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The Rays players and coaching staff meet on the field following the series salvaging, 5-1 win against the Pirates, Wednesday. (Mandatory photo credit Anthony Ateek/X-Rays Spex)

If you subscribe to the idea that the Tampa Bay Rays still have a shot at remaining relevant in the second half of the season, the two upcoming series’ against the Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees are incredibly important. After all, no one has run away with things in the AL East — making an 85 win playoff berth seem reasonable — and the Rays have an opportunity to gain some major ground against their direct competition (to the tune of seven games) over the next six days. It all starts Friday, when the good guys head to Baltimore for a four game set against the Orioles, including a double header in the series opener.

The definition of a gauntlet is a severe trial; an ordeal, and I’d imagine the next four games against the Orioles fit that description well. The Rays have won only one measly game against Baltimore this season. And though Tampa Bay has been competitive in six of their eight previous meetings, it’s not going to be easy the next few days. Historically, Tampa Bay has risen to the occasion when faced with a challenge, yet that fight has been largely absent this season.

Rays and Orioles series starters.
Rays and Orioles series starters.
Rays and Orioles offensive production at home, away, and over the last 14 days.
Rays and Orioles offensive production at home, away, and over the last 14 days.
Rays and Orioles, by the numbers.
Rays and Orioles, by the numbers.

Kevin Gausman: Stacey Folkemer of Camden Chat writes, “As for Gausman, as long as he continues to pitch as well as he has been, he isn’t going anywhere. Since his ill-advised start against the Tigers on May 14th, Gausman has put together three straight good games against the A’s, Blue Jays, and Rays. That’s two good hitting teams and the Rays. This will be his first time this season seeing a team for the second time, so it will be interesting to see if the Rays will make adjustments after Gausman pitched six shutout innings against them on June 18th.” It should be mentioned, the Rays were able to tag Gausman for five hits and a walk, so it’s not as though they were facing King Felix. Pair that with the thought that a handful of players have put together good numbers against the Orioles 23 year-old RHP, though that productivity is over an incredibly small sample size. Key matchups: Yunel Escobar (4-5, RBI), Kevin Kiermaier (1-3), Evan Longoria (2-6, 2B, RBI, BB), Ben Zobrist (4-7, 2 2B, 2 RBI).

Chris Tillman: Since getting knocked out of the game after just one inning against the Texas Rangers at the beginning of June, Chris Tillman has put together decent starts against the Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Yankees. He pitched reasonably deep into those games, and didn’t give up a lot of runs, though he struggled with walks — walking seven in that span, and striking out five in 20 innings. Those aren’t promising numbers. Evan Longoria has owned Tillman over 30 plate appearances with 11 hits including two doubles and five home runs. He’s also walked five times. Matt Joyce has an OPS of .987 in 25 plate appearances with two homers, a double, and a triple. And Ben Zobrist has only had six hits against Tillman in his career (.188 BA), but three of them are home runs. Key matchups: Ryan Hanigan (1-2), Matt Joyce (7-24, 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, BB), Evan Longoria (11-27, 2 2B, 5 HR, 7 RBI, 3 BB).

Wei-Yin Chen: The Rays were able to cull their only win against the Orioles when Chen took the mound on the 16th. Much like Erik Bedard (who will oppose the Orioles LHP, Saturday) Chen tends to operate on a pitch count, and the Rays will have an opportunity to see a lot of pitches and knock Chen out of the game early. Per Folkemer, “Look for a lot of righties against Chen, as they reach base a bit more often against him (.303 OBP vs .314 OBP), but hit for power quite a bit higher (.407 SLG vs .466 SLG).” Key matchups: Brandon Guyer (1-3), Matt Joyce (1-4, 2 BB), James Loney (3-6, 2 2B), Jose Molina (2-5, 2B, RBI, BB), Ben Zobrist (10-28, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB).

Miguel Gonzalez: Gonzalez wasn’t very sharp in his last outing against Tampa Bay, lasting only five innings while relinquishing four runs on eight hits, including a pair of homers. The only thing that saved the O’s in that game were the seven runs they scored. Gonzalez is averaging just over 5-1/2 innings pitched per start, and went just five in his last two. Key matchups: Desmond Jennings (6-22, 4 HR, 7 RBI, 4 BB), Matt Joyce (5-18, 2 2B, RBI, 5 BB), Evan Longoria (6-21, HR, RBI, 2 BB), Jose Molina (4-16, HR, 2 RBI, BB), Sean Rodriguez (1-2, HR, RBI).

Noteworthiness

  • Per Marc Topkin, “Since taking two of three from the Rays last week, the O’s have won four of six, two by walkoff over the White Sox, and moved within 1½ games of first place. They lost RHP Bud Norris to injury however, and should find out today if 3B Manny Machado’s appeal reduced his pending five-game suspension and when he’ll start serving. OF/DH Nelson Cruz leads the majors with 64 RBIs and shares the home run lead with 24 as the O’s rank among the AL’s top offenses.” The Orioles have turned a major-league most 93 double plays , while the Rays have hit into a major-league co-leading 73.
  • The Rays on the other hand, have gone 5-5 in their last 10-games, also winning their eight of their last 15, while averaging just under four runs per game in that span.
  • The Orioles lead the season series 7-1; 143-142 overall, 74-65 in Baltimore.

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