O's game blog: Orioles need a win to avoid a three-game sweep at Chicago

The Orioles have not been swept in a three-game series on the road by the Chicago White Sox since May 13-15, 2003. From 2011-14, the Orioles went 10-4 at U.S. Cellular Field.

But they lost there this weekend by scores of 1-0 and 3-2, coming up with just nine hits. They went 26 consecutive innings without scoring until Manny Machado's two-run homer in eighth inning yesterday. They have scored in just one of their last 28 innings.

They were four outs away from a third straight shutout when Machado homered. It was his 17th of this year and the 50th of his career. Over those past three games the Orioles are batting .135 (12-for-89). Over the last four games, they have scored six runs and are 0-for-16 with runners in scoring position. Despite that stat, they still lead the majors in RISP batting average for the season at .308. Colorado is second at .302.

On the mound today, Miguel Gonzalez (6-5, 4.04 ERA) faces 22-year-old left-hander Carlos Rodon (3-1, 4.07 ERA) of the White Sox.

Gonzalez is 1-1 with a 9.65 ERA (10 earned runs in 9 1/3 innings) in two starts since coming off the disabled list with a right groin strain. He has five quality starts and the Orioles are 8-6 in his 14 starts. Since the 2014 All-Star break, Gonzalez is 12-9 with an ERA of 3.19.

Rodon was the third overall pick in the 2014 draft out of N.C. State and he got a signing bonus of $6.582 million. He has a fastball that has touched 98 mph and a slider that some scouts have given a 70 grade on the 20-80 scale.

He recently had a four-start stretch where he pitched to an ERA of 1.11. But that has been followed by a stretch of three starts with an ERA of 7.98. As the White Sox try to limit his innings, Rodon has not pitched since June 25 and today is working on nine days' rest.

White Sox pitchers have an 0.95 ERA have fanned 43 with only seven walks a during their four-game winning streak. Over their last 10 home games, Sox starters have pitched to an ERA of 1.53.

The White Sox envision a day when Rodon and Chris Sale provide them a dominant one-two punch atop their rotation. The Orioles hope that can wait at least one more day.