Orioles back home to continue search for offense

CHICAGO - Sitting in his office before yesterday's game at Wrigley Field, Orioles manager Buck Showalter observed how Chicago is a great town. Then he added, "I've had enough."

It's true that you can have too much of a good thing.

The Orioles are back home tonight after playing three games in Cleveland and spending a week in The Windy City, which wasn't exactly a breeze.

The Orioles scored four runs in the three-game series against the Cubs after totaling 17 in three games against the White Sox and five in three games against the Indians.

Maybe that says more about the White Sox, and especially their bullpen.

The Orioles were held to three hits in 16 innings following Saturday's rain delay. They need to break out tonight.

They're facing the Rays' Jake Odorizzi tonight, and he's a familiar face. He's made three starts against them this season, never working more than 5 1/3 innings and allowing six runs in 15 1/3.

Adam Jones is 6-for-11 with a double and home run against Odorizzi. Nick Markakis is 4-for-8 with a double.

Twenty-one of the Orioles' next 27 games are at home. They have a better winning percentage on the road this season, but they clearly want to get back to Camden Yards.

They need to get Markakis back to being himself at the plate.

Markakis is 0-for-20 since his home run at U.S. Cellular Field. He's a career .264/.341/.397 hitter in 145 games against the Rays.

Chris Davis is batting .149 in August, with four doubles, four home runs, nine RBIs and 31 strikeouts in 74 at-bats. His average is down to .189.

Jones has drawn 11 of his 16 walks this season versus left-handers. Only 144 of his 555 plate appearances have come against southpaws.

Just thought you might find it interesting.

In his 13 home starts this season, Chris Tillman is 3-5 with a 2.76 ERA and eight quality starts in 81 2/3 innings. The Orioles are 8-5 in those starts.

Tillman is 3-6 with a 4.46 ERA and eight quality starts in 13 career starts against the Rays, including 2-4 with a 5.12 ERA in eight outings at Camden Yards.

Evan Longoria is 13-for-30 (.433) with two doubles and five home runs against Tillman. Ben Zobrist is 6-for-35 (.171) with a double and three home runs, James Loney is 3-for-19 (.158) with a double and home run, Yunel Escobar is 2-for-13 (.154), Desmond Jennings is 2-for-20 (.100) and Jose Molina is 1-for-11 (.091).

The Orioles were swept on the road for the first time since Sept. 20-23, 2013 at Tropicana Field.

I guess it's true what they say. There's no place like home.