O's game blog: Going for a sweep to end a nine-game homestand

With victories by 9-0 and 9-3 in this series, the Orioles can record a three-game sweep of the Chicago White Sox with a win this afternoon at Camden Yards.

The Orioles (83-49), who matched last year's win total with last night's win, lead the American League East by 2 1/2 games over Tampa Bay.

Baltimore has won all three series on this homestand and would finish 7-2 with a win today. They are seeking their ninth series sweep and their eighth in a three-game series. 

This season, the Orioles have three-game series sweeps versus Detroit, at Toronto, versus Kansas City, at Minnesota, at home against Miami, versus the New York Mets and at Oakland. A sweep today would give the Orioles their third sweep in the last eight series.

The Orioles are now 27-13-3 in series play for the year and 14-7-1 in home series.

Baltimore has won six of seven, nine of 11, 20 of 28 and 34 of its past 48 games.

The Orioles need to go 17-13 the rest of the way to record 100 wins for the first time since the 1980 season.

In two games this series the Orioles have scored 18 runs on 25 hits, producing 21 singles, three doubles and one home run. They are 9-for-23 with runners in scoring position.

Anthony Santander cleared the bases on a go-ahead, three-run double in the seventh inning last night; his 18th go-ahead RBI this season to pace the team. That marked his 12th career go-ahead plate appearance in the seventh inning or later, and his first since a walk-off home run on July 28 versus the Yankees. Santander is 4-for-9 with seven RBIs this series. He has recorded at least three RBIs in consecutive games for the third time in his career and for the first time since Sept. 26-27, 2022. He has driven in 11 runs in his last seven games since Aug. 23, his most in a seven-game span since Aug. 8-15, 2020, when he also had 11.

First baseman Ryan Mountcastle has reached safely in 36 of 37 starts since returning from the injured list on July 9. He has recorded a hit in 23 of his 26 games played in August, batting .371/.451/.557 (36-for-97) with three doubles, five home runs, 17 runs scored, 19 RBIs, 14 walks and one stolen base.

Second baseman Adam Frazier tallied his 52nd RBI of the season in the fifth inning on a run-scoring single; he is now one RBI shy of tying his career high (53 in 2017, with Pittsburgh).

Chicago (52-81) has lost six of nine, 12 of 17 and 24 of its past 35 games. The White Sox are now 24-44 on the road, 8-19 against AL East teams and 14-27 in the second half.

Right-hander Kyle Gibson (13-7, 4.89 ERA) makes his 28th start today and the Orioles are 16-11 in the first 27. In his last outing he went eight innings and gave up three runs against Toronto. That was the longest outing by an O's starter this year. 

Baltimore starting pitchers have allowed three earned runs or fewer in nine of their past 10 games and posted a rotation ERA of 2.52 in that span.