty special to be close to him because I didn't think I'd be close to him. I've got to thank my teammates because they get on base so I can drive them in."

Schoop's newest teammate, Tim Beckham, played shortstop last night and went 2-for-4 in his O's debut.

"It was good. We played against him a lot, so I've seen him," Schoop said. "I pay attention. It was fun. I played against him, I think in the (Arizona) Fall League. I kind of know him a little bit. We have fun out there."

Schoop has now hit safely in eight straight home games, batting .472 (17-for-36). He is batting .317 at home this season.

Speaking of Beckham: He held his first media session with local reporters Tuesday, before playing in his first game with the Orioles. He was asked what he thought of the club from across the field the last few years.

"They come to compete, man," he said. "They're a very competitive team. And they can definitely swing the bat and hit the ball around the ballpark. It's going to be fun. You've got Zach Britton closing games out and Brad Brach at the back end, so I'm anxious to see what we can do as a club. I'm ready to get after it and looking forward to it."

Beckham was part of the O's adding at the trade deadline to make a playoff push.

"I love it. Love it, man," Beckham said. "That is what we play the game for: to compete and win every game we touch the field. I want to win and I'm sure everyone in the clubhouse feels the same. We have a losing record and there is some work to be done. I'm looking forward to it."

Click here to check out more of Beckham's pregame comments from Tuesday afternoon.

Santander is raking: Since joining Double-A Bowie on Thursday, outfielder Anthony Santander's bat has been on fire. The 22-year-old Venezuelan was selected by the Orioles in December's Rule 5 draft. He went 3-for-4 with a homer in Bowie's 6-0 win at New Hampshire last night behind right-hander Lucas Long. He also threw a runner out at the plate from right field.

In five games with Bowie, Santander is 9-for-13 (.692) with four doubles, two homers, seven runs and seven RBIs. His OPS is 2.212. As a Rule 5 pick, he will have to be added to the Orioles roster when his 20-day rehab stint is over, if not sooner.

Meanwhile, third baseman Jomar Reyes has finally returned to the diamond. He has played five games now in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and will likely return sometime soon to Single-A Frederick, where he began the year batting .321 in 21 games before he got hurt. He had surgery around May 1 on his right pinky finger. In five games with the GCL Orioles, Reyes is 10-for-20 (.500) with a double and four RBIs.