O's game blog: Gabriel Ynoa makes his fourth start for the O's

By Steve Melewski

Orioles

September 27, 2017, 2:43pm

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The Orioles have four games to play to wrap up the 2017 season. After a 10-1 loss at Pittsburgh last night, the Orioles play at PNC Park tonight to conclude a brief two-game series.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen hit his first career grand slam Tuesday night and collected a career-high eight RBIs while going 4-for-4 with four runs scored. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, McCutchen became the third Pirates player since 1920 (when RBIs were first officially recorded) to record at least four hits, four runs, and eight RBIs in a single game. The first two were Johnny Rizzo on May 30, 1939 (5-for-6, four runs, nine RBIs) and Ralph Kiner on June 25, 1950 (5-for-6, four runs, eight RBIs).

The Orioles (75-83) are 29-48 on the road. They have averaged 4.4 runs per game this year away from Oriole Park with a .255 team average. The team ERA is 5.33 and the club's starting pitchers have a combined 6.04 ERA in road games.

Right-hander Gabriel Ynoa (2-2, 3.41 ERA) will make his ninth appearance and fourth in a row as a starter. Last Thursday he went a career-high eight innings, allowing five hits and one run in a 3-1 win over Tampa Bay. He had not gone longer than 4 2/3 in his first five career MLB starts. Ynoa is 1-2 with a 3.18 ERA in three starts with the Orioles. Over 17 innings he has allowed four walks and 10 strikeouts.

Ynoa has the exact same record and ERA over six career big league starts - the first three came with the Mets. The Orioles acquired the 24-year-old Ynoa for cash considerations on Feb. 10 from the Mets.

Right-hander Chad Kuhl (7-11, 4.31 ERA) will make his 31st start for the Pirates. In three September starts he is 1-1 with a 2.55 ERA. In his last seven home starts he is 4-1 with a 1.99 ERA. In 15 home starts on the season, Kuhl is 5-5 with a 4.40 ERA.

The Pirates (72-85) have won four of their last five after a stretch where they lost 12 of 13 games. They are playing their final home game of the year tonight and are 43-37 at PNC Park. They are 7-2 in home games versus AL teams.