O's game blog: Orioles rotation ERA is 5.61 the last 20 games

Tonight the Orioles look for their first win this year against the Minnesota Twins. The Orioles were swept three straight by Minnesota on the road from July 6-8 and last night lost 15-2.

The Orioles allowed season-highs for runs and hits (18) allowed in that game. The previous highs were 13 runs and 16 hits against Toronto on April 21. The Orioles' team ERA increased from 3.72 to 3.82 after that loss last night. It was the most runs ever scored by the Twins at Camden Yards.

In going 0-4 against Minnesota on the season, the Orioles have been outscored 32-10 and they sport an ERA of 8.13 against the Twins. Kurt Suzuki is 6-for-13 against the Orioles while Miguel Sano is 5-for-11 with two homers and six RBIs and Brian Dozier is 5-for-17 with two homers and six RBIs.

The Orioles' starting pitching continues to be inconsistent. In the last 20 games, the O's rotation has an ERA of 5.61 with nine quality starts and 11 starts of fewer than six innings.

Second-half ERAs for O's starting pitchers:
2.18 - Chris Tillman
4.12 - Kevin Gausman
4.59 - Wei-Yin Chen
5.92 - Miguel Gonzalez
7.12 - Ubaldo Jimenez

As a team the Orioles had an ERA 3.74 in the first half to rank sixth in the AL and they had a record of 44-44. In the second half, their team ERA of 4.02 ranks seventh in the AL and they have a record of 18-14.

Chen (7-6, 3.20 ERA) makes his 24th start tonight and faces Minnesota left-hander Tommy Milone (6-3, 3.65 ERA).

Over his last two starts against Seattle and Oakland, Chen has gone 2-0 with a 2.03 ERA. Chen is tied for 10th in the American League in ERA. Chen has allowed three earned runs or less in 14 of his past 15 starts. He is 3-1 with a 3.23 ERA in five career starts versus the Twins.

Milone has made just one start since July 31 due a strained left elbow. Since he gave up just one run in seven innings against the Orioles on July 8, he is 1-2 with a 6.41 ERA over his past four starts. He has allowed six homers in 19 2/3 innings in that span. He is 2-1 with a 1.73 ERA in four career starts versus Baltimore.