O's game blog: Chris Tillman looks to snap losing streak against Kansas City

Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman (9-11, 5.15 ERA) tries to end a four-game slide today when the Orioles host Kansas City in the middle game of the three-game series. The Orioles announced that today's game will not start on time due to rain.

On Sunday at Toronto, Tillman allowed eight hits, including three homers and six runs over three innings. He is 0-4 with a 15.50 ERA in five 2015 starts versus Toronto.

Over those past four starts overall, Tillman has given up 20 runs in 20 1/3 innings and is 0-4 with an ERA of 8.85. Tillman has struggled in day games, going 2-4 with a 7.96 ERA.

Tillman is 2-3 with a 6.17 ERA in six career outings against the Royals and 1-1 with a 6.61 ERA in three career starts against the Royals at OPACY. He pitched his first career shutout on May 16, 2014 at Kansas City with a five-hitter.

Right-hander Yordano Ventura (10-8, 4.34 ERA) gets the ball and makes his 24th start for Kansas City. He pitched six scoreless innings on two hits in beating the Orioles on Aug. 27. In three career starts, he is 2-1 with a 2.08 ERA versus Baltimore. In 11 career September starts, Ventura is 5-3 with a 2.91 ERA. That is his lowest ERA in any month over his career.

In five games since rejoining the Orioles, Nolan Reimold is 5-for-16 (.313) with two homers, five RBIs, seven runs and five walks. He has a .500 OBP and OPS of 1.188. During a nine-game hitting streak, Chris Davis is 14-for-30 (.467) with six homers and 13 RBIs. In 52 games since the All-Star break, he has hit 22 homers with 53 RBIs.

Outfielder Dariel Alvarez hit his first career major league home run in third inning last night. Two of his four career hits have been for extra bases. Catcher Caleb Joseph registered two RBIs. The Orioles are now 39-9 when he records at least one RBI and 19-2 when he records two or more RBIs in his career.

Second baseman Jonathan Schoop has now hit safely in eight of his last 10 games (.275/.326/.525) after going 2-for-3 with two walks, a double and two runs scored. Of his 67 hits this season, 26 have gone for extra bases, with 14 doubles and 12 home runs.

The Orioles have scored 27 runs on 36 hits and with nine homers over the last four games. They had scored three or fewer runs in 13 of the previous 17 games. The Orioles are 58-18 when scoring four or more runs.

The Orioles are now 68-72 with 22 games to play. They are looking for a four-game win streak this afternoon. The Royals are 83-57 and have lost six of their last seven and eight of 11 games. A loss today or tomorrow would give Kansas City three consecutive series losses after a stretch where they went 7-0-1 in the eight previous series.