O's game blog: A look at the Orioles' improved interleague record

After years of not playing well in interleague games, the Orioles are 5-3 against the National League this season and have a chance to post a winning interleague record for the third year in a row. That would be an accomplishment for a team that has just two winning seasons in the first 11 years of interleague play. But the Orioles went 11-7 in 2012 and 11-9 last year, posting their fourth winning record in six years against the NL. They finished over .500 in 2008, 2009, 2012 and 2013. The Birds have a 142-169 record in interleague play since its inception in 1997. Baltimore had a winning record against the NL only twice in the those first 11 years - going 8-7 in 1997 and 11-7 in 1999. From 1997-2007, the Orioles went 79-114 (.409). The Orioles are 8-3 against the Nationals since 2012 and 19-10 since the 2009 season. Their all-time record is 27-20 versus the Nats. Both teams are playing well heading into tonight's game. The Orioles (49-40) have won seven of eight and 12 of their last 17. The Nationals (48-40) have won seven of nine and are 13-7 over their past 20. Bud Norris (7-5, 3.62 ERA) came off the DL last night and will make his 15th start tonight, but first since June 21. Over his last three starts, he is 3-0 with an ERA of 0.92 ERA. Right-hander Doug Fister (7-2, 2.93 ERA) will make his 12th start. In six career starts against Baltimore, he is 3-2 with an ERA of 5.30. The Orioles have scored 22 runs over their last three games. Manny Machado is 9-for-17 in that time and Nelson Cruz is 11-for-16 with three doubles, two homers and five RBIs. Tonight will be the 1,300th game of Nick Markakis' career and the 1,200th for J.J. Hardy. Markakis ranks 11th on the O's all-time games played list, 28 behind Brian Roberts (1,327) for 10th place. The Orioles go for their 50th win tonight. According to Elias Sports, the last time they won 50 of their first 90 games was in 1997 and they went on to win the AL East.