Orioles at Athletics
The Baltimore Orioles hope to prevent their road losing streak from reaching double digits when they visit the Oakland Athletics on Friday for the opener of their three-game series. Baltimore was swept in three-game sets at Boston and Detroit from April 13-19 and suffered the same fate in Los Angeles after being pounded 12-3 on Thursday.
Manny Machado went 2-for-4 with two RBIs in the setback, giving him two-hit performances in five of his last seven contests. Oakland returns home from a 4-5 road trip that concluded Thursday with a 4-1 defeat in Seattle. Stephen Piscotty drove in the lone run for the Athletics with a solo homer while Jed Lowrie registered two of the team's six hits to extend his hitting streak to four games. The 34-year-old Lowrie has gone 6-for-16 with two homers and four RBIs during his run and has recorded back-to-back two-hit efforts.
TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Baltimore), NBCS California (Oakland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Andrew Cashner (1-4, 4.76 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Daniel Mengden (2-3, 4.68)
Cashner's recent struggles escalated on Saturday as he was battered for seven runs on seven hits and three walks over four innings in a loss to Detroit. It was the third straight setback for the 31-year-old Texan, who has surrendered 14 runs and 22 hits over 16 frames during the slide. Cashner is 1-0 with a 3.93 ERA in three starts and one relief appearance against Oakland in his career.
Mengden lasted only 2 1/3 innings in his native Houston on Saturday, when he suffered his first loss in four turns after surrendering five runs and six hits. The 25-year-old was excellent in his previous two starts, allowing two runs while registering 11 strikeouts and just one walk over 14 1/3 frames. Mengden, who is 1-10 in 15 career turns at home, will be facing Baltimore for the first time.
WALK-OFFS
1. Athletics C Jonathan Lucroy went 7-for-25 during the team's road trip.
2. Baltimore OF Trey Mancini went 2-for-4 on Thursday, giving him three two-hit performances in his last seven contests.
3. Oakland OF Mark Canha hit safely in 12 of 13 games before going 0-for-4 on Thursday.