O's game blog: The series at Colorado begins

The Orioles West Coast trip moved a bit inland but still far away from Camden Yards. The O's have moved from Los Angeles to Denver and tonight will begin a three-game series at Coors Field versus the Colorado Rockies.

The Orioles (77-58) begin play this weekend 1.5 games behind the New York Yankees (78-56) who this weekend host the St. Louis Cardinals. 

The Rockies (50-85, .370) have the second-worst record in the National League, ahead of only Miami. Colorado just split four games versus Miami, scoring eight runs each of the last three games and 27 runs in the series.

Colorado has lost six of nine and 10 of their past 16 games. The Rockies are 12-20 since July 26 with a -49 run differential in that span.

But while the Rockies are 19-50 (.275) on the road, they are much better at home at 31-35 (.470). In their past 26 games at home, they are 15-11.

Colorado has a decent offense and ranks 16th in the majors in team OPS at .706. But in home games only, Colorado ranks sixth in the majors at .772 and is also sixth scoring 4.97 runs per game.

O's right-hander Albert Suárez (6-4, 3.18 ERA) will tonight make his 19th start. For the year he has thrown 102 innings allowing 95 hits with a 1.275 WHIP allowing 3.1 walks and 7.1 strikeouts per every nine innings.

The Orioles are 10-8 in his starts.

Suárez has been a pitcher on a roll, throwing three straight scoreless starts before allowing two runs his last time out. In those four games, he is 1-0 with an ERA of 0.77. In the games, he gave up two runs over 23 1/3 innings with five walks to 20 strikeouts.

Colorado's starter is lefty Austin Gomber (4-9, 4.70 ERA) in 25 starts. He has thrown six innings or more four times his last five games, going 2-2 with a 4.34 ERA. His ERA is 3.32 his past three starts. Gomber, who has never faced the Orioles, has made nine starts versus American League clubs this year, going 12-9 with a 3.92 ERA.

The Orioles are 17-23 against NL clubs and are winless in their past five series against NL clubs, going 0-4-1 in the series and 5-12 over 17 games.

Baltimore is looking to get some offense going tonight after producing just 10 runs and 18 hits and going 3-for-20 with runners in scoring position at Dodger Stadium.

The O's have scored 16 runs the past five games, 26 in eight and 43 runs the last 12 games, batting .175 with a .573 OPS in those dozen games.

In this 12-game run, O's batters are just 9-for-62 (.145) with RISP.

Pregame Thursday Hyde was asked which veterans have been helping the young O's stay upbeat when the offense struggles as it has.

“I think our hitting coaches are doing a great job with positive messages and preparing our guys each night," said Hyde. "You know, we are a little bit inconsistent and youth does play a part in that. It’s hard to hit in the majors right now.

“But guys like Ryan O’Hearn and Anthony Santander are two just absolute rocks that are the same people every single day, good and bad. They’re very, very supportive. Two guys that guys can lean on that have been around a little bit. You know someone to talk to when they are going through struggles.”