O's game blog: Orioles need a win to avoid a sweep

The Rays have not swept three from the Orioles in Baltimore since May 17-19, 2013. After their comeback win Friday and blowout win Saturday, the Rays can sweep the Orioles today.

Even if the Orioles get the victory, they are going to hit the season's 81-game midpoint today with a losing record. They are 39-41 heading into this series finale and Tampa Bay is 43-40. The Orioles were a strike away from a win Friday that would have moved them into third place ahead of the Rays, but now they trail Tampa Bay by 2 1/2 games and have fallen 6 1/2 games out of first place.

The Orioles have lost four in a row at home to fall to 24-16 at Oriole Park. They are 14-11-3 in 28 series and 25-20 in games versus American League East opponents. The Orioles are 9-3 against Toronto, 7-6 versus Boston, 4-4 against Tampa Bay and 5-7 versus New York.

O's second baseman Jonathan Schoop hit his 16th home run on Saturday, a two-run homer in the fifth inning. It was his 39th extra-base hit (16 home runs and 23 doubles). Schoop ranks second in the majors and first in the AL in extra-base hits by a second baseman. Schoop is batting .357 (10-for-28) with three home runs and nine RBIs in eight games against Tampa Bay in 2017. He recorded his 26th multi-hit game of the season, which is second-most on the team behind Mark Trumbo with 29.

Tampa Bay's first sacker Logan Morrison hit his 23rd and 24th home runs, a two-run homer in the first and solo homer in the third. His 24 homers set a new career high. He hit 23 for the 2011 Marlins. This was his second multi-home run game of the year and the sixth of his career. His home run in the third inning landed on Eutaw Street. It was the 91st Eutaw Street homer in OPACY history and the 51st by an opponent.

On the mound this afternoon, Orioles right-hander Kevin Gausman (4-7, 6.07 ERA) faces Rays right-hander Alex Cobb (6-5, 3.73 ERA).

Gausman did not allow a run over 5 1/3 in his last start on Tuesday at Toronto's Rogers Centre. In nine home starts he is 2-3 with a 5.05 ERA. After leading the club with 18 quality starts last season, he has just four in 17 starts this year. The Orioles are 8-9 in his games. He has not faced Tampa Bay yet this season. But in 11 career games (nine starts) against them, he is 3-4 with a 4.80 ERA and 1.500 WHIP.

Cobb gave up nine runs and 14 hits in five innings in a June 3 start versus Seattle. But in four starts since that game, he is 2-0 with a 1.63 ERA. Over 27 2/3 innings, he has walked six and fanned 18. He pitched eight scoreless on two hits in his last game on Tuesday against Pittsburgh when he took a no-hitter into the seventh inning.

He has made one start against Baltimore this year, getting a no-decision on April 26. Over five innings, he allowed eight hits and three runs (two earned). In nine career starts against the Orioles, Cobb is 4-1 with a 2.00 ERA. That is his lowest ERA against any opponent which he has made at least five career starts against.