Wednesday night game thread: at Cleveland, 7:10

Seventeen games. 17. That’s how many straight the Orioles have lost on the road. They set the team record on Saturday and just kept chugging along ever since. The offense is struggling, the pitching is as well. And the defense. Hoo boy, the defense. It is bad. Is this it? Is this rock bottom? Is this as low as they can go and it’ll only get better for here?

Or is there rock bottom, 50 feet of crap, and THEN the Orioles? Time will only tell.

Starting for the Orioles tonight is Keegan Akin, who is making his fourth straight start after beginning the season in the bullpen. Since making the move to the rotation, things have gone pretty well for Akin. He isn’t giving the team a lot of innings, but his 2.63 ERA as a starter and 4.13 ERA overall are actually pretty outstanding if we’re grading on a curve. Can Keegan be the stopper the Orioles need tonight?

On the mound for Cleveland is Aaron Civale, who is having himself a nice year. He embarrassingly gave up four runs in seven innings two starts ago, but in his last start on Friday against Seattle he dominated the Mariners for eight innings of one-hit ball with 11 strikeouts.

The Orioles have to win again eventually. Why not tonight?

Orioles lineup

1. Cedric Mullins (L) CF

2. Trey Mancini (R) 1B

3. Freddy Galvis (S) SS

4. Ryan Mountcastle (R) DH

5. DJ Stewart (L) LF

6. Austin Hays (R) RF

7. Maikel Franco (R) 3B

8. Pedro Severino (R) C

9. Pat Valaika (R) 2B

SP: Keegan Akin (LHP)

Indians lineup

1. Cesar Hernandez (S) 2B

2. Amed Rosario (R) SS

3. Jose Ramirez (S) 3B

4. Harold Ramirez (R) RF

5. Eddie Rosario (L) LF

6. Yu Chang (R) 1B

7. Bobby Bradley (L) DH

8. Austin Hedges (R) C

9. Bradley Zimmer (L) CF

SP: Aaron Civale (RHP)

Let’s go O’s!