Orioles trying to reverse skid vs. first-place Astros

The last-place Marlins are gone. Bring on the first-place Astros.

Also, maybe something soothing to coat the stomach.

The Astros lead the majors in home runs. The Orioles went 19 innings without scoring before Jimmy Paredes' sacrifice fly.

Before you clench too tightly, the Astros also ranked last in batting average at .228 before yesterday and second in strikeouts with 400.

The Astros were seventh in team ERA at 3.47. The bullpen ranked second with a 2.14 ERA in 134 2/3 innings and first in WHIP at 0.88.

The Orioles won the season series from the Astros in 2014, taking two of three in Baltimore and splitting a four-game series in Houston. Manny Machado hit his first career grand slam off former Oriole Scott Feldman, who starts on Tuesday.

An offense that's been laboring won't get any favors from Astros left-hander Dallas Keuchel, who's 6-0 with a 1.67 ERA in nine starts this season. That's just cruel.

Keuchel has allowed 43 hits and only one home run in 64 2/3 innings. He's surrendered one earned run or fewer in six starts and two earned runs or fewer in seven.

Right-handers are batting .196 against Keuchel and left-handers are hitting .149.

For what it's worth, Keuchel has a 3.43 ERA in 45 career home games and a 4.31 ERA in 40 road games. He's 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in two career starts against the Orioles and has never pitched at Camden Yards.

Alejandro De Aza is 3-for-5 with two triples against Keuchel. Machado and J.J. Hardy are 2-for-6.

Left-hander Wei-Yin Chen, who's 1-3 with a 2.90 ERA in eight games, gave up a season-high four earned runs and eight hits in his last start against the Mariners. He's gone seven innings in each of his last three outings.

Chen is 3-0 with a 2.75 ERA in three career starts against the Astros, with three walks and 19 strikeouts in 19 2/3 innings.

Jose Altuve is 4-for-10 against Chen.

Brian Matusz is expected to remain in the bullpen today, the threat of a suspension hanging over his head. I really wish he'd gone to the mound yesterday wearing rosin like clown makeup.

Machado extended his hitting streak to seven games. He's 10-for-30 in that span.

Paredes had his on-base streak snapped at 20 games.