O's game blog: Andrew Cashner pitches series opener in Chicago

CHICAGO - The Orioles begin a four-game series tonight at Gauranteed Rate Field versus the Chicago White Sox. The O's went 1-3 in Boston, the first stop on a three-city, 11-game road trip.

It rained steadily earlier this afternoon in Chicago, but there was almost no rain as game time approaches and they should get the game in with an on-time start.

The Orioles lost 5-0 on Sunday at Boston when they got 13 hits but no runs, setting a club record for most hits without scoring in a nine-inning game. The Orioles scored just five runs in their three losses at Fenway Park. They are 2-23 when scoring three runs or fewer.

The Orioles are 14-32 overall, have lost four of the last five games and have gone 1-15 in their past 16 on the road. Chicago. They have won just one of their seven road series.

The White Sox are 13-30 and just took three of four from Texas over the weekend. They are just 6-16 at home and 3-12 in their 15 series this year.

For the Orioles, right-hander Andrew Cashner (1-5, 4.83) will make his 10th start of 2018. Over his first three outings, he pitched to an ERA of 2.50. Over the last six, Cashner is 0-4 with a 6.12 ERA. In that span, he's allowed 22 earned runs and 39 hits in 32 1/3 innings.

He has recorded four quality starts, thrown six innings or more five times and the Orioles are 2-7 in his nine starts. Lefty batters are hitting .267 against him, right-handers are batting .250 and he yields a .200 average pitching with runners in scoring position.

Chicago sends left-hander Héctor Santiago (0-1, 5.29 ERA) to the mound to make his 13th appearance and fourth as a starter. He got a start Wednesday at Pittsburgh. Over five innings in a no-decision, he gave up two hits and two runs.

In his three starts, Santiago is 0-1 with a 8.31 ERA and .271 batting average against. Left-handed batters hit .314 off him and right-handers just .244. When pitching with RISP, he allows a .179 average.

In seven career games (four starts) against the Orioles, he is 1-0 with a 3.80 ERA, allowing 10 earned runs over 23 2/3 innings and a .233 batting average.

O's starting pitchers pitched to an ERA of 7.48 in the series at Boston, allowing eight homers in 21 2/3 innings. O's batters scored 12 runs, but hit just three homers. The club had a 12-game streak of hitting at least one home run end on Sunday.

Over his last 12 games Triple-A Norfolk outfielder DJ  Stewart has hit .342 (13-for-38) with two home runs, three doubles, six RBIs and a .479 on-base percentage. Stewart leads Norfolk players in OBP (.367), home runs (four) and stolen bases (four).

The four Norfolk catchers who have had at-bats this season (Caleb Joseph, Audry Perez, Andrew Susac and Austin Wynns) have combined to hit .295 with eight home runs, nine doubles and 34 RBIs. That foursome has also combined to hit .440 (22-for-50) with RISP.