O's game blog: Alec Asher on the mound in Chicago

CHICAGO - The Orioles try to end two losing streaks while also trying to avoid falling under the .500 mark here tonight. After last night's 10-7 loss, the Orioles (31-31) play the White Sox in the second game of a four-game series.

During a five-game losing skid, the Orioles have been outscored 54-16. Their starters' ERA is 15.56 the past six games, and is 6.70 the last 30 games, during which the team has gone 9-21.

The Birds have lost 10 in a row on the road, and 14 of the last 15 away from Oriole Park. They have a 10-21 road mark for the season.

Right-hander Alec Asher (2-4, 4.35 ERA) tonight will make his 15th appearance and sixth start. He pitched to a 2.92 ERA his first two starts, but his ERA is 9.49 his last three. During that span he gave up six runs in two innings at Houston, and five in four innings at Washington. When he has struggled, it has happened fast. Asher has allowed 12 runs over 10 first and second innings of his starts.

Left-hander Derek Holland (4-6, 3.99 ERA) gets the ball for Chicago and will make his 13th start. The 30-year-old vet has been bashed by Detroit and Tampa Bay in his past two starts. Over a combined seven innings he allowed 14 runs, six homers and 17 hits. He had given up eight homers total over his first 10 starts.

Signed by the White Sox as a free agent in December, Holland spent nine seasons with Texas. In four home starts, he is 1-3 with a 2.74 ERA. The Sox are 5-7 in his games.

The White Sox (27-35) had lost nine of 11 before winning last night, and they are 4-9 versus the American League East and 1-3 this season against the Orioles. They scored just seven total runs when they were swept by Baltimore May 5-7. But White Sox had exceeded that total by the fourth inning last night with an early 8-2 lead.

José Abreu is batting .359 with seven homers and 15 RBIs over his last 23 games against the Orioles. The Sox tied a season high in turning four double plays last night.