O's game blog: Andrew Cashner faces Philly at the Yard

After last night's rainout the Orioles and Phillies will try to get in a single game this afternoon at Camden Yards. It's the final game of what will now be an eight-game homestand if they get it in. The Orioles have gone 5-2 on the stand, winning the two series' versus Kansas City and Tampa Bay. They've hit 19 homers and scored 58 runs during those seven games.

The Orioles beat Tampa Bay 17-1 Sunday when they last played, as they set season highs in runs and hits with 19. The Orioles scored their most runs since getting 18 on Aug. 16, 2015 versus Oakland. The 19 hits was their most since 21 last Aug. 25 at Boston. They went 9-for-17 with RISP and had eight extra-base hits.

Right-hander Andrew Cashner (1-4, 4.84 ERA) will make his eighth start. Cashner had an ERA of 2.50 after three starts, but that is 6.41 over his past five. But he did record a quality start on Wednesday against Kansas City, allowing six hits and three runs over six innings.

Cashner allows an average of .267 versus lefty batters and .256 against right. He is 0-3 with an ERA of 5.46 in five home starts. He has four quality starts and the Orioles have gone 2-6 in his eight games.

Cashner will be making his eighth career start and 14th appearance against the Phillies. He has a 4-1 record with a 2.55 ERA in his first 13 games against them and his teams have gone 9-4 against the Phillies in games that he pitches. In nine home games (four starts) versus Philadelphia, he is 3-1 with a 1.71 ERA.

In 26 career interleague games, including 19 starts, he holds a record of 6-9 with a 3.45 ERA. Cashner went undefeated in interleague play in 2017, going 3-0 with a 2.25 ERA, allowing five earned runs over 20 innings pitched in three starts.

Philadelphia has won five of its last six games to get to 23-16. A win today and the Phillies would have their best 40-game record since starting 25-15 in the 2011 season. They started this year 3-5, but have gone 20-11 since then. The Phils are 7-10 in road games.

Right-hander Nick Pivetta (2-2, 4.15 ERA) will make his ninth start this afternoon. Two starts ago he gave up six runs in one inning versus the Nationals. But in his last start he pitched five scoreless on Wednesday against San Francisco, allowing four hits with seven strikeouts on 96 pitches.

The 25-year-old Pivetta has two quality starts and has allowed two runs or fewer five times with two scoreless starts. His fastball averages 95.4 mph. Lefties are batting .310 with an OPS of .849 against him and right-handed batters are hitting .221/.571. He was drafted in round four by the Nationals in 2013. On July 28, 2015 he was traded to Philadelphia for pitcher Jonathan Papelbon and cash.

The Phillies rotation has posted an ERA of 1.29 over its last eight games, allowing seven earned runs in 49 innings. Philadelphia's staff ranks fourth in the majors in FIP (3.56) and seventh in ERA (3.53). Their 60 extra-base hits allowed ranks as third-fewest in the majors.