O's game blog: Alex Cobb faces the White Sox

CHICAGO - The Orioles and Chicago White Sox have split a pair of 3-2 decisions to start a four-game series that continues tonight at Guaranteed Rate Field.

At 15-33, the Orioles are 5-20 in road games, with losses in 16 of their past 18 away from Oriole Park. While they are 7-6 over the last 13 games, over a longer stretch they have lost 13 of 20 and 27 of the last 38 games.

The Orioles didn't hit a homer last night after Manny Machado, Mark Trumbo and Adam Jones connected Monday night. The Orioles are 1-15 when they do not hit a homer.

The White Sox are 14-31 and have won four of six, but also have lost 11 of 16 and 17 of their past 26 games. They are 7-17 at home and 5-12 in one-run games. Chicago starting pitchers had an ERA of 7.74 in their previous 12 games before this series. But they own an ERA of 3.46 the past two nights versus the Orioles.

Right-hander Alex Cobb (1-5, 6.56 ERA) will make his eighth start for his new team. Cobb has allowed three earned runs or less in four straight starts, after allowing five or more in each of his first three. He had an ERA of 13.11 in those first three games. In his last four outings, Cobb is 1-2 with a 3.38 ERA. In five road starts, he is 1-3 with a 6.39 ERA.

Lefty batters have been quite good against Cobb, batting .469 with an OPS of 1.236 while right-handed batters have hit .309/.914 against him. Cobb has three quality starts and the Orioles are 1-6 in his seven games. He got his first win in his last start at Boston on Friday, allowing three runs over 6 1/3 innings on 93 pitches.

Right-hander Dylan Covey (0-1, 6.00) is tonight's starter for Chicago. He has spent most of this year with Triple-A Charlotte, going 3-1 with a 2.33 ERA. Over 38 2/3 he allowed 32 hits and two homers with 15 walks and 35 strikeouts. Lefty batters hit .222 and right-handed batters hit .240.

Covey has made one previous start for Chicago this year. He took the loss April 28 against Kansas City. In six innings he gave up seven hits and four runs on 101 pitches.

Outfielder Jones owns a 10-game hitting streak at Guaranteed Rate Field, dating to July 5, 2015. He is hitting .395 (17-for-43) with four doubles, one home run, and five RBIs during the 10-game stretch. Overall, Jones is hitting .293 (43-for-147) with nine doubles, five home runs and 17 RBIs in 40 career games at this ballpark. Among active players (min. 120 PA), Jones ranks 12th in the majors with a .293 batting average at this park.

On the farm tonight, Single-A Delmarva lefty Zac Lowther pitched six scoreless innings allowing just one hit. He walked three, fanned 10 and threw 97 pitches. He has lowered his ERA to 1.16 in six starts. Heading into tonight's game, Double-A Bowie third baseman Ryan Mountcastle is batting .356 in 12 games. He homered last night and is 5-for-8 his past two games.

Happy Birthday today to Orioles manager Buck Showalter, who is now 62.