O's game blog: Trying to complete the three-game sweep in Houston

HOUSTON – After allowing just one run on eight hits, and despite scoring just five runs themselves, the Orioles can complete a three-game sweep of the Houston Astros today at Minute Maid Park.

This would be quite the achievement for the improved Orioles. Consider this:

* Houston began the series with the best record in the American League at 81-45.

* Houston is still the top team in the AL.

* The Astros had a seven-game home win streak and four-game overall win streak snapped Friday.

* Houston was the first AL team to 80 wins and was a season-high 36 games over .500 at the start of the series.

* Houston was 42-18 at home and 27-8 the last 35 at home when this series opened.

* The Astros began this series No. 1 in the AL in pitching and rotation ERA, No. 3 in runs, No. 2 in home runs and No. 3 in team slugging and OPS.

But the Orioles have posted wins of 2-0 and 3-1 to win this series and now go for a sweep. Kyle Bradish threw eight scoreless innings Friday and Dean Kremer allowed one run over 7 2/3 last night. So O’s pitching has allowed the one run over 18 innings, and Houston has just one extra-base hit, a double, this series.

Orioles pitching has allowed 19 runs the last seven games. The O’s staff has allowed two earned runs or fewer in 25 of the last 62 games, for a 3.12 ERA in that span, which dates back to June 16. In those 25 games, the Orioles are 24-1.

Today the Orioles face right-hander Justin Verlander (16-3, 1.87 ERA), who will be making his 24^th start. Verlander has put himself in great position to win another Cy Young Award after missing most of the 2020 and 2021 seasons. He has allowed one earned run or zero 16 times and has 19 quality starts. Houston is 17-6 in his outings.

He won the AL Cy Young Award in 2011 with the Detroit Tigers and in 2019 with Houston.

Since June 24 he has recorded 10 straight quality starts, with a 1.35 ERA in those games. Over 66 2/3 innings in those starts he has walked 10 and fanned 67, allowing a .181 batting average and .458 OPS.

For the year, he's permitted just 0.846 WHIP while recording a 1.5 walk rate and 8.9 strikeout rate. Lefty batters hit .163 with an OPS of .444 against Verlander, and righties bat .211/.569. In 11 starts at Minute Maid Park, he is 8-1 with a 1.99 ERA and 0.941 WHIP.

O's righty Austin Voth (4-1, 4.73) gets the start opposite Verlander. Since the Orioles claimed him off waivers in June, Voth is 4-1 with a 2.85 ERA in 15 games and 11 starts, and the Orioles are 8-3 in his starts.

He has been remarkably consistent, allowing two earned runs or fewer eight times in his 11 Baltimore starts. His ERA is 2.12 over his past three, and opponents have an OPS of .559 against him.