O's game blog: Chris Tillman has a 1.37 ERA his last three starts

Chris Tillman is having a strong season for the Orioles. He'll try to pitch them to a win this afternoon against Oakland. If he can do it, the Orioles will win this series, complete a 6-4 homestand and head to Minnesota six games over the .500 mark at 18-12.

A look at how good Tillman has been this season:

* He is 3-1 with an ERA of 2.81 in six starts.
* He is 3-0 with a 1.46 ERA in four starts against the AL East.
* He is 2-0 with a 1.37 ERA over his last three starts.
* He is 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA in four home starts.

Tillman tied his career high with nine strikeouts for the second start in a row on Tuesday night against the Yankees. That is 18 strikeouts over his last 13 2/3 innings and 33 on the year over 32 innings. Why all the strikeouts now for a pitcher that averaged 6.2 per nine innings in 2015?

"I don't know. I think it is being able to throw my off-speed for strikes," Tillman said after that start against New York. "I worked on it a lot last year and it never really came along for me. In spring training, I kind of had a good feel for it and have been able to carry it over. Wheaty (Matt Wieters) reminds me of it during the game. In certain counts, he is calling a breaking ball where I normally wouldn't do it and it keeps me on my toes, that's for sure."

Tillman gave up just one run over seven innings against the Yankees. He has allowed two runs or less in five of his six starts. Over his past three starts he has given up just three runs and 11 hits over 19 2/3 innings with nine walks and 22 strikeouts.

"He's been dominant," outfielder Mark Trumbo said. "It seems like he is getting all his pitches over. Seems like if you put yourself in the hitter's shoes on the other side, it is very tough to sit on any one pitch. He is getting everything over for strikes. His fastball is up there in the mid 90s and he's got that good changeup, curve, slider. A tough task to hit against right now."

Tillman has really had a good mix of pitches this season as he has reduced his hits allowed per nine innings from 9.2 last year to 6.8 now and increased his strikeout rate from 6.2 last year to 9.3 now.

In 2015 the Orioles went 15-16 when Tillman got the start. This year they are 5-1 in his six starts.

Right-hander Kendall Graveman (1-3, 4.40 ERA) makes his sixth start this afternoon for Oakland. While Graveman pitched to an ERA of 2.04 his first three starts, he is 0-2 with an ERA of 8.18 his past two starts against Detroit and Seattle. Over 11 innings he has allowed 20 hits and 10 runs. The 25-year-old out of Mississippi State has allowed a batting average of .392 (20-for-51) his past two starts.

Graveman, who has two quality starts this season, is 1-1 with a 5.73 ERA in two road starts. He was originally drafted in round eight in 2013 by the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Orioles got some solid pitching on the farm last night. Triple-A Norfolk right-hander Joe Gunkel allowed just one run and six hits over seven innings in the Tides' 2-1 loss at Durham. Gunkel needed just 80 pitches to clear seven innings. In two Triple-A starts, he is 0-1 with a 1.46 ERA.

Left-hander Chris Lee pitched well again for Double-A Bowie. He went six innings allowing five hits and one run in Bowie's 2-1 win over Erie. Lee is 5-0 with a 2.30 ERA. He did not strike anyone out (or walk anyone) last night. Over 31 1/3 innings he has walked just seven and fanned 12. Both low totals. Eastern League batters are hitting just .186 off Lee this season.

Single-A Frederick's Matthew Grimes allowed two earned runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 in a loss to Potomac. Grimes is 3-2 with an ERA of 2.03 in six starts.