O's game blog: Matt Harvey tries to turn it around in Cleveland

It's back on the field tonight for the Orioles for the second game of a four-game series at Cleveland. The Orioles are winless on this road trip, have lost five in a row overall and 16 straight road games since winning at Seattle on May 6 when John Means pitched a no-hitter.

The Orioles (22-43) lost 4-3 on Monday night and they are now 1-10 in their past 11 games decided by one or two runs. They are 4-11 in one-run games after that series-opening loss. The Birds are 4-10 versus the American League Central, 2-2 against Cleveland and 11-22 in road games for the year.

On the mound tonight, right-hander Matt Harvey will try to turn around a six-start slide that has seen his record drop to 3-7 and ERA rise to 7.41. Over his past 19 2/3 innings, Harvey has allowed 39 hits and 31 earned runs, including seven home runs. He gave up seven runs and eight hits in three innings Wednesday against the New York Mets over 61 pitches. In two starts versus his former team, he has allowed 16 hits and 14 runs over 7 1/3 innings.

Over his first seven starts, Harvey posted an ERA of 3.60 and allowed a batting line of .250/.307/.386/.693. In his past six starts, his ERA is 14.19 allowing a batting line of .406/.448/.740./1.187.

Harvey ranks in the bottom 9 percent in the majors in whiff rate, the bottom 7 percent in expected batting average and bottom 10 percent in expected slugging. He allows an average exit velocity of 89.8 mph, in the bottom 33rd percent of the majors.

For the year, he has thrown 54 2/3 innings, allowing 74 hits and 10 homers, with 18 walks and 47 strikeouts. His WHIP is 1.683 with a 3.0 walk rate and 7.7 strikeout rate. The Orioles are 5-8 in his starts, going 4-2 in his first six, but just 1-6 over his past seven games.

Right-hander Cal Quantrill (0-2, 3.21) will be making his 21st outing and third start for Cleveland, and his second versus the Orioles. He was the losing pitcher on June 6 when the Orioles won 18-5 at Oriole Park. In 1 1/3 innings, he gave up five hits and seven runs (five earned) and allowed a leadoff homer to Cedric Mullins. The O's bashed him for six runs in the second inning, which included a two-run double by Anthony Santander.

Quantrill was drafted in round one of the 2016 draft, No. 8 overall by San Diego, out of Stanford. He signed for a $3.96 million bonus.

He is the son of former major league pitcher Paul Quantrill, who pitched 14 seasons in the majors from 1992-2005 for seven different teams.

Cleveland, which scored three runs in the first inning on its way to winning last night, is 35-28 and in second place in the AL Central, 4 1/2 games behind the Chicago White Sox, who lost last night to Tampa Bay in a matchup of division leaders. The Indians have won three of four and five of their past nine. They are 23-15 over the last 38 games and 27-14 over their last 44 since April 25.

Entering play today, Orioles minor league affiliates have combined for an 81-54 record (.600 winning percentage) and a plus-161 run differential. The O's three lower levels, Double-A Bowie, high Single-A Aberdeen and low Single-A Delmarva, are a combined 68-34 (.667) with a plus-193 run differential and each team is in first place or tied for first place in their respective divisions.

The Orioles, along with Major League Baseball and the Maryland Department of Health, have announced a partnership to host on-site vaccination opportunities at Oriole Park at Camden Yards during the homestand beginning Friday, June 18, through Wednesday, June 23, when the Orioles host the Toronto Blue Jays and Houston Astros. All fans aged 18 and over who choose to receive the vaccine at Oriole Park will receive a voucher for two complimentary lower level tickets, redeemable for any game through July 11.