O's game blog: Dylan Bundy faces Yu Darvish in Texas series opener

As the Orioles begin a one-series homestand tonight, in advance of a challenging 10-game road trip, they host Texas in a matchup of American League division leaders. The Orioles (59-45) lead the AL East and the Rangers (62-44) top the AL West.

The Rangers have the best record in the AL and have won four in a row and seven of nine games. Before this nine-game stretch, the Rangers lost 15 of 19 games. But they come to Baltimore after sweeping four at home against Kansas City by a combined 18-9 score.

The Orioles are 1-3 on the season against Texas and have lost seven of eight and nine of their last 10 games versus the Rangers. Texas has its third-best record after 106 games. But since the Rangers were a season-best 24 games over .500 (at 51-27) on June 28, they are 11-17.

Orioles right-hander Dylan Bundy (3-3, 3.46 ERA) makes his 26th appearance and fourth start. As a starter only, he is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA with four walks and 17 strikeouts over 14 innings.

In his last start at home last Wednesday versus Colorado, Bundy pitched five perfect innings and retired the first 16 batters he faced. But in the sixth, he allowed homers to Nick Hundley and David Dahl on changeups as the Rockies beat the Orioles 3-1.

Over his last nine games since June 9, Bundy has pitched to an ERA of 2.22. Over 28 1/3 innings, he has permitted 23 hits with eight walks and 36 strikeouts.

Right-hander Yu Darvish (2-2, 3.09 ERA) is making his seventh start. In late May, he returned from recovering from having Tommy John surgery in March 2015. But he was back on the disabled list from June 13-July 16 with right shoulder discomfort.

He has allowed two earned runs or fewer in five of his six starts, giving up four earned runs over 12 innings his past two starts with one walk and 17 strikeouts. The Rangers are 2-4 in his six starts.

Darvish has never faced the Orioles in the regular season but took the loss against Baltimore in the 2012 American League wild card game, when he gave up three runs and five hits over 6 2/3 innings. A three-time All-Star, Darvish finished ninth in the AL Cy Young Award voting in 2012 and second in 2013.

Texas has 21 series wins this season to tie the Chicago Cubs for the major league lead. Both teams have one more than the Orioles, who are 20-11-3 in 34 series on the season.

Farm notes: The Orioles have moved 19-year-old right-hander Jhon Peluffo from the Gulf Coast League Orioles to Single-A Delmarva. From Cartagena, Colombia, Peluffo went 3-0 with an ERA of 1.61 in the GCL. In 28 innings, he walked five with 31 strikeouts. He is expected to start for the Shorebirds on Tuesday.

Short-season Single-A Aberdeen won 2-0 at Brooklyn today as four pitchers teamed on a one-hitter. O's 2016 second-round pick Matthias Dietz went the first three innings and lowered his ERA to 1.80. This was his second pro outing, and he's allwowed two hits and one run over five innigs. Daniel Ayers then went three innings, Andrew Elliott two and Jake Bray pitched the ninth for his first save. Aberdeen first baseman Preston Palmeiro went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI and is now batting .353.

The Single-A Frederick Keys today placed catchers Wynston Sawyer (hamstring), Pedro Perez (hamstring) and pitcher Austin Urban (left ankle) on the seven-day disabled lists. They added catcher Austin Wynns (from Triple-A Norfolk), infielder Anthony Caronia (from Double-A Bowie) and right-hander Franderlin Romero (from Delmarva).

Norfolk right-hander Jason Stoffel earned his ninth save with the Tides and 21st of the season Monday night. He now owns a 0.98 ERA over 17 appearances, including 15 scoreless outings, for the Tides this season.

Frederick outfielder Cam Kneeland is now batting .349/.421/.614 (29-for-83) with 13 extra-base hits and 21 RBIs over his last 22 games after going 3-for-4 with a double and one RBI yesterday.