Baltimore @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 25, 2016 ) Arizona 1, Baltimore 2

The Baltimore Orioles have held the distinction of owning the major league's worst pitching staff for most of the season, making what they did against two potential playoff teams over the last four games all the more remarkable. The Orioles begin a nine-game road trip feeling good about themselves Monday when they visit Arizona for the first of three games against the Diamondbacks.

Baltimore was outscored 41-12 while losing four of its first five contests during a nine-game homestand following the All-Star break before holding Washington and Boston to two runs in back-to-back routs late last week. The Red Sox humbled rookie Tom Eshelman and three relievers in a 17-6 pummeling of the Orioles on Saturday, but Asher Wojciechowski responded by taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning Sunday and Baltimore settled for a one-hit shutout against the majors' highest scoring offense to take the three-game set. Arizona wasted a chance to make up some ground in the playoff chase over the weekend, dropping three of four at home to Milwaukee to fall 2 1/2 games behind the Brewers for the National League's second wild-card slot. All-Star Ketel Marte has done more than his fair share at the plate recently for the Diamondbacks, posting his fourth consecutive two-hit game in Sunday's 7-4 loss to lift his batting average in July to .389.

TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Baltimore), FS Arizona

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Aaron Brooks (2-3, 4.69 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Robbie Ray (8-6, 3.92)

Brooks continues to ease his way into the rotation after making his first two starts since April 30 this month, following an arrival on waivers from Oakland on July 6. The 29-year-old made his Baltimore debut with 2 2/3 scoreless innings on July 13 against Tampa Bay before allowing one run on two hits and two walks over 2 2/3 frames Wednesday against Washington. Brooks' only career start versus the Diamondbacks came in 2015 with the Athletics when he allowed two runs across six frames in a no-decision.

Ray has won three straight starts as his name continues to circulate on the trade market, although he had his roughest outing over that span Wednesday in Texas, which reached him for four runs - including three homers - over six innings. The 2017 All-Star ranks third among NL hurlers with 152 strikeouts, but he has also surrendered 19 home runs - including at least one in nine straight turns. Ray took the loss in 2016 when he surrendered five runs (four earned) over 3 2/3 frames in his only career start against Baltimore.

WALK-OFFS

1. Diamondbacks OF Adam Jones will face the Orioles for the first time since signing as a free agent with Arizona this spring. He hit .279 with 263 homers and 866 RBIs over 11 seasons with Baltimore.

2. The Orioles have posted a 1.00 team ERA in their four post-break wins and a 10.00 ERA in their five post-break losses.

3. Marte stole a base Sunday to extend Arizona's streak of consecutive steals without getting caught to 21 - tying the club record set from June 12-July 1, 1999.

PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 6, Orioles 3