O's game blog: Jordan Lyles faces Boston in series opener

The Orioles begin an important three-game weekend series with the Boston Red Sox tonight at Oriole Park. The Birds (61-57) lost 3-2 on Thursday to the Chicago Cubs and they begin play tonight 2.5 games behind Toronto and Tampa Bay for the third American League wild card spot.

The Orioles have lost the past two games, scoring just three runs, and they have scored just 10 runs in their past six losses. But they have scored 41 runs in the last six wins as their offense has been hot and cold lately.

The Orioles were held to six hits yesterday and didn't score until the eighth inning, when they got a Ryan Mountcastle RBI single and a sac fly from Anthony Santander.

After this series the O's end a stretch when they will have played 12 of the last 13 games versus AL East opponents. They are 5-4 in this span heading into the Boston series. 

The Orioles are 25-28 for the year against division opponents and are 15-10 at home versus AL East foes. The Orioles are 8-8-1 in series against the division after going just 3-19-2 last year.

The Orioles are 6-4 their last 10 AL East games, 13-10 in their past 23 and 17-14 since late May. They are 5-4 this year against Boston and 2-1 at Oriole Park against the Red Sox.

Boston (59-60) lost 8-2 to Pittsburgh yesterday but has won five of its last seven overall. The Red Sox are 11-15 in the second half, 30-30 in road games and 15-30 in AL East games.

Prior to allowing eight runs last night, the Sox had surrendered three runs or fewer in each of their previous six games, matching a season-best streak. Red Sox pitchers have a 3.14 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and .196 opponent average in the last seven games, beginning Aug. 11 versus the Orioles (63.0 IP, 45 H, 22 ER, 17 BB, 60 SO). Prior to last night, Red Sox starting pitchers allowed three runs or fewer over 5.0+ innings in seven consecutive games.

Right-hander Jordan Lyles (9-9, 4.48 ERA) makes his 25th start for the Orioles. In 10 home starts, Lyles is 4-2 with a 2.73 ERA and has allowed three homers in 59 1/3 innings. He has a 2.86 ERA over his past four starts.

Boston's starter is right-hander Kutter Crawford (3-4, 4.18 ERA) who is making his 19th appearance and 10th as a starter. In his nine starts only, he is 1-3 with a 3.70 ERA. On the season, lefties have an .857 OPS against him and right-handed batters are at .566.

The Orioles have gone 10-6 in their first 16 games in August. Their .625 winning percentage this month is tied for second in the AL and tied for seventh in the majors. The O's have outscored their opponents 72-60 (+12) in August while posting a .735 OPS, which ranks second in the AL and eighth in the majors this month.

Baltimore catcher Adley Rutschman has drawn 40 walks and recorded 31 extra-base hits in his first 70 career games, becoming the first O's player, first catcher, and 11th player since 1900 to do so, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. He is the 16th player since 2000 with at least 40 walks in his first 70 career games and first since Houston's Yordan Álvarez had 41 to begin his career in 2019. He is the third player in Orioles history with 40 walks in his first 70 career games, trailing Curt Blefary (41, 1965) and Glenn Gulliver (45, 1982-83).

Baltimore shortstop Jorge Mateo is batting .283/.338/.512 (36-for-127) with eight doubles, three triples, five home runs, 24 runs scored, 18 RBIs, nine walks and eight stolen bases in his last 40 games since July 1. Mateo leads the AL and is second in the big leagues with 27 stolen bases.