masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgHOUSTON – After their 19-strikeout game last night, the Orioles look to get their offense back on track tonight in the second game of the series at Minute Maid Park.
The usual two through five hitters in the lineup have all hit a slump at the same time. Manny Machado, Adam Jones, Chris Davis and Mark Trumbo have a combined six hits over their past 78 at-bats for an average of .077.
That certainly can’t and won’t last, and as Matt Wieters said last night, a breakout is only a swing away. They…

HOUSTON – After their 19-strikeout game last night, the Orioles look to get their offense back on track tonight in the second game of the series at Minute Maid Park.

The usual two through five hitters in the lineup have all hit a slump at the same time. Manny Machado, Adam Jones, Chris Davis and Mark Trumbo have a combined six hits over their past 78 at-bats for an average of .077.

That certainly can’t and won’t last, and as Matt Wieters said last night, a breakout is only a swing away. They look to get that swing here tonight.

On the mound, right-hander Tyler Wilson (2-2, 3.68 ERA) faces Houston right-hander Collin McHugh (4-4, 5.13 ERA).

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Wilson allowed a season-high five runs on six hits over six innings last Thursday at home against Seattle. He has recorded five quality starts this year among his five starting assignments and the Orioles are 3-2 in those five games.

In three road starts, Wilson is 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA and gained wins at Kansas City and Minnesota. He held lefty batters to a .256 average and he is even better against right-handed batters at .193.

Last year, McHugh went 19-7 with a 3.89 ERA and finished eighth in the American League Cy Young Award vote. McHugh threw well in his last outing, going seven innings on five hits and two runs against the White Sox.

After pitching to an ERA of 6.65 in April, he is 2-1 with a 3.86 ERA in four May starts. The Astros are 4-5 in his nine starts this season.

At 26-17, the Orioles have lost two in a row and five of eight. Over a longer stretch, they have won 10 of 15 games and are 15-9 in their past 24 games. They are 9-9 on the road and 9-4-1 in series play. They’ll need to win here the next two nights to take this series after last night’s 3-2 loss in 13 innings.