San Diego @ Baltimore preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 20, 2010 ) Baltimore 4, San Diego 9

A recent surge by the San Diego Padres put them on the short list of early surprises in baseball. Then they began to play the American League East, a tall task that continues Tuesday with the first of two road games against the Baltimore Orioles. San Diego had won 11 of 14 games before it dropped three straight at Tampa Bay over the weekend, capped by a 4-2 setback on Sunday.

The Orioles recorded an American League-best 14th win with a 6-0 victory in Minnesota on Sunday. They overcame an injury to standout lefty Wei-Yin Chen with another strong effort by their bullpen. While Baltimore has played well away from Camden Yards, it has been consistently solid at home - winning two of three in each of its last four home series. The Orioles have yet to produce a series sweep, but they've won nine of their 12 sets.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports San Diego (San Diego), MASN (Baltimore)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Andrew Cashner (2-2, 3.23 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Chris Tillman (3-1, 3.76)

Called upon earlier this year to make a spot start when Padres starter Clayton Richard became ill, Cashner has stuck in the rotation and will be making his fifth start in 2013 and the 11th of his career. He has been up and down in that role this season, but was strong against Miami on May 6, when he threw 7 1/3 scoreless frames while allowing only four hits. Cashner has not allowed a home run in 17 1/3 innings over his last three outings and opponents are hitting just .220 against him overall. The righty is 0-7 in 53 games - five starts - on the road in his career.

Tillman is looking to win four starts in a row for the second time in his career, matching a streak midway through the 2012 season. He has a 2.25 ERA during his current three-game run, which included six solid innings against Kansas City on Wednesday. There were a few negatives in that start, however, as Tillman gave up two home runs and had more walks (three) than strikeouts (two). Overall, the 25-year-old has walked four men for every nine innings, a sharp spike from his 2.5 average last season. Tillman is just 1-1 with a 5.48 ERA at home this year.

WALK-OFFS

1. Padres LF Carlos Quentin is 2-for-28 with seven strikeouts this month.

2. The Orioles are 9-3 in the first game of a series.

3. The teams have not played at Camden Yards since 2002.

PREDICTION: Orioles 6, Padres 4