O's game blog: Trying to end the road trip with a sweep

The Orioles will go for a series sweep and a season sweep at The Trop today as they try to go 7-0 this year on the road versus the Rays.

With wins by 4-1 and 7-5 the last two days, the O's can complete their sixth sweep of the year today of three or four games. The Orioles have been swept three in a row three times this year in St. Louis and Houston and then at home versus the Cubs.

The O's have three-game sweeps in Boston, against the Twins and in Cincinnati. They have four-game sweeps in Chicago against the White Sox and in Tampa Bay.

They have gone 6-0 this year at The Trop by a combined 36-13 score. They have out-homered the Rays 13-4 at The Trop. Baltimore pitchers have an ERA of 1.67 in the six games, allowing a batting average of .174 with OPS of .493. Baltimore batters have hit .298/.347/.553/.900 at The Trop in those six games.

For the year, the Orioles are 8-1 against the Rays and they have won 16 of the last 21 games between the teams. 

The Orioles have won eight straight road games against the Rays. That is the longest road win streak ever for the Orioles against the Rays. It is the second-longest home losing streak against a single opponent in Rays team history behind an 11-game skid versus the Red Sox (Oct. 3, 2001–Sept. 12, 2002). Their current eight-game skid is tied for second longest in franchise history (eight games against the Rangers from 1999-2000).

A Rays loss today would mark the second time they have gone winless against an America League East opponent at home, joining 2002 against the Red Sox (0-10). And they would have back-to-back sweeps at the hands of the Orioles for the first time since 2014.

The Orioles began play today as the only major league team with 70 wins at 70-48 and with the best record in the majors. They also lead the AL East by one game over the Yankees. Baltimore is trending up now with wins in three of four, five of seven and nine of the last 14 games. The Orioles are 12-10 since the All-Star break.

They are now 26-12 against the division and 14-5 in AL East road games. They have won this series and are now 8-2-2 in AL East series. 

The O's offense is also trending up. In their last seven games, with five wins, they have scored 42 runs and produced a team OPS of .830.

In their past 14 games, they are scoring 6.3 runs per game while going 9-5 with a .284 batting average and .841 OPS. 

Tampa Bay (58-58) is back at the .500 mark for the 26th time this year. The Rays have lost four of five and six of nine. They are 30-31 at home and 16-23 in division games. The Rays are 24-19 since June 19.

Right-hander Albert Suárez (5-4, 3.66 ERA) gets the start on the mound today against lefty Jeffrey Springs (0-1, 6.23 ERA). Suárez pitched five scoreless on Tuesday at Toronto as a last-minute starter for Grayson Rodriguez. The O's are 8-7 in his 15 starts this season. 

The Orioles can have a winning road trip with a win today. They are 5-4 thus far at Cleveland, Toronto and Tampa Bay.