Tonight's starters: Hill vs. Chen

LHP Rich Hill (3-3, 7.64) tonight will make his 13th start of this season, his 5th at home and his 2nd this year vs. Kansas City. Over his last five starts, Hill has pitched to an ERA of 10.64 (26ER in 22IP). Hill took the loss Tuesday at New York, giving up five runs and four walks over three innings. He threw 82 pitches. Hill has recorded just three quality starts and has pitched more than six innings just three times. Right-handed batters hit .301 vs. him and lefties hit .256. Hill is 0-0, 10.26 in his four home starts, but the Orioles are 4-0 in those games. Of course, the Birds had to score 35 runs to win those contests. Hill's ERA by month: May: 6.14 June: 7.62 July: 9.20 Hill has made just one career appearance vs. Kansas City and that was a start earlier this year in May. Hill got the win in his O's debut vs. KC on May 16th. In 5 2/3, he allowed seven hits and two runs. LHP Bruce Chen (0-5, 6.58) tonight will make his 6th Major League start of this season, his 4th on the road and the 1st of his career vs. Baltimore. Chen was recalled from Triple-A Omaha after going 4-2, 3.40 in 13 starts for that club. He pitched three shutouts at Triple-A. In his last start for the Royals, last Tuesday vs. Los Angeles, he allowed seven hits and three runs over five innings. He has recorded just one quality start. Over his last three starts, his ERA is 9.24 (13ER in 12 2/3IP). Chen's last Major League win came on October 2, 2005. Since then, he has made 51 appearances, 17 starts, and is 0-12, 6.88. The 32-year-old Chen pitched with the Orioles from 2004-06. In 2005, he went 13-10, 3.83. This season left-handed batters are hitting .241 against him while right-handers are batting .297. In three road starts, he is 0-3, 9.00.