Orioles hope Gallardo gives them fresh start after Seattle series

The Orioles will place Pedro Alvarez on the bereavement list this afternoon and bring up a player to replace him for the three-game series against the Dodgers.

Alvarez would have been on the bench with no designated hitter in the series, but the circumstances behind his departure from the club are most unfortunate.

While Alvarez headed to the Dominican Republic, the Orioles were deciding whether they needed a position player or pitcher to fill out the 25-roster. The position players on the 40-man include first baseman Christian Walker and outfielders Dariel Alvarez and Henry Urrutia.

The Orioles are sending Yovani Gallardo to the mound tonight at Dodger Stadium while trying to avoid a season-high five-game losing streak.

The Dodgers swept the Orioles in a three-game home series in June 2004 - the last time that the teams met in Los Angeles - but they can't erase the four-game sweep in the 1966 World Series. That one is permanent.

The Orioles took two of three in May 2013, winning both ends of a doubleheader. Chris Davis went 7-for-11 with four extra-base hits and four runs scored in the series.

Gallardo has allowed eight runs and 15 hits in 16 1/3 innings, with nine walks and 14 strikeouts, in three starts since coming off the disabled list. He's 2-0 with a no-decision.

Gallardo owns a 4.08 ERA in 44 career games in July, the highest of any month. His June ERA is 2.74 in 43 games.

In nine starts against the Dodgers, Gallardo has gone 3-4 with a 4.60 ERA. He's allowed 13 runs and 24 hits in 19 1/3 innings in Los Angeles for a 6.05 ERA in three starts.

Former Oriole Justin Turner is 6-for-15 against Gallardo. A.J. Ellis is 5-for-10. Will Venable is 8-for-22 with two doubles, a triple and a home run.

The Orioles will face 19-year-old left-hander Julio Urias, who's 1-2 with a 4.09 ERA in seven major league starts. He's averaging 4.1 walks and 11.2 strikeouts per nine innings.

Urias walked one batter in each of his first five starts last month before walking six Brewers over six innings in his most recent outing. Left-handers are batting .188 against him and right-handers are hitting .284, so Hyun Soo Kim figures to be on the bench.

Manager Buck Showalter probably will put Mark Trumbo in right field and decide between Joey Rickard and Nolan Reimold in left.