The Baltimore Orioles will look for better results this time against the Tampa Bay Rays when the teams begin a three-game series Monday afternoon in Baltimore.
The Rays swept three games from the visiting Orioles last week, winning the trio by a combined score of 25-10.
Since then, Baltimore won two of three meetings with the visiting Detroit Tigers, dropping the nightcap of Sunday’s day-night doubleheader.
The Orioles had an uplifting finish to the first game Sunday on Colton Cowser’s game-winning three-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning.
“I feel like you’re always just a couple wins away from getting on a roll,” Cowser said. “I feel like we have the clubhouse to do it. I think everyone has the right mindset in here and just got to keep showing up and getting your work in and playing good, clean baseball.”
Manager Craig Albernaz said he hopes for more high-energy moments for the fans.
“Any game we’re in, we never feel like we’re out of it,” Albernaz said.
The Rays are coming off their American League East showdown with the New York Yankees, who won 2-0 on Sunday on Aaron Judge’s two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning. The teams split two games, with another game postponed until September.
With the limited offense, Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said the Rays needed to be sharp in all areas and that wasn’t the case.
“Tight ballgame, we did two things on the basepaths that really reduce your chances of winning,” Cash said.
Tampa Bay, which is 16-4 this month, hasn’t lost back-to-back games since a three-game skid from April 19-21.
As they head to Baltimore, the Rays should be in good shape with their pitching between Saturday’s rainout and using one reliever Sunday in Kevin Kelly after Drew Rasmussen threw the first seven innings.
The Orioles were also off Saturday because of a rainout, but that was made up as part of Sunday’s twinbill.
Left-hander Shane McClanahan (5-2, 2.82 ERA) is lined up to make the start for Tampa Bay. He had gone four consecutive starts without allowing a run until giving up four runs in five innings in last Monday’s 16-6 victory over the Orioles.
Still, he’s 7-0 with a 3.25 ERA in 10 career starts vs. the Orioles. The Rays have won each of McClanahan’s last five starts.
Right-hander Kyle Bradish (2-6, 4.13) is lined up to start for Baltimore. He was the pitcher of record in last Tuesday’s 4-1 loss to the Rays, allowing two runs in 5 1/3 innings. Bradish is 2-4 with a 5.62 ERA in eight career starts against Tampa Bay.
Bradish has factored into the decision in each of his last five starts, taking the loss in four of those.
Despite playing two games Sunday, the Orioles might not be taxed too badly with their pitching because reliever Albert Suarez gave them four shutout innings in the nightcap.
“Whenever we call on him, he always seems like he eats up four to five innings on like 50 pitches,” Albernaz said of Suarez. “He throws strikes. He competes. He has no barrel fear. He doesn’t care if he gets hit or not, and he keeps on attacking.”
–Field Level Media
