O's game blog: Kyle Bradish faces Cubs in series opener

The Orioles' homestand continues tonight as the club welcomes the Chicago Cubs to Baltimore to start a two-game series. The Orioles (23-33) are 2-4 on this homestand with series losses to Seattle and the Cleveland Guardians. Each time they lost the third and deciding game. They are now 6-4 in rubber match games.

Three of the last four O's games were decided by a run, and they went 1-2 in those games. They are 7-10 in one-run games for the season.

The Orioles scored just 11 runs and had only 13 hits in 91 at-bats (batting .143) in three games versus Cleveland pitching. They hit two doubles and four homers and went 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position in that series.

Tonight is the first game between these clubs since the defending 2016 World Series champion Cubs team visited Charm City in 2017. The Cubs swept Baltimore in three games from July 14-16. The Orioles travel to Wrigley Field for another two-game set from July 12-13. Tonight's game marks only the 13th match-up between the two teams - who first met in 2003 - with the Cubs holding the advantage with a 9-3 record.

There are several in the Baltimore organization with ties to the Cubs.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde spent seven seasons in the Cubs organization, most recently serving as bench coach in 2018, his second season in that role. He spent three years as Cubs’ first base coach from 2015-17, and also served as Chicago’s director of player development from August 2012 through 2013, after joining the Cubs in December 2011 as minor league field coordinator. The Cubs qualified for the postseason four times during his tenure, including winning the franchise’s first World Series title in 108 years in 2016.

Orioles coach Tim Cossins served as the minor league field/catching coordinator with the Cubs from 2013-18.  O's coach José Hernández played in 672 games for the Cubs across two stints with the team (1994-99, 2003). Catcher Robinson Chirinos appeared in 45 games for Chicago last season after beginning the year in the New York Yankees organization.

Cubs players with ties to the Orioles include pitchers Mychal Givens and Wade Miley and Jonathan Villar. Third base coach Willie Harris was selected by the Orioles in the 24th round of the 1999 draft and spent the 2001 season in Baltimore.

The Cubs (23-32) have lost three of four but are 8-8 over a longer stretch. They just went 2-3 in a long series versus St. Louis. The Cubs are just 11-20 at home but are a .500 team at 12-12 on the road.

Right-hander Kyle Bradish (1-3, 6.82 ERA) will make his eighth start for the Orioles in the series opener. On Wednesday versus Seattle he got a no decision after allowing six hits and two runs over 4 2/3 innings with two walks and six strikeouts on 80 pitches. Bradish has allowed four earned runs or more in four of his seven starts to begin his career.

For the season, he has thrown 33 innings, allowing 40 hits and eight home runs with 11 walks and 35 strikeouts. He has a 3.0 walk rate and 9.5 strikeout rate. The Orioles are 4-3 in his games, winning his past two starts.

Lefty batters hit .233 with a .610 OPS off Bradish, but right-handed hitters fare much better, batting .382/1.176. In five home starts he is 0-3 with an ERA of 6.29, allowing 17 earned runs over 24 1/3 innings.

Right-hander Keegan Thompson (6-0, 1.99 ERA) will start for the Cubs, making his 13th appearance for them and fifth start. For the year, over 45 1/3 innings he has yielded 35 hits and just three home runs, with 14 walks to 38 strikeouts. He has recorded a WHIP of 1.081, allowing 6.9 hits per nine with 2.8 walks and 7.5 strikeouts.

The Cubs are 4-0 in his starts and he is 3-0 with a 2.79 ERA in those games. He has recorded a WHIP of 1.293 as a starter and has a 1.38 ERA in eight bullpen games.

The 27-year-old Thompson was the Cubs' third-round draft pick in 2017 out of Auburn University.