Rained out in D.C.: A few O's notes as they head to K.C. next

The Orioles and Washington Nationals were going to try to end a stretch of four straight games against each other tonight at Nats Park. The O's won two of three so far.

But word came down just after the scheduled 7:05 p.m. start time that tonight's game has been rained out. The game is now scheduled to be made up on Thursday, June 8 at 7:05 p.m. at Nats Park.

Even when these teams do get that game in, the Orioles are either going to win or tie the season series versus Washington. Since these teams began to play each other in 2006, the Orioles have lost the season series just once, and they won't lose it this year. They are 7-1-3 in 11 season series.

The Orioles have won eight of the last 10 games between the teams and are 19-8 versus the Nats since 2012. Since 2006 the Orioles are 38-25 (.603) versus the Nationals.

In losing a four-run lead in the eighth on Wednesday night, the Orioles lost 7-6 to the Nationals on Matt Wieters' walk-off, two-run single. It was just the Orioles' second loss in 10 games in 2017 decided by one run. The O's are 7-2 in two-run games and they have the best record in the league in games decided by fewer than three.

American League team leaders in one- and two-run win percentage:
.789 - Orioles (15-4)
.714 - Oakland (10-4)
.688 - Houston (11-5)
.636 - New York (7-4)
.600 - Boston (9-6)

The other two AL East teams have losing records in the close games, with Tampa Bay 6-9 and Toronto at 7-13. The Blue Jays are the only American League team to have played more games decided by fewer than three runs than the Orioles have.

O's right-hander Dylan Bundy (5-1, 2.17 ERA) was scheduled to start tonight, and it is probably a safe assumption that he would now just be backed up a day and start tomorrow's series opener at Kansas City.

Bundy has made seven consecutive quality starts to begin his season, and he leads the majors with seven quality starts. The team has 17 total, and no other Oriole has more than three, which is Wade Miley's total.

Entering today, Bundy ranks tied for first in the majors in wins (5) and ninth in ERA (2.17). He also ranks seventh in the American League in homers allowed per nine innings (0.59) and innings pitched (45 2/3), and 11th in WHIP (1.05). He has given up two runs or fewer five times and the Orioles are 6-1 in his seven starts.

Bundy has pitched quite well at the outset of his starts. His ERA is 0.96 over the first four innings of his outings, and he has allowed just one run in 14 first and second innings.

The Orioles' Jonathan Schoop has reached base safely in 25 consecutive games. According to STATS LLC., his 25-game on-base streak is tied for the longest active streak in the majors and is a new career high. Schoop is 4-for-10 the last three nights against the Nationals, and all four hits were doubles. Schoop is batting .306, and that is 10th-best in the American League. He has 10 doubles, and that is tied for fourth in the league.

The Orioles and Royals are scheduled to begin a three-game series at Kauffman Stadium Friday night. The Royals were 7-7 before losing nine straight games to end April. They beat Tampa Bay 6-0 this afternoon at Tropicana Field to improve to 13-21. The Royals have lost 14 of their past 20 games. Kansas City went 15-17 versus the AL East last year and is 3-1 this year, taking three of four from the Rays.

The Royals' scheduled Friday starter is left-hander Danny Duffy (2-3, 3.50 ERA). He began the year with an ERA of 1.32 his past four starts before allowing 12 runs over back-to-back starts versus the White Sox. In his most recent outing on Sunday against Cleveland he gave up one run over 6 2/3 innings.

Duffy is 2-2 with a 2.37 ERA in seven career games (five starts) against Baltimore with a 0.923 WHIP and a .183 batting average against.