Notes on Tillman, Hardy, the rotation and more

Chris Tillman is seeking his eighth road win tonight. Since the start of the 2000 season, only four Orioles pitchers have recorded eight or more road wins in a season, according to the club's PR staff: Erik Bedard (eight in 2007), Daniel Cabrera (nine in 2004), Rodrigo Lopez (nine in 2005 and eight in 2002) and Sidney Ponson (eight in 2003). How many fans would have overlooked Cabrera while trying to compile that list? Also with a win tonight, Tillman would become the 29th Orioles pitcher to record a 15-win season. It would be the 75th 15-win season overall by an Orioles pitcher and first since Bedard in 2006. Jim Palmer holds the franchise record with 12 seasons of 15 wins or more, which should surprise no one. In his last 11 starts since June 4, Tillman is 10-1 with a 3.54 ERA and eight quality starts. According to Elias, the last Orioles starter to win 10 times in a span of 11 starts was Mike Boddicker from April 14-June 20, 1986. Steve Stone (1980), Palmer (1973), Pat Dobson (1971) and Mike Cuellar (1969 and 1971) also did it. With a win tonight, Tillman would be the first Orioles starter to win 11 times in a 12-start span since Stone won 11 times from June 30-Aug. 23, 1980. Twelve of the 28 runs that Tillman has allowed in those 11 starts scored on home runs (six solo and three two-run shots). Tillman is tied with Max Scherzer (also 10-1) for the most wins in the majors since June 4, and his 7.60 run support average over that span is the second-highest in the majors behind Ryan Dempster's 8.45. Dempster is 4-2 over that span. In 37 starts since being recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on July 4, 2012, Tillman has gone 23-6 with a 3.51 ERA over 218 innings. His 23 wins are second-most in the majors behind Scherzer's 26. Tillman has allowed four runs in the first inning this season, but 12 each in the second and third. Tillman is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in four career interleague starts. He's 0-for-1 at the plate. The Orioles are 12-6 against California teams this year (5-2 vs. the Angels, 3-1 vs. the Athletics, 2-1 vs. the Dodgers and 2-2 vs. the Padres). J.J. Hardy has 19 homers this season, one shy of his third straight 20-plus homer campaign for the Orioles. According to STATS, Hardy would be the third Orioles shortstop with three consecutive 20-plus homer seasons, joining Miguel Tejada (2004-06) and Cal Ripken Jr. (10 straight from 1982-91). Hardy's 71 home runs since 2011 are the most among major league shortstops. The Orioles own the best road record in the American League (76-61, .555) since the start of 2012. This season, they lead the majors in road slugging (.449) and OPS (.770), and lead the AL in average (.273) and doubles (123). They're second in the AL in homers (72). The Orioles have scored five or more runs on the road in 29 games, tying them with St. Louis for the most in the majors. Manny Machado and Adam Jones are tied for the AL lead with 74 hits on the road. Chris Davis' 38 extra-base hits on the road lead the majors. The Orioles are listing their three starters for the series in Arizona that begins Monday as TBA, TBA and Tillman. Scott Feldman will start Monday or Tuesday. Bud Norris, who's won both starts with the Orioles, is 0-4 with a 12.60 ERA in five career starts against the Diamondbacks and 0-2 with a 12.86 ERA in three starts at Chase Field. He's staying on normal rest Sunday in San Francisco despite the off-days this week. The Diamondbacks will start Wade Miley, Randall Delgado and Patrick Corbin.