O's game blog: O's try to snap six-game losing streak

The Orioles reached the midpoint of the 2018 season after last night's 7-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels. The Orioles are 23-58 and that projects to a final record of 46-116. Today they host the Angels in game two of this three-game series.

The Orioles are now 0-14 versus American League West opponents and they've lost six in a row. This year they have had losing streaks of five, six, five, seven, seven, nine and now six games. If you add that up that is an amazing 0-45 in those streaks.

In Friday's loss, starter David Hess allowed six runs over 5 2/3 innings. Hess has an ERA of 10.70 his past four starts allowing five, five, five and six runs. He is 2-5 with a 5.94 ERA on the season.

Two O's rookies made their major league debuts out of the bullpen last night. Ryan Meisinger allowed one run over 1 2/3 and Paul Fry pitched a scoreless 1 2/3 innings. According to STATS LLC., it was the fifth time in Orioles history that two O's pitchers made their MLB debut in the same game. It was the second time this season as Pedro Araujo and Nestor Cortes Jr. did so March 31 against Minnesota.

On the mound today, right-hander Andrew Cashner (2-8, 4.70 ERA) makes his 16th start of the 2018 season. Cashner has recorded four quality starts his past four games with an ERA of 3.68 in that span.

Cashner has thrown six innings or more eight times, has seven quality starts and the Orioles are 4-11 in his outings.

Lefty Tyler Skaggs (6-5, 2.69 ERA) will make his 16th start for the Angels. In four June starts, he is 3-1 with an ERA of 0.67. Over 27 innings he has allowed just two earned runs with no homers allowed, seven walks and 30 strikeouts.

Skaggs made just one career start against the Orioles and he threw 4 2/3 scoreless at Oriole Park on July 31, 2014. But he felt forearm tightness in that game and it led to Tommy John surgery. That led to him missing most of two seasons.

In nine road starts, he is 5-2 with a 2.14 ERA and .239 batting average against. Skaggs has allowed just three road home runs over 54 2/3 innings.

Los Angeles (42-41) is 4-0 against the Orioles this year and 8-2 since 2017. The Angels are 11-19 on the road after starting the year 11-1 in road contests. The Angels are 29-38 since they began the season with a record of 13-3.