O's game blog: Looking for a series split in the homestand finale

On this homestand against Washington and Boston that ends today, the Orioles won Wednesday and Thursday, allowing one run each game. But they have lost the other three games, allowing nine, 12 and five runs.

From April 24, 2023 to June 20, 2024, the Orioles went 22 straight series against American League East teams without losing one. That was the longest streak by a team against its own division without a series loss since divisions were introduced in 1969, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

But if the O's lose today to Boston, they will have lost three of their past five AL East series. 

Through June 20 this year, they were 6-0-2 in eight AL East series, going 19-7 in 26 games. Since then they went 1-2 at home versus New York, 3-1 versus Toronto, 1-2 at Toronto and 2-1 at Tampa Bay. And now they are 1-2 this series against the Red Sox. So they are 8-8 their past 16 division games.

That adds up to a 27-15 (.643) record and a mark of 8-2-2 in 12 division series pending the result of today's game.

The Orioles are 2-3 this homestand with a staff ERA of 5.60 in these games. They've allowed 28 runs, 50 hits and six home runs. Opponents have hit .282 with a .789 OPS this homestand.

Lefty Cade Povich, however, made his ninth major league start last night, one of his best. He allowed two runs and six hits, throwing 89 pitches over 6 1/3 innings. He gave up no walks and struck out six. 

The Orioles are 6-3 against Boston this year and drop to 20-37 when the opponent scores first. They've allowed 17 runs their last two games and are 2-19 when recording five or fewer hits.

Boston (65-57) is 4-2 its past six games and 10-8 over 18. The Red Sox are 12-15 since the All-Star break and 36-28 (.563) since June 1.

The Red Sox are 16-14 in division games. In addition to their losing record versus the Orioles in the season series, Boston is 5-4 against the Yankees, 4-3 versus the Rays and 4-1 against the Blue Jays.

The Orioles were 12-13 in July and are 7-8 so far in August.

Right-hander Albert Suárez (5-4, 3.39 ERA) today will make his 25th appearance and 17th start. The Orioles are 8-8 in his previous starts and Suárez has not allowed a run over his past two. Against Toronto Aug. 6 and Tampa Bay Aug. 11 he has thrown scoreless ball on six hits over 11 2/3 innings.

Suárez has thrown seven scoreless starts this season. 

In 10 home games (seven starts) at Oriole Park, he is 2-1 with a 2.72 ERA, allowing just one homer in 39 2/3 innings.

Suárez has not faced Boston this season. But in five games, all starts versus AL East teams, he is 0-1 with a 2.13 ERA and no homers allowed in 25 1/3 innings. In that time, AL East batters have hit .226 off him with a .609 OPS.

Right-hander Kutter Crawford (8-9, 4.21 ERA) starts for Boston, making his 25th start and third against the Orioles. He is 0-1 with a 4.09 on the season against Baltimore.

Crawford has had a wild ride in recent starts. In his first three starts of July, he allowed one run for an ERA of 0.45. But then suddenly, he started pitching poorly. In his past five starts, he has given up five runs or more four times and had a 9.75 ERA. He has allowed a whopping 13 homers in 24 innings in that span for a homer-per-night rate of 4.87 in this stretch.