O's game blog: Yovani Gallardo faces Angels in second game of series

After last night's ugly 9-5 loss to the Los Angeles Angels, the Orioles need to beat Los Angeles the next two days to win this series. By doing that, the Birds would avoid losing only their second home series of the 2016 season.

The O's fell to 31-14 at home last night. That result ended their five-game home winning streak, and they are 14-4 in their past 18 games at Camden Yards.

Toronto and Boston both won on Friday night to gain ground on the Orioles, who are 49-36. The Blue Jays are now one game back and the Red Sox are two games out in the American League East. The Orioles have been in first place or tied for first every day since June 5.

The Orioles are 22-13 (.629) against the AL East and 16-6 (.727) versus the AL Central, but have a losing mark at 6-15 (.286) against the AL West. They are 0-3 versus Houston, 2-2 against Los Angeles, 2-1 against Oakland, 1-6 versus Seattle and 1-3 versus Texas.

This afternoon, Yovani Gallardo (3-1, 6.10 ERA) pitches against right-hander Nick Tropeano (3-2, 3.28 ERA) at Camden Yards.

In four starts before he went on the disabled list, Gallardo was 1-1 with an ERA of 7.00 and a .319 average against. In four starts since returning he is 2-0 with a 5.31 ERA and .273 average against. In his last start on Monday at Dodger Stadium, he gave up six hits and four runs over four innings, throwing 95 pitches.

Gallardo has really struggled in the first innings of his starts. His ERA is 11.25 that inning and oppsing batters hit .432 against him. In three 2016 home starts, he is 2-0 with a 3.52 ERA.

Tropeano gave up two earned runs and four hits over five innings Monday in a no-decision versus Tampa Bay. He is making his first career start against the Orioles. Tropeano has allowed two earned runs or less in eight of his 11 starts.

The Orioles have lost six of eight games since they had a seven-game winning streak. Their rotation has continued to struggle, recording just six quality starts over the last 20 games with an ERA of 6.84 in that stretch.

Angels outfielder Mike Trout has been chosen to start for the AL in next week's All-Star Game in San Diego. He is just the third Angels player to be selected as a starter in four consecutive All-Star Games, joining Vladimir Guerrero (2004-07) and Rod Carew (1980-84).

Trout will become the sixth AL player to start at least four All-Star games before turning 25, joining 2016 Hall of Fame electee Ken Griffey Jr. (five), Hall of Famers Joe DiMaggio (four), Mickey Mantle (four) and Al Kaline (four), and Ivan Rodriguez (four).

Buck Showalter now has 507 wins as Orioles skipper to rank third all-time. He is 10 wins behind Paul Richards at 517. Earl Weaver is the winningest O's manager with 1,480 victories in Baltimore.