masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgRead this at your own risk. If shaky stats make you queasy, sit down first.

Over the last seven games, counting tonight, Orioles starters have pitched to an ERA of 7.34, allowing 28 earned runs over 34 1/3 innings. With Jason Hammel pitching just 4 2/3 tonight, O’s starters have now worked five or fewer innings five times in the past six games.

Not exactly a recipe for success.

Should you worry? Go ahead, but it won’t make an O’s starter get the next out any easier. Still there is…Read this at your own risk. If shaky stats make you queasy, sit down first.

Over the last seven games, counting tonight, Orioles starters have pitched to an ERA of 7.34, allowing 28 earned runs over 34 1/3 innings. With Jason Hammel pitching just 4 2/3 tonight, O’s starters have now worked five or fewer innings five times in the past six games.

Not exactly a recipe for success.

Should you worry? Go ahead, but it won’t make an O’s starter get the next out any easier. Still there is certainly legit cause for concern with Hammel and Freddy Garcia struggling and Miguel Gonzalez and Wei-Yin Chen on the disabled list.

At least Gonzalez came through his simulated game fine today, and he should re-enter the rotation soon.

Hammel gave up seven runs and 10 hits over 4 2/3 tonight. Over his past three games, he has pitched 14 2/3 innings, allowing 27 hits and 17 runs (all earned) for an ERA of 10.43. Is this just a command issue, or is there something else going on with Hammel right now?

Meanwhile for Triple-A Norfolk tonight, here was Steve Johnson’s final line: 3 1/3 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 5 SO, 85 pitches, 49 strikes

For Double-A Bowie tonight, Kevin Gausman gave up just four hits and one run in six innings at Trenton, with just one walk and a career-high 10 strikeouts.

The Orioles have indicated they’d prefer to keep Gausman in the minors for now, but they also began a 17-game stretch against Tampa, New York, Toronto, Washington and Detroit tonight.