O's game blog: Ryan Meisinger gets the start in Game 1

The Orioles end their 2018 road schedule with today's day-night doubleheader at Fenway Park, with games at 1:05 and 7:10 p.m. Boston won the series opener 6-2 Monday night before Tuesday's rainout.

The Orioles are 18-61 on the road and have lost seven of eight and 15 of their last 17 away from Baltimore. They've lost eight straight road series and are 3-20-2 in road series for the year, winning series on the road versus the Yankees, Mets and Braves.

The Red Sox are 7-1 at home and 15-2 against Baltimore in the season series. In the divisional era (since 1969) the only other seasons in which the Red Sox won more than 14 games against the O's are 2009 (16-2) and 2006 (15-3). Boston is 18-2 in its last 20 games versus the Orioles.

Boston (106-51) has clinched the best record in the majors this year and top seed in the American League playoffs. Boston is 50-21 against the AL East. They went 50-31 on the road and are 55-21 at home. The Red Sox are 10-1-2 in their last 13 home series.

On the mound for the Orioles in the opener will be right-hander Ryan Meisinger (2-0, 4.50 ERA). He is making the first start of his pro career today after pitching in 126 games in the minors and 16 in the majors in relief.

Meisinger has thrown five straight scoreless outings. In those games he's allowed two hits with three walks and eight strikeouts. Opponent batters are 2-for-25 (.080) against him in that stretch.

From Prince Frederick, Md., in Calvert County, Meisinger returned to the Orioles Aug. 17 for his second stint with the club this year. He's now trying to show that, after pitching well in the higher levels of the farm, he can now have big league success too.

"I think the biggest thing will be consistency," Meisinger said in a recent interview. "Some of the pitches you can get away with at the lower levels, they will take full advantage of those mistake pitches here. But, other than that, just learning every day and try not to make the same mistake twice. The slider has definitely been my big out pitch. And I continue to work on my fastball location."

Lefty David Price (15-7, 3.53 ERA) gets the start for Boston. In his last start last Wednesday, Price gave up six runs (four earned) in 5 1/3 against the Yankees. But in 10 starts since the All-Star game, he is 5-1 with a 2.00 ERA, an 0.90 WHIP and a .191 batting average against. In 63 innings he has walked 13 and fanned 62.

Price, making his 30 start today, had a 5.11 ERA after his first seven starts of the 2018 season. But in 22 starts since, he is 13-3 with a 3.09 ERA, allowing three runs or fewer 19 times.

In 15 home starts, Price is 8-2 with a 2.85 ERA and a .208 average against. For the season, lefty batters have hit .210 against him and right-handers are batting .231.

Price is 2-0 with a 1.20 ERA in two starts on the year against the Orioles. On May 17 at Fenway Park he pitched a complete game, allowing five hits and two runs on 95 pitches. In 27 career starts, he is 14-5 with a 2.67 ERA against the Birds.

Whoever starts for the Orioles in Game 2 will be opposed today by Cy Young award candidate Chris Sale (12-4, 2.00 ERA). The left-hander has been to the disabled list twice in the second half with left shoulder inflammation, throwing just 12 1/3 innings since July 28.

But he has sure pitched well this year, and especially since late June. In his past 10 starts, Sale is 6-0 with an 0.53 ERA. In 51 1/3 innings he's allowed 29 hits and just three runs with six walks and 89 strikeouts. Boston is 10-0 in those starts and 18-8 in his outings for the year. Batters are hitting just .153 (13-for-85) against Sale since the All-Star break.

In three starts this season against the Orioles, Sale is 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA and 0.688 WHIP. In 16 innings, he's allowed five hits and two runs with six walks and 29 strikeouts. In 17 career games (11 starts) he is 7-2 with a 2.49 ERA and 1.134 WHIP.

With Boston starting two left-handers today in Sale and David Price, how much will we see of outfielders Cedric Mullins and DJ Stewart? Over his past 11 games, Mullins is batting .311 (14-for-45). Over his last six games, Stewart is batting .500 (7-for-14) with three doubles, two homers and six RBIs.