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American League East rivals Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles seem to be involved in different September races.

But winning remains crucial to the fortunes of both teams in quests for the postseason.

They open a three-game series Friday night in Baltimore.

“Obviously want to win as many games as you can, and every game matters at this point in the season,” said Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson, whose team is locked in a battle for first place in the AL East with the New York Yankees. “Don’t want to let any games slip away. Just go out there and keep playing hard and trying to win every game.”

The Orioles’ three-game winning streak ended Wednesday after an 8-1 loss to the lowly Chicago White Sox. Baltimore (81-60) had Thursday off before resuming the six-game homestand.

The Rays (69-71) split four games this week against the visiting Minnesota Twins, falling 4-3 on Thursday afternoon.

“We knew we would give ourselves a better chance had we found a way to win this series or ultimately sweep it,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said of the team’s AL wild-card chase. “I thought we did some good things.”

Tampa Bay has just two three-game winning streaks since the All-Star break. Pulling that off in Baltimore might be the only thing that can keep the Rays reasonably afloat for a postseason spot.

Baltimore won two of three games against the Rays last month in Tampa Bay. The Orioles lead the season series by 8-2, including a four-game road sweep in June.

Henderson has a single-season team-record 35 home runs at shortstop, breaking a mark held by Cal Ripken Jr. (1991) and Miguel Tejada (2004).

“To pass those guys in something, in any type of Orioles history, is pretty special,” Henderson said.

Hyde said, “That’s some serious company when you’re on those lists and passing those type of players.”

Henderson seems to be settling back into the leadoff spot in Baltimore’s batting order. This month, he is 7-for-15 with two home runs after going almost two weeks without a homer to close August.

The Orioles are scheduled to start right-hander Dean Kremer (6-9, 4.51 ERA) on Friday. Kremer is coming off his shortest outing of the season, giving up four runs and six hits in 3 1/3 innings in Baltimore’s 7-5 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Saturday. He is 1-1 with a 2.79 ERA in six career starts against the Rays.

Right-hander Shane Baz (2-2, 3.49) draws the start for the Rays. Baz has won his past two starts, though he was ill in between those and missed a turn.

Baz has been dogged by walks, issuing eight combined in his past three starts.

Baz blanked the Orioles for six innings in a 2022 matchup in his only meeting against Baltimore, settling for the no-decision.

The Rays shook up their pitching a bit Thursday by calling up reliever Mason Montgomery, who made his big-league debut with a scoreless inning. He had worked in back-to-back games for Triple-A Durham last week, so that should make him available immediately in Baltimore if needed.

Tampa Bay designated for assignment catcher Alex Jackson, signaling that Logan Driscoll, who made his big-league debut earlier in the week, will be part of the catching combination for the rest of the season. The Rays also recalled corner infielder Austin Shenton.

–Field Level Media