O's game blog: AL's two winningest teams match up in Texas

It's a matchup of American League division leaders with the two best records in the AL when the Orioles play at Texas tonight. It's a one-night-only matchup to make up for a rainout on April 17. The Orioles will be back home tomorrow night to play San Diego.

The Orioles are 40-28 (.588) and leading the AL East by one game. The Rangers have the best record in the league at 45-25 (.643) and lead the AL West by 8 ½ games over Seattle

Here is a look at how well Texas has played in 2016:

* The Rangers have won six in a row, eight of nine, 14 of 17 and 20 of 25 games.
* The Rangers are 35-15 (.700) since April 26, leading MLB in wins and winning percentage in that span.
* Texas has won a club-record nine consecutive series and is 12-1 in its last 13 series.
* The Rangers are off to the best 70-game start in team history.
* Texas is a MLB-best 16-4 in one-run games, winning seven such decisions in a row and 12 of 13.

Pretty impressive numbers for this team. They took two of three from the Orioles on April 14-16 in Arlington, winning 6-3, losing 11-5 and winning 8-4 before the fourth game of that series was postponed until tonight.

On the mound this evening, right-hander Kevin Gausman (0-4, 4.14 ERA) pitches against left-hander Derek Holland (5-5, 5.14 ERA).

Gausman allowed six runs over three innings on Wednesday versus Boston. Over his first six starts of this season he had an ERA of 2.70. But Gausman is 0-3 with a 6.23 ERA his last five starts, allowing four runs or more three times. In six road starts, he is 0-3 with a 4.78 ERA.

Gausman has recorded six quality starts in 11 starts for the season to rank second on the team to Chris Tillman's nine quality starts. The Orioles are 4-7 when he gets the start.

The 29-year-old Holland is 0-1 with a 9.35 ERA his past two starts against Seattle and Oakland. The Rangers are 7-6 in his starts and in five home starts, he is 3-1 with a 3.33 ERA. In eight career games (seven starts) versus the Orioles, Holland is 5-2 with a 2.94 ERA. Over his past six starts against the Orioles since 2011 he is 5-1 with a 1.90 ERA.

Best AL records in June:
.778 - Texas (14-4)
.667 - Orioles (12-6), Cleveland (12-6)
.611 - Toronto (11-7)
.588 - Houston (10-7)

On Sunday, Chris Davis went 3-for-4 with three runs and one RBI, Matt Wieters went 4-for-5 with three runs and four RBIs and Jonathan Schoop went 3-for-5 with two runs and three RBIs. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, there has been only one other game in Orioles history in which the 4-5-6 hitters in the lineup produced at least eight runs, 10 hits, and eight RBIs. That was on June 13, 1999, when Albert Belle, Will Clark, and Cal Ripken, Jr. combined for 13 hits, 12 runs and 12 RBIs in a 22-1 win at Atlanta.

The Orioles announced the signings today of five more picks from the 2016 First-Year Player Draft. They have signed right fielder Austin Hays (round 3), right-handed pitcher Lucas Humpel (round 9), right-handed pitcher Cody Dube (round 10), shortstop Chris Clare (round 21) and third baseman Collin Woody (round 38). The O's have now signed six picks from the draft.