O's game blog: Tyler Wilson faces Steven Wright in Boston series opener

The Orioles are back home after a 4-5 road trip, and today, the top two teams in the American League East meet here this afternoon, as the Orioles (28-20) host the Boston Red Sox (30-20). These two teams have the two best records in the American League, with the Red Sox leading the Orioles by one game atop the division.

This begins a 10-game homestand for the Orioles, who are 17-8 at Camden Yards. The Orioles are 6-2 at home against division rivals. They host Red Sox for four games, then the Yankees for three and the Royals for three before their next road trip.

The Red Sox lead the majors with 295 runs scored, which is 62 more than the AL's next-highest total (Cleveland, 233). Shortstop Xander Bogaerts is in the midst of a career-best 22-game hitting streak, the majors' second-longest of the season behind his teammate Jackie Bradley Jr., who hit in 29 straight. According to Elias, the Red Sox are the first team in AL history to have two different players record a hitting streak of at least 20 games before June 1. Bogaerts is batting .351, tied with Detroit's Victor Martinez for the league lead.

On the mound today, it is a matchup of right-handers, as Tyler Wilson (2-3, 3.80 ERA) faces knuckleballer Steven Wright (4-4, 2.52 ERA).

The 26-year-old Wilson lost his last start on Wednesday at Houston. Over six innings, he yielded six hits and four runs (three earned) and gave up two homers while throwing 90 pitches. Wilson has made nine appearances this season and six as a starter. As a starting pitcher only, he is 2-3 with a 4.41 ERA and has allowed six homers over 34 2/3.

Left-handed batters hit .261 off Wilson, while that number is just .194 against right-handed hitters. He has allowed a .333 average when pitching with runners in scoring position. In his only career appearance against Boston, Wilson went three scoreless in relief on April 13 at Fenway Park. He allowed two hits and threw 39 pitches.

The 31-year-old Wright has been the best starter for Boston in 2016 and is tied for fifth in the AL in ERA. Over 60 2/3 innings, he has allowed 46 hits (three homers) with 21 walks, 54 strikeouts, a 1.104 WHIP and a .208 batting average against.

Wright has recorded 10 quality starts in his last 12 outings since last July 30. His 2.45 ERA since that date ranks second-best in the AL. Wright has been vulnerable in the first innings of his starts with an ERA of 7.00. He has allowed two of his three homers in that inning with an average against of .349.

In five road starts, Wright is 2-3 with a 1.73 ERA and a .172 average against. He has a 1.59 ERA in two career games and 5 2/3 innings versus the Orioles.

The Orioles have won four straight season series against Boston:
* O's went 13-5 in 2012 (6-3 at home)
* O's went 11-8 in 2013 (6-4 at home)
* O's went 11-8 in 2014 (4-5 at home)
* O's went 11-8 in 2015 (7-2 at home)
* O's are 2-1 in 2016 (0-0 at home)

So that adds up to a mark of 48-30 (.615) since 2012. The Orioles are 7-1 in their last eight home games versus the Red Sox.

O's manager Buck Showalter today mentioned that Double-A Bowie left-hander Chris Lee (5-0, 2.98 ERA) will skip a start due to fatigue. The plan calls for him to miss just one start and his next outing it tentatively scheduled for June 5.