O's game blog: Dylan Bundy pitches road trip opener

ANAHEIM, Calif. - With a road record of 20-33 for the season, the Orioles play in Anaheim tonight to begin a three-game series versus the Los Angeles Angels. It is the first stop of a 10-game, three-city road trip.

It is an important stretch for the Orioles, who are in fourth place in the AL East (7 ½ games out). They are 2 ½ games back for the second AL wild card spot.

At 55-56, the Orioles look to get to .500 for the first time since June 29. They have won two in a row, seven of nine and 13 of 20 games.

Los Angeles is 55-57, but has won four of six and six of nine games. The Angels are 31-25 at home and 15-11 versus AL East teams.

The Angels' Albert Pujols has 608 homers to rank ninth all-time. Sammy Sosa is eighth at 609. If Pujols hits two homers he will pass Sosa for most homers ever by a foreign-born player. Pujols is also 81 hits shy of the 3,000 mark.

The Orioles went 4-2 against Los Angeles last season and they are 8-5 over their past 13 games against the Angels.

Right-hander Dylan Bundy (10-8, 4.24 ERA) is coming off a start at home against Kansas City where he pitched eight innings allowing three hits and one unearned run. In four starts this year on six day's or more rest, Bundy is 3-1 with a 2.52 ERA. Tonight he pitches on five day's rest and is 1-3 with a 4.60 ERA in five starts this season on five day's rest.

Bundy has recorded 14 quality starts among his 21 outings and the Orioles are 12-9 when he takes the mound.

Right-hander JC Ramirez (10-9, 4.03 ERA) will make his 25th appearance and 22nd as a starter for the Angels tonight. He leads the team with 10 wins and 129 2/3 innings. Over his past three starts, he is 2-1 with a 1.31 ERA. In his last start Wednesday against Philadelphia he pitched a career-high eight innings without allowing a run.

Lefty batters hit .276 with an OPS of .886 against Ramirez while right-handers bat .250/.634. He has made two career appearances against the Orioles, both in relief last year. Over 1 2/3 innings he has allowed one earned run.

The Angels made four roster moves today. They activated outfielder Cameron Maybin off the DL and recalled left-handed pitcher Jose Alvarez from Triple-A. They designated for assignment outfielder Shane Robinson and optioned right-hander Eduardo Parades to Triple-A.

Mike Trout turns 26 today and enters this game with 999 hits. He will become the 10th AL player ever with 1,000 hits before his age 26 season.

O's second baseman Jonathan Schoop hit 25 homers and drove in 82 runs last year, both career highs. He did that in 647 plate appearances. He enters tonight with 25 and 82 and has done that this year in 455 plate appearances.