O's game blog: Orioles face Cueto in attempt to break six-game losing streak

If the Orioles are going to win tonight at Kansas City, they have to win a game in which the Royals are starting 29-year-old right-hander Johnny Cueto, who is 9-8 with a 2.70 ERA this year between Cincinnati and Kansas City.

He was acquired by the Royals on July 26 from the Reds in exchange for left-handed pitchers Brandon Finnegan, John Lamb and Cody Reed.

Cueto, who has never faced the Orioles, has been one of the game's best pitchers the last two seasons. He is 29-17 with a 2.43 ERA since the start of 2014. He ranks second among MLB pitchers in opponents' average (.201) and WHIP (0.97) over the last two seasons, trailing only Dodgers' ace Clayton Kershaw. Cueto finished as runner-up to Kershaw in last season's National League Cy Young Award voting.

Cueto tossed his sixth career shutout Aug. 10, blanking Detroit on four hits. It was his second shutout of the year as he also held Washington scoreless in 5-0 complete game at Nationals Park on July 7. Cueto joined Cliff Lee as the only pitcher in the last six years to record shutouts in both leagues as Lee did it for Cleveland and Philadelphia in 2009.

After the trade, Cueto pitched to an ERA of 1.80 in his first four starts for the Royals, but then he gave up 13 hits and seven runs (six earned) in six innings last Friday against Boston.

Left-hander Wei-Yin Chen (7-6, 3.13 ERA) has been solid for the Orioles this year. He has allowed three earned runs or less in 15 of his past 16 starts. Over his last three starts, he is 2-0 with an ERA of 1.86. Chen is 3-0 over six starts since July 26.

Chen has held opponents to a .138 batting average (16-for-116) with runners in scoring position this season, which leads all qualifying starting pitchers in the major leagues. Opponents have a slugging percentage of just .207 against Chen with RISP this year.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado currently has 99 career doubles. At 23 years, 51 days old, Machado would be the youngest Oriole ever to record 100 career doubles. According to STATS, LLC., Cal Ripken Jr. (23 years, 332 days old) is currently the youngest Oriole to do so. Machado would also reach the milestone in the fewest games played (414 games). Nick Markakis holds the Orioles record by doing so in 419 games.

At 62-63, the Orioles are looking to break a season-high six-game losing streak tonight. The Orioles have scored three runs or less in each of the six games, scoring 15 total runs. They've been outscored 37-15 during this stretch.

K.C. is going in a very different direction. The Royals are 77-48 and have won four in a row, and 14 of 18 games. Kansas City is outstanding at home, going 44-20 on the year. Over their last 26 games at Kauffman Stadium, they are 21-5.

Best two records in the AL since 2013:
.561 - Kansas City at 252-197
.541 - Orioles at 243-206