Will more at-bats be coming for Hyun Soo Kim and Nolan Reimold?

HOUSTON - As the Orioles look to get their offense going again, is it time for outfielders Nolan Reimold and Hyun Soo Kim to get more at-bats?

Of the 14 players that have at-bats for the Orioles this year, Reimold has the 10th most at-bats and Kim is 13th. But in batting average among all Orioles Kim is first at .438 and Reimold is third at .303.

That duo started last night. While Reimold went 0-for-4, Kim tied his season-high with a three-hit game. He also had two doubles and he entered the game with one all year (and just one extra-base hit) in 29 at-bats.

Reimold is also second on the Orioles in pitches seen per plate appearance at 4.23. Kim is 10th at 3.89, although it seems like he has worked some counts. I thought that number would be higher for him.

Here are the O's leaders in pitches/plate appearance:
4.40 - Joey Rickard
4.23 - Reimold
4.19 - Caleb Joseph
4.18 - Pedro Alvarez
4.12 - Chris Davis

Not only are the Orioles looking to get some runs tonight - they have scored five in this series and 10 the last four games - but they are looking to cut down on the mounting strikeout total.

Four times over the last six games, the O's have fanned 10 or more times:

May 19: 10 against Seattle
May 20: Seven against Los Angeles
May 21: 13 against Los Angeles
May 22: 8 against Los Angeles
May 24: 19 against Houston
May 25: 18 against Houston

That is 37 strikeouts in this series, 58 in four games and 75 in the last six games, for an average of 12.5 per game.

Last night, Houston starter Collin McHugh struck out 10 over 5 1/3 innings for his third career game of 10 or more strikeouts. He became the sixth pitcher in club history to record 10 or more strikeouts when he pitched 5 1/3 or fewer innings. The other five to do that are Bud Norris (2010), Andy Pettitte (2006), Nolan Ryan (three times from 1986-88), Frank DiPino (1982) and J.R. Richard (1978).

As mentioned in this morning's blog entry, the Orioles' Vance Worley now has pitched 20 straight scoreless innings. The two pitchers with the longest currents streaks in baseball will both be at Minute Maid Park tonight. Houston reliever Will Harris is first at 21 1/3 innings, just ahead of Worley. Harris' streak is the longest by an Astros reliever since right-hander Alberto Arias went 21 1/3 innings from May 27-July 18, 2009.

The Orioles look to avoid a season-high four-game losing streak tonight. They also lost three in a row from April 24-26, losing one to Kansas City and two to Tampa Bay.

Bowie moves: The Double-A Bowie Baysox today added pitcher Brandon Barker, a player the Orioles acquired in the Brian Matusz trade. They also added lefty John Means, who was promoted from Single-A Frederick, where he was 5-0 with a 1.80 ERA. Pitcher Eric Fornataro was released and pitcher Parker Bridwell was placed on the disabled list with a left rib injury.