O's game blog: Wade Miley on mound in Chisox series opener

CHICAGO - The Orioles begin a four-game series tonight here at Guaranteed Rate Field. They are trying to break two losing streaks tonight. They have lost their past four games and have been outscored 44-9. They have also lost nine straight road games since beating Detroit in 13 innings May 16.

The Orioles had a lost weekend in New York. They lost three games by a combined 38-8 score. Their hitters had just 18 hits. But their pitchers gave up 44 hits and 38 runs, including 12 homers. The team ERA jumped from 4.39 to start the weekend to 4.76 beginning tonight.

At 31-30, the Orioles could fall to .500 with a loss tonight. They have been over .500 after every game this year to this point. Since beginning the season 6-3 on the road, the O's are 4-17 away from Oriole Park.

Left-hander Wade Miley (2-3, 3.27 ERA) will make his 13th start tonight. On Wednesday versus Pittsburgh, Miley lasted just 2 2/3, allowing eight hits and four runs. He had pitched to a 2.37 ERA his previous three starts.

He is still working to lower a walk rate of 4.8 per nine innings this season. His walk rate was 2.7 last year. The O's are 7-5 in his 12 starts. He is 1-1 with a 4.24 ERA in six road starts.

In five career starts versus the White Sox, Miley is 1-3 with a 5.81 ERA with 36 hits allowed over 26 1/3, and a WHIP of 1.633.

Right-hander Mike Pelfrey (2-5, 3.80 ERA) makes his 10th start. The 33-year-old, signed by Chicago as a minor league free agent April 5, has been pitching well lately.

Over his past four starts, he is 2-1 with a 1.69 ERA, allowing two earned runs or fewer each time. He is 1-2 with a 2.84 ERA at home. In five career starts versus Baltimore, he is 2-0 with a 4.23 ERA.

The White Sox are 26-35 and have lost four of five and nine of their past 11. They ended a 2-7 road trip with a loss at Cleveland on Sunday. They are 12-11 at home and 3-9 versus the American League East.

Chicago starting pitchers have struggled, recording a 6.37 ERA and just two quality starts over their last 19 games. They have gone 11 straight games without a quality start.

The Orioles swept a three-game series from Chicago in early May in Baltimore. The Orioles won by scores of 4-2, 6-5 and 4-0. The O's are 6-0-2 in the last eight season series.