Astros at Orioles
The Houston Astros seek their ninth sweep of the season and seventh on the road when they finish a three-game series at the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday. The Astros have won eight straight meetings with the Orioles and 11 of the last 12 after Saturday's come-from-behind 8-4 triumph.
Marwin Gonzalez's three-run shot in the sixth gave Houston a 6-4 lead and it was one of three homers on the night for the Astros, who improved to 35-11 on the road. Houston endured a scare when third baseman Colin Moran fouled a ball off his face in the sixth inning and was carted off the field, but Gonzalez replaced him at the plate and promptly struck the decisive blow. The Orioles have given up 23 runs over the last three games as the American League's worst pitching staff (5.14 ERA) continues to be a major issue. Dylan Bundy will try to reverse that trend when he opposes Lance McCullers Jr. for the Astros.
TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, TBS, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston), MASN (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Lance McCullers Jr. (7-2, 3.28 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Dylan Bundy (9-8, 4.18)
McCullers has managed to last beyond five innings just twice in his last six starts and has given up 14 runs in 14 1/3 innings over his last three. He finished May with six solid innings to beat Baltimore at home and improve to 6-1 with a 2.48 ERA, but his slump began six days later at Texas. The former first-round pick is 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA in his career against the Orioles but he has never pitched in Camden Yards.
Bundy has just two quality starts over his last six turns but one came against Texas on Tuesday, when he allowed a run and four hits in six innings. He owns a solid 3.62 ERA in 10 home starts this year and is 9-7 with a 3.44 mark in his career at Camden Yards. The 24-year-old Bundy failed to retire a batter in a relief appearance and gave up a walk-off single in his only prior meeting with Houston last season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Orioles 2B Jonathan Schoop has homered in three games in a row and owns at least one RBI in six straight.
2. Baltimore CF Adam Jones has 1,546 hits with the team, one shy of tying Nick Markakis for seventh on the all-time list.
3. Astros C Evan Gattis has hit safely in 14 of his last 15 games to raise his average from .264 to .292.