O's game blog: The season finale arrives

The worst season in Orioles history comes to an end today with Game 162. The Orioles host the Houston Astros in the season finale.

The Orioles (46-115) have lost three in a row, 11 of 15, 17 of 22 and 29 of the last 38 games. They are 6-20 in September, their third month with at least 20 losses, after they went 6-20 in June and 8-20 in August. The Orioles are 0-6 versus Houston and 6-26 against American League West teams.

Houston (103-58) has won the first three games in the series by scores of 2-1, 4-3 and 5-2, and win No. 103 last night set a franchise record, one more victory than the 1998 team. Houston is finishing the season in impressive fashion with wins in eight of its last nine games and with a September record of 21-5 (.808). Houston is 28-8 (.778) since Aug. 21.

Houston has the best road record in the majors at 57-23 (.713) and one of the best road records posted in years. Since Major League Baseball went to a 162-game schedule in 1961, only the 2001 Seattle Mariners were better, going 59-22.

A loss today and the Orioles would be swept in a series of three or more games for the 17th time this season. They have been swept three straight 11 times and four in a row five times.

On the mound today, right-hander Jimmy Yacabonis (0-2, 6.00 ERA) gets the start. He allowed one earned run in 3 1/3 in Game 2 on Wednesday at Boston. Over his past two starts, he has allowed six hits and two runs (one earned) in 7 1/3 innings versus the Blue Jays and Red Sox.

In 11 games this year, Yacabonis has a WHIP of 1.528, has allowed 9.8 hits per nine innings, and has walked 4.0 per nine and fanned 8.0 per nine. The Orioles are 3-3 in his six starts in 2018.

Right-hander Charlie Morton (15-3, 3.18 ERA) gets the start for Houston. He left his start on Sept. 23 after one inning and 24 pitches with a sore right shoulder. He is expected to throw only a few innings today as his team gauges his readiness for the playoffs.

Lefty batters hit .210 off Morton and right-handed batters are hitting .219. In 10 starts since the All-Star break, he is 4-1 with a 3.66 ERA.

Adam Jones was voted the winner of the 2018 Louis M. Hatter Most Valuable Oriole Award by members of the local media and he's getting that award today during a pregame ceremoney. This marks Jones' third career MVO (2011 and 2012 also). Jones leads the Orioles in batting average (.283), hits (163), doubles (35), RBIs (63) and multi-hit games (44), and he was also named the O's Heart and Hustle Award winner for the sixth time.

Today, before what could be his final game as an Oriole, he was out on the field earlier giving fans bats and balls.

⚾️ @SimplyAJ10 is out here giving away souvenirs. #StayHungry pic.twitter.com/7McIRErWYj

-- Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) September 30, 2018

The #Orioles' season is coming to an end and Adam Jones' future is uncertain, but one thing's for sure: @SimplyAJ10 is "exactly the kind of guy that you want in the clubhouse, in the community and on your team." pic.twitter.com/CTxwFIdyfy

-- Orioles on MASN (@masnOrioles) September 29, 2018