O's game blog: Series opener against Red Sox

The Orioles (12-12) will look to snap a four-game losing streak tonight when they host Boston (7-18) to open a three-game series at Oriole Park. The O's were swept three in a row by Toronto by scores of 7-2, 8-7 and 5-2.

The Red Sox begin play tonight with the worst record in the American League, playing .280 ball a year after going 84-78. Boston beat the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday to snap a nine-game losing streak. It was their longest losing streak since May 2014. During the streak, Boston pitching allowed 86 runs and gave up eight runs or more seven times and double-figure runs four times.

The Red Sox, who lost two of three at home to the Orioles to begin the season, are 4-15 versus the AL East, which includes a combined 1-12 mark against the Yankees and Rays. Boston is 3-8 on the road.

The Red Sox are 6-6 in their last 12 games against the Orioles. But over a longer stretch, since September 2017, they are 32-12 (.727) against Baltimore and have gone 9-3-2 in the last 14 series. Boston is 19-4 in its last 23 games at Camden Yards. Last season, the O's went 7-12 against the Sox, which included a 3-6 home record.

The Orioles need to improve on a 4-11 home record that includes four series losses in five played at Camden Yards. They are 3-5 in series-opening games and six of the eight series have ended in sweeps, three for and three against the Orioles. The Birds are 5-6 in divisional games. They swept the Rays, got swept by New York and Toronto, and are 2-1 versus Boston.

Boston is scoring 4.4 runs per game but ranks last in the AL and the major leagues in team ERA at 6.22. Boston's starters own an ERA of 6.89 to rank 14th in the league and their bullpen ERA of 5.71 is also 14th in the AL.

In a switch from previous seasons, O's batters walk more and strike out less than Boston batters. The O's team strikeout rate of 21.2 ranks 14th in the league, or second-best. Boston's K rate of 24.8 is fifth-most in the league. The O's edge Boston in team walk rate at 7.9 to 7.6 and Baltimore rates 10th in that stat.

Right-hander Asher Wojciechowski (1-2, 4.34 ERA) will make his fifth start tonight. He got the win in his last start on Saturday against Washington when he threw 78 pitches and allowed three runs over five innings. For the year, his WHIP is 1.179, his walk rate 2.9 and strikeout rate 8.2. The O's are 2-2 in his starts.

Wojciechowski was outstanding last year versus Boston. He went 2-1 with a 1.02 ERA, which included two scoreless starts. On July 21 in Baltimore, he went 7 1/3 scoreless innings on one hit with 10 strikeouts. For the year, over 17 2/3 innings, he gave up 10 hits to Boston batters with six walks, 20 strikeouts and a WHIP of 0.906. In four career games, he is 2-1 with an ERA of 0.92 and a WHIP of 0.864.

Right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (1-2, 5.93 ERA) will make his sixth start of 2020. The first came on opening night when he and Red Sox beat the Orioles 13-2, as he allowed one run over six innings on 89 pitches. But in his most recent start, Eovaldi gave up three homers and eight runs in 5 1/3 innings against New York. He has two quality starts and Boston is 3-2 when he takes the mound.

Since the beginning of the 2019 season, he is 3-3 with a 5.97 ERA and 1.537 WHIP in 28 games with 17 starts. In 10 career games against Baltimore he is 4-1 with a 5.10 ERA.

The O's Renato Núñez is 6-for-9 in his career with two homers and seven RBIs against Eovaldi.