O's game blog: A look at the Orioles success against Jon Lester since 2012

The Orioles will face Jon Lester (9-7, 2.92 ERA) and John Lackey (9-5, 3.62 ERA) in a day-night doubleheader today against the Boston Red Sox. For many years, it seemed that Lester could fall out of bed and beat the Orioles.

But as of the 2012 season, the Orioles are no longer Lester's lackeys.

Through the 2011 season, Lester had a 14-0 career record against the Orioles. Since then, he is 1-4 with an ERA of 4.22 and Boston is 1-7 in Lester's eight starts since 2012 versus the Orioles.

That is some reversal of fortune.

Lester against the Orioles:

* In 2012, went 0-1 with a 4.26 ERA as Red Sox went 0-3 in his three starts.
* In 2013, he went 1-2 with a 4.70 ERA and Boston went 1-3 in his four starts.
* In 2014 so far, Lester is 0-1 with an ERA of 2.57 and Boston is 0-1 in his only start.

On opening day in Baltimore, Lester pitched well but took a 2-1 loss when Nelson Cruz hit a solo shot against him in the seventh inning to break a 1-1 tie. Over seven innings, Lester gave up six hits and two runs, throwing 104 pitches. Cruz, by the way, is 11-for-24 (.458) with three career homers against the lefty.

Lester is on a bit of a roll right now. Over his past four starts, he is 3-0 with an ERA of 1.21. In six June starts, he went 4-1 with a 1.98 ERA and gave up just two homers over 41 innings.

The Red Sox are 10-7 when he starts this year, but have won four in a row and six of his last seven outings. Lester is 4-4 with a 2.58 ERA in eight Fenway Park starts.

Miguel Gonzalez (4-5, 4.56 ERA) will start Game 1 for the Orioles. He's looking to turn it around after pitching to an ERA of 6.14 over his last three starts since returning from the disabled list. Over 14 2/3 innings, Gonzalez has given up 25 hits, including five homers and a .385 batting average against.

But in 30 career starts against the American League East, Gonzalez is 13-7 with an ERA of 3.69. In five career games against Boston, he is 3-0 with a 3.13 ERA.

Finally, here are some very interesting stats on the Red Sox and they apply somewhat to our ongoing conversations here about the Orioles and their lack of walks.

We know the Orioles offense relies on home run and they don't work the count nearly as well as the Red Sox, but some of that has not helped Boston this year.

The Red Sox rank second in the majors in pitches per plate appearances at 4.03. They rank third in walks. But they rank last in the American League in runs scored and average 3.8 runs per game, ahead of only Houston at 3.7 in the AL.

The Red Sox are tied for fifth in the AL in OBP at .321. The Orioles are tied for seventh at .320. The AL average is .320.