O's game blog: Dylan Bundy looks for fourth win in series finale

They have not lost a series all year and the Orioles will try to keep that stat intact tonight at Camden Yards. But they'll need to win in the third and deciding game of their series with the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Orioles are 5-0-1 in their six series on the season. The only series they did not win was a two-game split against Boston at Camden Yards on April 11-12.

The Orioles hit three homers Monday in a 6-3 comeback victory in the series opener. Then they were held to two hits by the Rays in last night's 2-0 loss. They begin the night at 13-6 and leading the American League East by 1 1/2 games over the Yankees, by two games over the Red Sox and by 3 1/2 over the Rays (11-11).

Right-hander Dylan Bundy (3-1, 1.37 ERA) tonight makes his fifth start. Over 26 1/3 innings, he has allowed 22 hits and four runs with four walks and 20 strikeouts. He has recorded four quality starts and the Orioles are 3-1 in his starts.

Bundy ranks fourth in the American League in ERA behind only Minnesota's Ervin Santana (0.77), Boston's Chris Sale (0.91) and Houston's Dallas Keuchel (1.22). Over his last two starts, Bundy has thrown 13 scoreless innings, allowing 11 hits with two walks and nine strikeouts.

Right-hander Alex Cobb (1-2, 4.88 ERA) is making his fifth start. He gave up one run over 5 2/3 innings in his first start against the Yankees, but has pitched to an ERA of 5.89 the past three games. He does not have a quality start and the Rays are 1-3 in his four outings. Over 24 innings, he has allowed 30 hits, including five homers, with four walks, 18 strikeouts and a 1.417 WHIP.

Cobb has not faced the Orioles since Sept. 5, 2014. But in eight career starts against Baltimore he is 4-1 with a 1.84 ERA. That is the best ERA against the Orioles of any active pitcher with five or more starts against the club. In four starts at Oriole Park, he is 2-0 with a 3.66 ERA.

Tuesday marked the first game at Camden Yards this season without a home run by either team. The Orioles are 0-1 in such games. According to STATS, LLC., it was the 245th homerless game at Oriole Park since opening in 1992. Last season, there were eight games at Camden Yards in which neither team hit a homer and the Orioles went 6-2 in homerless games at home last season.

Orioles relievers own a 2.73 ERA to rank fifth in the majors. Over the last seven games, the bullpen has allowed one run in 19 2/3 innings and stranded all 10 inherited runners. On this current homestand, O's relievers are 1-0 with a 0.55 ERA and three saves, allowing one earned run over 16 1/3.

Best bullpen ERAs in MLB:
1.39 - New York Yankees
2.05 - Chicago White Sox
2.21 - Boston Red Sox
2.66 - Houston Astros
2.73 - Baltimore Orioles

Last night was just the Orioles' second loss this year in a game decided by two runs or less. They are 5-1 in one-run games and 5-1 in two-run games.