O's game blog: Comparing the offense before and after the break

The Orioles' offense has been seemingly all or close to nothing in the four games of their road trip that continues tonight at Oakland. They've scored seven, two, 10 and two runs in going 2-2.

The Orioles went 51-36 before the All-Star Game and averaged 5.08 runs per game in the first half. They have gone 12-12 while scoring 3.42 runs per game in the second half. Quite a difference for the offense.

Orioles runs per game by month:
4.70 in April
4.07 in May
6.60 in June
3.42 in July
4.57 in August

Here is a look at the offense from each half this year:

First half: .272 average, .333 OBP, .467 slugging, .800 OPS, 1.6 HRs/game
Second half: .230 average, .287 OBP, .381 slugging, .668 OPS, 1.3 HRs/game

In the first half the Orioles were first in the American League in home runs, second in OPS, third in on-base percentage and tied for second in average. Since the break they are third in homers, 13th in OPS, 14th in OBP and 13th in average.

After 111 games, the Orioles (63-48) rank sixth in the AL in both runs scored and in team ERA. In the second half the O's team ERA of 3.58 ranks fifth-best in the AL.

O's starting pitchers have not produced five consecutive quality starts at any point this year and they can do that tonight. With four straight quality starts the rotation's ERA is 3.38 in those games. That has lowered the mark for the year to 4.87, its lowest point since June 25.

According to a stat on today's Mid-Atlantic Sports Report on MASN, the Orioles tonight are out to break a 10-game road losing streak versus AL West teams. This started May 22 when they lost in Anaheim versus the Angels, followed by three losses in Houston. They lost a makeup game June 20 at Texas and four straight in early July at Seattle. Then they lost last night at Oakland.

On the mound tonight, left-hander Wade Miley (7-9, 5.08 ERA) pitches against A's right-hander Zach Neal (1-1, 5.25 ERA).

Miley made his Orioles debut Thursday and took the loss against Texas. He went five innings and gave up eight hits and four runs on 92 pitches. He has an ERA of 3.70 his last four starts, counting his last three with Seattle. Miley has made two career starts versus Oakland, going 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA.

Neal has made 11 appearances this year, just one as a starter. His last four games were scoreless out of the A's bullpen. He pitched 9 1/3 innings allowing six hits with one walk and five strikeouts. Over his last three games he has thrown 39, 37 and 27 pitches. Neal allows a .333 average versus lefty batters, .271 against right-handed hitters and .375 when pitching with runners in scoring position.

Manny Machado is 4-for-9 with four homers and nine RBIs his past two games. In seven games this month, Machado is batting .367 (11-for-30) with four homers, 11 RBIs, an .833 slugging percentage and OPS of 1.188.