O's game blog: Andrew Cashner pitches series opener against Mets

When they played a two-game series against the New York Mets in early June at Citi Field, the Orioles swept the two games. They won 2-1 and 1-0 behind Alex Cobb and Dylan Bundy. In those games, O's pitchers allowed one run and eight hits.

Tonight they host the Mets to begin another two-game series. This one begins at 7:05 p.m. at Camden Yards and continues on Wednesday night.

The Mets (50-66) beat the Yankees last night, hitting five homers, and have won four of five and six of their last nine games. They are 26-29 in road games and 6-9 in interleague games.

The Orioles (35-84) got swept four straight by Boston over the weekend. They've lost five in a row, nine of 11 and 25 of their last 36 games. They are 20-39 at Oriole Park.

In the Boston series, O's pitchers allowed nine homers and 34 runs. The O's bullpen pitched a combined 14 1/3 innings and gave up 19 hits and 19 runs. O's batters scored 12 runs in the series' opening game, but lost 19-12. In the last three games of the Boston series, the O's offense produced just five runs on 17 hits and went 2-for-16 with runners in scoring position.

The Orioles' Trey Mancini has hit safely in 15 of 22 games since the All-Star break, batting .302 (26-for-86) with five home runs and 13 RBIs. Mark Trumbo hit his fifth home run in August on Friday night against the Red Sox, while also driving in his 12th run of the month. His 12 RBIs are tied for fourth-most in the American League in August and his five home runs are tied for the second in the majors during the month. Cobb tossed the Orioles' 51st quality start Sunday. That number ranks seventh in the AL and 15th in the majors.

Right-hander Andrew Cashner (3-10, 4.83 ERA) will make his 23rd start tonight. He has thrown seven quality starts over his last 11 games. From June 1-July 27, Cashner had an ERA of 3.46 over a nine-start stretch. Then he allowed a career-high 10 runs in 1 2/3 innings Aug. 2 at Texas. In 11 home starts, he is 1-5 with a 4.78 ERA,

Lefty Jason Vargas (2-8, 8.75 ERA) makes his 13th start for the Mets. He was signed as a free agent to a two-year deal in February with a team option for a third year. He spent about a month on the disabled list, just returning recently from a strained calf. He doesn't have one quality start this year, a season after he was an American League All-Star. In seven road starts, Vargas is 1-4 with a 10.21 ERA.

Five members of the short season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds are in State College, Pa., tonight for the New York-Penn League All-Star Game. They are lefty pitcher Matthew Hammonds, catcher Cody Roberts, infielders J.C. Escarra and Willy Yahn, and outfielder Robbie Thorburn.

Lefty pitcher Drew Rom, the Orioles' 2018 fourth-round pick, threw three scoreless innings today in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. His ERA is 1.95 in nine games and he's walked five and fanned 25 over 27 2/3 innings.

The O's fifth-round pick, University of Iowa outfielder Robert Neustrom, is batting .382 in nine games this month for Aberdeen.