Orioles go for the split today

HOUSTON - The Orioles will go for the series split today by sending left-hander Wei-Yin Chen to the mound against the Astros. Chen is 3-1 with a 5.33 ERA in five road starts this season. He's received 8.17 runs of support per nine innings. Maybe that will perk up the offense. Chen is 2-0 with a 3.14 ERA in two starts versus the Astros. He beat them on May 9 in Baltimore after allowing two earned runs in seven innings. Matt Dominguez is 3-for-6 with two doubles against Chen. Jose Altuve is 3-for-7. The Astros handed out Altuve jerseys to fans yesterday and I've got one in my suitcase. I'm assuming it's a small. Should fit perfectly. The Orioles will get another look at former teammate Scott Feldman, who allowed two runs and five hits over six innings in a May 9 loss at Camden Yards. Adam Jones is 2-for-18 against Feldman. Not the matchup he needs while trying to get on track. Nick Markakis is 8-for-24 with three doubles against Feldman. Delmon Young is 4-for-16 with a double and triple. Manny Machado is 3-for-5 with a triple and home run. David Lough struck out in his only at-bat yesterday after replacing Steve Pearce in left field, lowering his average to .159. Does manager Buck Showalter keep Pearce in left today and Nelson Cruz as the designated hitter? Does he give Lough a start in another attempt to heat up his bat? Pearce made a diving catch Friday night while starter Miguel Gonzalez was working on a no-hitter, and he threw out Marwin Gonzalez yesterday trying to stretch a single into a double. "It's a tough left field to play," Showalter said. "There's a crook there where you can go back through and you've really got to know where you are at all times. "Stevie doesn't let inactivity, he doesn't let excuses, inactivity or lack of experience somewhere get in his way of doing a good job. He just, every time we win there's not many people more excited about the Orioles winning a baseball game than Steve Pearce. I get that. We get that about him." I mentioned yesterday that veteran reliever Luis Ayala opted out of his contract with the Orioles, requesting his release from Double-A Bowie. I've heard that he's going to pitch in Mexico. Well, it was fun while it lasted.