O's game blog: Cashner faces Tanaka at Oriole Park

The Orioles host the New York Yankees tonight in the third game of a four-game series and an eight-game homestand leading into the All-Star break. The clubs split a doubleheader Monday, with the Orioles winning the opener 5-4 and losing the nightcap 10-2.

The Orioles' (25-66) offense continued its season-long struggles in Game 2, producing just two runs on five hits. The Orioles have scored two runs or fewer in six of their last eight and nine of 12 games. They are 3-38 when scoring two or fewer in 2018. The Birds went 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position in the twinbill. Over the last eight games, the Orioles are 6-for-52 (.115) with RISP. For the season, they rank last in the American League, batting .211 with RISP. In 2017 the O's ranked second in that stat, batting .287.

Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop extended his hitting streak to a season-high eight games after going 4-for-8 in yesterday's doubleheader. He is hitting .438 (14-for-32) during this stretch, with four doubles, two home runs, four runs scored and two RBIs. It's his longest hitting streak since he also strung together eight straight games April 12-20, 2017. His career-long hit-streak is 12 games, Sept. 7-19, 2015. This streak has seen Schoop raise his season average from .197 to .224.

O's shortstop Manny Machado sits at 969 career hits, 31 away from 1,000. He is looking to become the youngest Oriole to record 1,000 hits in his Baltimore career. Cal Ripken Jr. holds the current mark, reaching 1,000 career hits at 26 years and 296 days old. Machado is also looking to become the fastest Oriole to 1,000 hits in terms of games played. Machado has played in 854 career games as an Oriole. The current record holder is Nick Markakis, who reached the 1,000 hit mark in his 875th career game.

On the mound tonight, right-hander Andrew Cashner (2-9, 4.39 ERA) pitches for Baltimore, making his 18th start. Cashner has recorded five quality starts over his past six games, and three in a row. His ERA is 3.18 those last six games. But Cashner is winless, going 0-4 over his past seven starts since beating the Chicago White Sox on May 21.

Cashner has nine quality starts on the year, and the Orioles are 4-13 in his 17 games. Cashner will be making his sixth career start against the Yankees and the third of the season. He is 2-2 with a 2.25 ERA in his first five career starts, all quality starts. Cashner has made 16 career starts against the American League East, 14 of which have been quality starts, and he is 6-6 with a 2.91 ERA against the division.

Right-hander Masahiro Tanaka (7-2, 4.58 ERA) gets the start for New York. In 72 2/3 on the year he's allowed 60 hits, including 16 home runs. He has walked 19, fanned 73 and allowed a .222 average against. In eight road starts, he is 5-0 with a 4.78 ERA.

Tanaka is 3-3 with a 3.90 ERA in 10 career starts against the Orioles. He is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA in two starts this season. Tanaka is 1-1 with a 5.25 ERA in four career starts at Camden Yards and is 28-13 with a 3.72 ERA in 53 career starts vs. the AL East.