MIAMI - A road trip that began with promise - the O's scored 17 runs in winning the first two games out of the All-Star break in Texas - is ending with a thud. Especially if the Orioles lose again today at Miami. They will have been swept three in a row and will end the trip with four straight losses.

But the top three American League East teams are a combined 5-12 since the break. The Orioles are 2-3, the Yankees 2-4 and Boston 1-5.

The Orioles (60-41) lead the division by 1.5 games over the Yankees and by six games over the Red Sox.

Since scoring the 17 runs in the series at Texas, the O's have scored eight runs in losing the last three games. They have lost eight of 11 and 10 of their past 15. They are 11-16 with a -40 run differential since June 21. But they have actually gained two games on the Yankees, who have gone 9-18 in the same time frame.

O's ace right-hander Corbin Burnes (10-4, 2.38 ERA) gets the start in the series finale. He is a pitcher on a roll and really has easily been the club’s best starter throughout the season.