O's game blog: Dylan Bundy re-enters rotation, faces Twins tonight

Right-hander Dylan Bundy (6-7, 3.75 ERA) returns to the Orioles rotation tonight as the Birds play the second game of a four-game series at Minnesota. He's been on the disabled list since June 26, after he sprained his left ankle running the bases in Atlanta on June 23.

Bundy gave up two runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings in that start in Atlanta. Over his past six starts, he is 4-1 with a 2.55 ERA with two scoreless outings in that stretch. This run began May 24 when Bundy pitched a complete-game two-hitter with 14 strikeouts on the road against the White Sox in Chicago.

Bundy is 3-3 with a 3.25 ERA in seven road starts. He has 10 quality starts and the Orioles are 7-9 in his outings. Bundy faced Minnesota on opening day in Baltimore and threw seven scoreless innings on five hits over 88 pitches. In four career games, he is 0-2 with a 3.60 ERA and 1.150 WHIP against the Twins.

Right-hander Lance Lynn (5-7, 5.49 ERA) will make his 17th start for the Twins. He signed late, agreeing to a one-year free agent deal worth $12 million on March 12. And he started this season poorly, going 0-3 with an 8.37 ERA in five April starts. He started to pitch better for a stretch, but over his last two games - versus the White Sox and Cubs - has allowed 12 runs in 6 2/3 innings.

Lynn has a 7.83 road ERA but has been strong at home. He is 3-2 with a 2.70 ERA and .211 average against at Target Field. Lynn has struggled with control this season, averaging 5.6 walks/nine innings. Lefty batters hit .300 off him and right-handers bat .250. In three career games against Baltimore, he is 1-1 with a 7.30 ERA and 1.784 WHIP.

The Orioles (24-62) lost 5-2 to the Twins on Thursday night and have now lost 10 of 11 and 21 of 26 games. The O's are 6-21-1 in series play and 12-33 in 45 road games. The Orioles have lost 18 of their past 19 games versus American League teams.

Their season-long struggles on offense have continued on this road trip. They've scored five runs on 19 hits and have gone 1-for-18 with runners in scoring position in three games in Philadelphia and Minnesota.

Over their past seven games, the Orioles have scored two, one, two, eight, two, one and two runs. They have scored three runs or less in nine of their past 11 games. When they scored three or fewer this year, they are 7-47. When they have scored two runs or less, the Orioles are 3-35.

On a brighter note, right-hander Andrew Cashner gave the rotation its fourth quality start in the last five games last night. It could have been five-for-five, but Yefry Ramirez was taken out after five frames in Philly. In the last five games, the rotation ERA is 2.56. The starting five has nine quality starts the last 14 games with an ERA of 3.98 in that span.

Jonathan Schoop hit a pair of solo homers last night - his ninth and 10th of 2018. Schoop had been 5-for-35 his previous 10 games. His two homers Friday matched his homer total of his previous 20 games. It was his second multi-homer game of this season and eighth of his career.

Congrats to Double-A Bowie third baseman Ryan Mountcastle and Single-A Frederick pitcher Alex Wells. They have been selected to play in the July 15 All-Star Futures Game at Nationals Park. Mountcastle will play for Team USA. A native of Austrailia, Wells will pitch for the World Team.

Happy 26th birthday today to the Orioles' Manny Machado.