O's game blog: The O's and Rangers, tonight the rubber match game

The O's and Texas have split the first two games

For the fourth series in a row, the Orioles and an opponent will play a third and deciding game in a series. The Orioles went 1-2 over the earlier three series.

On June 22 they lost the third game 4-2 at Yankee Stadium and on June 25 they lost 7-0 at home versus Texas. Last Sunday they won at home 5-1 over Tampa Bay to take that series with the Rays.

For the season the O’s are 4-10 in rubber match games.

The first two games of the series at Globe Life Field in Texas saw the O’s win 10-6 Monday and lose 10-2 last night.

The Orioles (37-48) once again are 11 games under the .500 mark. They are in last place and 11 games back in the AL East, and they are seven games behind the third AL wild-card berth.

The Orioles have won three of five, 10 of 18 and 18 of the last 30 games. They are 21-14 (.600) in their past 35 games.

The O’s bullpen allowed seven runs in Tuesday’s loss. That was the third time in the last 13 games that the O’s bullpen gave up seven runs or more. The ‘pen ERA in that span is 5.79.

The Orioles are 18-26 on the road and are 10-7 their past 17 games away from Camden Yards.

Texas (42-44) is in fourth place, 9.5 games behind Houston in the AL West. The Rangers are 2.5 games back of a wild card spot.

Texas has lost eight of 14 games, but over a longer stretch, the Rangers are 13-9 their past 22 games. Texas is 25-19 at home.

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Roster shuffle continues

Another day and more O’s roster moves. Today they recalled righty Yennier Cano from Triple-A Norfolk and selected the contract of right-hander Corbin Martin from Norfolk. He will wear No. 48.

Baltimore placed lefty Keegan Akin on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to July 1 with left shoulder inflammation. They designated pitcher Matt Bowman for assignment.

The O’s have placed 24 players on the injured list this year and have 14 on the IL right now.

Double-A Chesapeake reliever Keagan Gillies, recently named to pitch in the Futures Game, was promoted today to Triple-A. Gillies was 4-1 with a 1.15 ERA at Double-A. Also today righty Carter Rustad was moved from High-A to Double-A.

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Hey now, he’s an All-Star

The O’s Ryan O’Hearn will start as the DH for the American League All-Star team. In final voting released today, O’Hearn beat out the Yankees’ Ben Rice for the DH spot.

But Orioles’ second baseman Jackson Holliday finished second in the voting to Detroit’s Gleyber Torres.

O’Hearn, who is batting .295/.383/.471/.854 with 11 homers and 30 RBIs in 72 games, is the first Oriole to start at DH since Nelson Cruz in 2014.

O’Hearn said to reporters in Texas today: “To finally get the news today and get to be a starter, I mean, I’m over the moon. Insane.”

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Time to promote this

If you ever wondered how righty Braxton Bragg, an eighth-round draft pick, could be having such a huge season on the O’s farm, check out my new Steve on Baseball podcast coming here via Substack in the morning.

Bragg has been brilliant this year and is now ranked as the O’s No. 9 prospect via Baseball America. Tomorrow on the podcast, hear from both Bragg and his Double-A pitching coach Jordie Henry.

Grayson Rodriguez is one of the Orioles on the IL. But on a recent trip for me to Arlington, Tex., this young fan had a sign for Grayson as he returned to his home state.