O's game blog: John Means faces Yankees in series finale

In the first two games of this series, the New York Yankees have 23 hits, including 11 homers and have beaten the Orioles 9-6 and 9-4. They go for a three-game series sweep tonight at Camden Yards.

Since the Orioles took two of three at Yankee Stadium in the first series of the season, New York has swept the O's in series of three, two and four games. They'll try to add to that tonight. The Orioles are 2-12 versus the Yankees and have lost 11 in a row in the season series.

They have lost 14 in a row against New York at Camden Yards since July 11, 2018. With a win tonight, New York would become the second team since 1955 to go 10-0 or better at a ballpark (Boston, 10-0 at Tropicana Field in 2002).

This is the third-longest road win streak over a team in American League history. The only two longer are Toronto's 15-game win streak at Boston from 1987-89 and Boston's 18-game streak at the New York Yankees from 1911-13.

New York has won seven straight and is 17-8 since the All-Star break. The Yankees are Major League-bests 33-12 since June 15, 51-23 since May 12 and 56-25 since May 5. They are a season-high 35 games over .500. The Yankees lead the AL East by nine games over Tampa Bay, one game shy of their largest division lead of the season of 10 games. They are 10-1-5 in their last 16 completed series and 23-3-6 in their last 32.

O's left-hander John Means (8-6, 3.12 ERA) came off the injured list today. He was on the IL with a left bicep strain and tonight will make his first start since July 24 when he gave up three runs over 3 1/3 innings at Arizona. He has an ERA of 6.46 in three second-half starts after going 7-4 with a 2.50 ERA in 18 games before the break.

Means first three outings of this season were against the Yankees and all were in relief. Over 5 2/3 innings he went 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA with two walks and nine strikeouts.

The 2019 AL All-Star has made 12 career appearances and seven starts against AL East teams. He is 5-2 with a 3.63 ERA. His 2.96 ERA against the division this year is the lowest in the majors and his 1.29 homers per nine innings ranks fourth-lowest (min. 45 innings).

Lefty James Paxton (6-6, 4.61 ERA) starts for New York. The team is 10-9 in his 19 starts. Paxton allowed two runs in six frames his last time out versus Boston. But in his past three starts he is 1-2 with an ERA of 8.78 and has allowed six homers in 13 1/3 innings.

He is 1-1 with a 4.09 ERA in two starts against the Orioles this season. Paxton has faced the O's just five times in his career, going 3-1 with a 3.86 ERA and is 2-0 with a 4.32 ERA in three career outings in Baltimore.

The Orioles (38-75) are 2-4 on this homestand, going 2-2 against Toronto and 0-2 versus the Yankees. They have been swept eight times this season and do not have a sweep of their own in 2019. Over the last 14 games they are 7-7 while also going 10-9 in the past 19 and 16-17 since June 28.

O's starting pitchers have gone 10 consecutive games without a quality start, with a rotation ERA of 7.27 in that time. Last night was the 16th time this year - and fourth in the past eight games - where the Orioles have allowed five or more homers in a game.

Williamsport, here they come: Earlier today it was announced the Orioles and Boston Red Sox will serve as participants in the fourth iteration of the "MLB Little League Classic" in Williamsport, Pa., on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020.

The game will air nationally on ESPN and ESPN Radio at 7 p.m. and count as a home date for the Orioles. Click here for more.