O's game blog: O's begin tough stretch versus Astros and Dodgers

Now an O's team that has fallen to second-place, one that lost twice via walk-off results at Citi Field, one that has lost four of six and six of 10 and that is 29-32 since June 13, goes into a demanding stretch of games.

The Orioles host first-place Houston for four at Camden Yards beginning tonight. Then the Birds fly across the country and play three in Los Angeles against the first-place Dodgers starting Tuesday night.

It's a tough seven-game run for an O's team that is 16-16 since the All-Star break and got swept three in a row at Houston in late June. The Orioles scored 11 runs in that series opener but lost 14-11 at Minute Maid Park. Then they lost 5-1 and 8-1 decisions, outscored in that series, 27-13 by the American League West leader.

With a win by the Yankees 6-0 over the Guardians today, the Orioles (74-54) are one game back in the AL East heading into tonight's game.

While O's starting pitchers have allowed two earned runs or less six times the past eight games, the Baltimore bullpen has been scored on six straight games with an ERA of 6.43 in that span. The O's pen has allowed eight homers the the last six games over 21 innings.

The O's offense has scored 20 runs the last five games, but nine came in one game and Baltimore batters are 2-for-21 with runners in scoring position in this span.

O's batters have homered in 16 straight games since Aug. 4, their second such home run streak this season after setting the franchise record with a homer in 22 consecutive games from June 1-23. The current run is tied for the third-longest home run streak in the majors this year with the Mets (16, 6/15-7/3), behind their own (22, 6/1-23) and the Twins (28, 6/10-7/10[2])

This is only the second time in franchise history that the team has had multiple home run streaks of at least 15 games in one season, joining 1998 when the club had runs of 19 games (4/27-5/17) and 20 games (7/17-8/9).

O's pitchers have allowed a homer in seven consecutive games, giving up 13 in this stretch.

Since Aug. 1, the O's are 1-2-3, winning just one of six series and going 9-10 in those games.

Right-hander Corbin Burnes (12-5, 3.10 ERA) gets the start tonight. He entered this month with an ERA of 2.47 but has allowed 15 earned runs in 15 innings for an ERA of 9.00 and OPS against of .897 in August. 

Burnes has 19 quality starts for the year and has thrown seven innings or more seven times with the O's going 6-1 those games.

He faced Houston June 22 and allowed four runs in seven innings. In three career games he is 0-2 with a 6.23 ERA against Houston, which has his six homers the last two games versus Burnes. 

Righty Spencer Arrighetti (5-11, 5.20 ERA) will make his 23rd start for the Astros. He has not faced the Orioles this year and the team is 8-14 in his 2024 games. In 11 road starts, he is 2-2 with a 6.09 ERA.

Houston (68-58) leads its division by four games over Seattle. Houston lost the last two games of its recent series with Boston, but went 11-1 over a 12-game stretch before that. Houston is 18-12 since the All-Star game.

Houston is 8-3 its last 11 against the Orioles. At Camden Yards, the Astros have won four of five and are 17-7 since 2016. They have not lost a series in Baltimore since 2015, going 5-0-2 in the seven series played at Oriole Park in that span.

Minors moves: On the O's farm today, right-hander Levi Stoudt was moved from Double-A Bowie to Triple-A Norfolk. Righty Carlos Tavera made that same move to join the Tides. Bowie infielder Tavian Josenberger was placed on the seven-day injured list and infielder Noelberth Romero was transferred from High-A Aberdeen to Bowie.

O's top 2024 draft pick, outfielder Vance Honeycutt, officially joined Low-A Delmarva today. He is wearing No. 7 for the Shorebirds and tonight batting third as DH in a lineup that features five 2024 draft picks. Also, catcher Cole Urman was moved from Delmarva to Aberdeen.