O's rotation gets rolling, but the wins are still hard to get

TORONTO - At a time when the Orioles rotation is on its best run of the season, that success is not translating into wins. During a five-game road trip, the Orioles have gotten five quality starts, but have gone 2-3. During the past 10 games, they have gotten nine quality starts, but have gone 2-8.

In the last five games, the starters have posted an ERA of 2.27. Over the past 10 games, the ERA is 3.34. This 10-game run has lowered the rotation ERA for the year from 5.60 to 5.18. The quintet of Alex Cobb, Andrew Cashner, Dylan Bundy, Kevin Gausman and David Hess has put a nice run together. Eventually, the offense has to produce enough runs to get some wins out of this, you would hope.

"You look at everybody's track record and this has the potential to be an above-average rotation," said Cobb, who was in a few solid rotations with Tampa Bay. "We all seemed to have some struggles earlier, but there were also signs we could get on a good run. We all expect to do better than we are even right now, but it's nice to see a good stretch."

Cobb allowed just one run in six innings in his last start against the New York Mets, and he takes the mound today as the Orioles try to avoid a four-game sweep at Rogers Centre. Cobb said when the starters are going well, they can feed off each other.

"When you have two or three starts ahead of you that are real solid and guys get deep into the game, you don't want to be the guy that is not doing that," he said. "That sounds silly. You are always trying to pitch your best, but there is some added momentum that you feed off. Pitching well in the rotation means you have a chance to win every night."

When Cobb arrived in Baltimore, he found a rotation that was already close-knit and relied on each for support and help to get the most out of their outings.

"It's been fun. We're a close group," he said. "Similar in age, all righties. Similar personalities. It's been fun for me to be part of a different rotation. Just to kind of hear different viewpoints about the way guys attack people. Been in this division my whole career and just kind of getting a new set of eyes, it's been interesting to hear how guys view different players and see how they go about facing certain teams. I've learned a lot from it and it's been fun to be part of this group. All good guys."

Gausman supplied the latest quality start in yesterday's 10-inning loss. He agrees with Cobb that the starting five is a close group within a larger unit.

"Yeah. We are all very supportive of each other and watch each other's work days (bullpen sessions) and see the stuff that each guy is working on," Gausman said. "We are still trying to get to know each other. I've obviously spent the most time with Dylan. When it comes to Cashner and Cobb, I am still getting to know them and form a relationship. But it's been fun to talk to Cashner about his sinker and to Cobb about his split. Both guys have been around for a while.

"I think it's contagious - on either side. Sometimes it can snowball and you have a turn or two through the rotation when everybody struggles. Or maybe they do well against one team or in one series. But it's nice to have guys going good for the most part right now."

The Orioles rotation is trending up. We'll see over time if it can be an above-average rotation as Cobb feels. For now, the starters just need a few more runs to work with to get wins for themselves and the team.

O's try to avoid sweep today: The Toronto Blue Jays can so something today they have not done in 40 years - sweep a four-game series in Toronto against the Orioles. The Blue Jays last did that from June 26-28, 1978.

The Orioles hitters continue to struggle with seemingly no end in sight. In losing the first three games at Rogers Centre, they have scored eight runs on 20 hits and have gone 1-for-21 with runners in scoring position. The clutch hit hasn't just been elusive, it's been nearly non-existent.

The Orioles are not even hitting many homers anymore, and when they do, they are solo shots. The O's have gone without a home run in eight of their last 12 and 10 of 16 games. They are 3-22 when they fail to homer.

The last time the Orioles hit a homer with anyone on base was May 19 when Pedro Álvarez hit a two-run homer. The Orioles' last 14 home runs over the last 18 games have been with no one on base.

Toronto was really struggling, with 10 losses in its past 11 home games, when the O's showed up Thursday. Today, they go for four straight. Toronto is now 7-1 in extra-inning games and has won a series this weekend for just the second time in the last 12. They are 2-8-2 in that span.

On the farm: Triple-A Norfolk beat Toledo 7-2 on Saturday night and right-hander Jimmy Yacabonis pitched well again, throwing five scoreless innings to improve to 3-1 with a 2.68 ERA. Yacabonis has an ERA of 0.76 over his last five starts. Cedric Mullins went 2-for-24 in his first six Triple-A games with the Tides, and then added two hits, a homer and two RBIs last night.

Double-A Bowie won 4-1 at New Hampshire as left-hander Keegan Akin gave up one run over six innings to improve to 7-4 with a 2.62 ERA that ranks second-best in the Eastern League. Branden Kline went three scoreless innings to get his second save and has a 2.03 ERA in six Baysox games.

Single-A Frederick lost at Wilmington, but center fielder Ryan McKenna went 4-for-5 with a double, homer, two runs and two RBIs. McKenna is now batting .366, which leads the Carolina League. The next highest average in the league is .320. Single-A Delmarva was rained out at home and hosts Hagerstown today with lefty DL Hall (0-4, 4.28 ERA), the 2017 top draft pick, on the mound.