O's game blog: O's face 2015 Cy Young Winner Dallas Keuchel

When this Orioles' homestand began on Tuesday night against Boston, the Birds had lost just two home series all year, going 13-2-3. But if they lose today, they will have lost back-to-back home series after going 0-2 versus Boston and dropping three of four in this four-game set with Houston.

Today's game is not starting on time and is in a rain delay as the scheduled first pitch arrives.

The Orioles once looked invincible at home, but now they have lost seven of the last 10 at Oriole Park. They are 40-21 (.656) at home on the year. Houston is 16-11 (.593) on the road since June 14, the best mark in the American League in that span.

The Orioles beat the Astros 13-5 behind six homers on Thursday night. But they have been blown out by scores of 15-8 and 12-2 the last two nights. They are 1-5 against the Astros in the season series and 12-21 versus AL West teams in 2016. That includes a 1-6 mark against Seattle.

In this series, the Orioles offense has produced 23 runs on 35 hits with three doubles, a triple and 13 home runs. The Orioles have hit 32 homers their past 16 games.

Right-hander Yovani Gallardo (4-4, 5.18) makes his 17th start today and pitches against 2015 American League Cy Young Award winner lefty Dallas Keuchel (7-12, 4.76 ERA).

Over his past three starts Gallardo is 1-1 with a 3.18 ERA. In six home starts he is 2-0 with a 3.66 ERA. Lefty batters are hitting .265 off Gallardo and right-handed batters are hitting .288. He has not faced Houston this season. But in 21 career starts against Houston, he is 15-4 with a 3.11 ERA and 1.241 WHIP.

The 28-year-old Keuchel has had an interesting run of three starts. On July 31 he gave up seven runs in five innings against Detroit. He followed that with a three-hit shutout on 111 pitches versus Texas. He followed that allowing six runs in five innings against St. Louis.

Last season he went 20-8 with a 2.48 ERA over 232 innings and was fifth in the AL MVP voting. But his WHIP is up from 1.017 to 1.307 and his hits per nine innings from 7.2 to 9.1. He is allowing more homers (0.7 to 1.1 per nine) with more walks (2.0 to 2.7) and fewer strikeouts (8.4 to 7.8).

One issue has been some struggles when pitching with runners in scoring position. In those situations he yields an average of .317 including a mark of .327 with RISP and two outs.

Keuchel has not faced the Orioles this season. In four career starts against Baltimore, he is 1-2 with a 3.46 ERA.