Baltimore @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 6, 2013 ) Baltimore 4, San Diego 1

Adam Jones took it upon himself to get the Baltimore Orioles off to a strong start on their eight-game road trip. Jones, who went 4-for-4 to key a win in the series opener, attempts to make it two in a row when the Orioles visit the San Diego Padres in the finale of a two-game interleague series on Wednesday. The Padres came into the series hot and have not dropped back-to-back games since before the All-Star break.

Baltimore entered the series scuffling with losses in eight of its previous 12 games but squeezed out a 4-1 victory Tuesday to remain within 1 1/2 games of the Texas Rangers for the second wild card spot in the American League. San Diego is dealing with the loss of shortstop Everth Cabrera for 50 games due to the Biogenesis scandal. The Padres started Logan Forsythe, a natural second or third baseman, at short for the third time in his major-league career Tuesday.

TV: 3:40 p.m. MASN (Baltimore), FSN San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Miguel Gonzalez (8-5, 3.88 ERA) vs. Padres LH Eric Stults (8-10, 3.55)

Gonzalez was knocked around for nine runs (four earned) in 3 2/3 innings last time out and did not make it out of the fifth in his previous start. The Mexican right-hander posted eight straight quality starts before the recent struggles. Gonzalez has never faced the Padres and is 3-4 with a 3.60 ERA on the road in 2013.

Stults is enduring his own rough patch with an 0-3 record and 29 hits allowed over 17 2/3 innings in his last three starts. The veteran lefty is well past his previous career high in major-league innings in a season at 144 2/3 - 52 1/3 more than last season - and has limited the damage by issuing only 29 walks. Stults is at his best at home, where he is 5-2 with a 2.35 ERA.

WALK-OFFS

1. Jones, who is from San Diego, is 8-for-15 in four career games at the Padres.

2. Forsythe is expected to get the bulk of the playing time at short. San Diego also activated veteran SS Ronny Cedeno after signing him to a minor-league contract last week.

3. Baltimore INF Wilson Betemit (right knee) began a minor-league rehab assignment with the teams’ Gulf Coast League affiliate.

PREDICTION: Orioles 5, Padres 4