O's game blog: Alex Cobb faces Detroit in series finale

DETROIT - If the Orioles lose to the Detroit Tigers this afternoon, they will have a winless road trip, going 0-6. They've not been swept in a three-game series at Detroit since July 5-7, 2010.

The Orioles have fallen to 5-13 overall, 3-9 on the road, and have lost seven of their last eight games. They are trying to snap their second five-game losing streak today.

Detroit began this series with five straight losses and a mark of 4-9 overall and 1-5 at home. But the Tigers have posted 4-2 and 6-5 wins in this series.

Right-hander Alex Cobb (0-1, 17.18 ERA) makes his second Orioles start today. On Saturday at Boston he went 3 2/3 innings, allowing 10 hits and eight runs (seven earned). Boston batters went 10-for-20 against him and hit nine balls at least 100 mph.

Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann (0-0, 8.18 ERA) gets the start for Detroit. It is impressive that he is back on the mound since his last start ended in the first inning when he took a liner to the face. Cleveland's Jason Kipnis smoked a ball that hit Zimmermann and produced a right jaw contusion. But Zimmermann did not suffer a concussion.

In his third year with Detroit, the former Washington National is 17-20 with a 5.70 ERA and 1.480 WHIP for the Tigers. In 26 games at Comerica Park, he is 10-12 with a 6.77 ERA.

Zimmermann won his only start last season versus Baltimore, allowing four runs in six innings on May 18. In eight career starts, he is 3-4 with a 5.84 ERA versus the Orioles.

In Detroit's win Wednesday, Miguel Cabrera had a double and solo homer in four at-bats. In 64 career games versus Baltimore pitching Cabrera is batting .363 with 12 doubles, a triple, 21 homers and 63 RBIs. His homer yesterday was No. 464 all-time, moving Cabrera past Adrián Beltré for 35th on the all-time list.

O's batters struck out 10 times yesterday. They have three consecutive games with 10 or more strikeouts, with 36 total. They have fanned 10 times or more in 14 of the season's 18 games to date.