Two teams entering the final week of disappointing seasons can commiserate with each other starting Tuesday when the Baltimore Orioles play host to the Tampa Bay Rays to begin a three-game series.
The Rays and Orioles hold the bottom spots in the American League East and already have been eliminated from postseason consideration. Both teams have six games remaining.
The Rays (76-80) completed their home schedule by going 3-4 in a homestand vs. the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox. They said farewell to their temporary home by going 41-40 in a minor league ballpark after their domed stadium was damaged in a hurricane last offseason.
“I really like the guys and appreciate the way they’ve gone about it,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said of his team.
Tuesday is the beginning of the final home series for the Orioles (73-83), who dropped three of four games to the visiting New York Yankees before Monday’s day off. Baltimore is 37-41 at home.
The Orioles have several young players who’ve been thrust into regular playing time, and there will be another week for some of them to get major league experience. One of them is corner infielder Coby Mayo.
“I think he’s shown signs of (growth),” Baltimore interim manager Tony Mansolino said. “I think at some point this kid (is) really, really going to hit in the big leagues in a lot of ways. Everybody develops at different rates.”
There’s also a home run race within the Orioles’ lineup. Jackson Holliday has hit a team-leading 17, followed by Gunnar Henderson (16), Colton Cowser (15) and Jordan Westburg (15).
Veteran Rays infielder Brandon Lowe hit his 30th home run of the season Sunday night, marking the second time he has compiled at least that many.
“He’s such a good hitter and I’m happy he was able to get to that round number,” Cash said.
The Rays and Orioles have split 10 meetings this season.
Right-hander Ryan Pepiot (11-11, 3.77 ERA) will make the start for the Rays. He matched his shortest outing of the season when he lasted 1 2/3 innings while giving up four runs to the Blue Jays last Tuesday. That halted his three-game winning streak.
Pepiot’s other 1 2/3-inning stint came June 27 at Baltimore, where he also surrendered four runs in a no-decision. He earned a win against the Orioles on June 16 (one run, 11 strikeouts in eight innings) and registered a loss against them on July 20 when he allowed five runs over six innings.
Pepiot has finished .500 or better in each of his three previous big-league seasons.
Right-hander Dean Kremer (10-10, 4.39 ERA) was the winning pitcher last Tuesday during a road game against the Chicago White Sox, marking his second win over his last 10 starts.
Kremer has a pair of wins this year against the Rays, while in his most recent matchup with Tampa Bay he tossed seven innings and gave up one run in a no-decision.
Catcher Adley Rutschman (oblique) was activated off the 10-day injured list Monday after not playing since Aug. 17. He is batting .227 with nine home runs and 29 RBIs in 85 games this season.
The Rays finish the season at AL East-leading Toronto, while the Orioles visit the second-place Yankees later this week.
–Field Level Media
