A pair of division rivals — the Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles — that are coming off a pair of series splits will open a three-game set against one another Friday night at the Trop. One team enters play at the top of the American League East, while the other has got the bottom of the division on lock. I’ll let you guess which team is which.
The Rays are 16-10 against opponents from the AL East, and they swept the Orioles earlier in the season. Tampa Bay is averaging 4.7 RBI per game this season, and 4.29 RPG the last 14 days. Austin Meadows leads the team with 48 total runs batted in, 31 extra-base hits, and is slugging .511.
Meanwhile, the Orioles are 8-15 against AL East teams, although they have been on an offensive upswing of late, slashing .271 BA/.326 OBP/.428 SLG/.804 OPS the last 14 days. Baltimore has done what they’re wont to do, hitting 67 home runs overall. Trey Mancini leads the team with 11. Cedric Mullins leads the Orioles with 29 extra-base hits and is slugging .536.
Tampa Bay has a combined .212 batting average and a 6-4 record over the last 10 games, outscoring opponents by 18 runs. The pitching staff boasts a 2.65 ERA over that stretch. Meanwhile, the Orioles are 5-5 over their last 10 games, hitting .281 and outscoring opponents by just four runs. And while Baltimore’s bats have pummeled opponents of late, the pitching staff has performed to a lackluster 4.45 ERA.
The Rays are 3-0 against the Orioles this season, posting an +18 run differential in so doing.
Pitching Probables
Kevin Cash will turn to Ryan Yarbrough (3-3, 3.95 ERA), Rich Hill (5-2, 3.05 ERA), and a pitcher/pitchers to be named before the series finale. Brandon Hyde will counter with Keegan Akin (0-0, 3.60 ERA), Jorge López (2-6, 5.30 ERA), Bruce Zimmermann (4-3, 4.83 ERA).
Ryan Yarbrough allowed two runs on six hits and no walks while striking out six in a complete game against the Yankees on Thursday. Yarbrough earned his first win in nearly a month during Thursday’s outing, and he also snapped the Rays’ five-year streak without a complete game. The only damage the southpaw allowed came on a pair of solo home runs in the third and seventh innings, although he got plenty of run support from Tampa Bay’s offense. Yarbrough lowered his ERA to 3.95 and maintains a 1.14 WHIP across 66 innings (12 appearances) this season. He was battered around by Baltimore in his lone appearance against the Orioles earlier this season, allowing three runs on six hits, including three homers, and two walks across six innings.
Keegan Akin allowed three hits and one walk while striking out four across five scoreless innings on Friday against Cleveland. Akin was dominant in his second consecutive start, but he didn’t get any run support from the Orioles early in Friday’s contest. The southpaw has allowed just one run in 9-2/3 innings across his last two starts. Akin is 0-0 with a 6.00 ERA in one start (three innings) against the Rays this season, having allowed two runs on five hits and a walk. Key Matchups: Randy Arozarena (1-1), Yandy Díaz (1-2), Austin Meadows (1-3), Joey Wendle (1-2)
Rich Hill was again fantastic last Saturday, scattering two hits and a walk across five scoreless frames. He struck out three. The left-hander extended his latest scoreless streak to 12 innings with his performance, dating back to the final two frames of his outing against the Royals on May 25. Hill added a new weapon to his arsenal, a changeup, which he rolled out a handful of times during his outing. Because of it, he got a couple of welcomed ground ball outs.
I like to be creative out there, and if I feel that it’s the right time to throw it, I’ll throw it. … It’s just a feel. It’s like, ‘Oh, hey, let’s, you know, changeup.’ There’s just so many things that I love about pitching. … Being able to control the timing and changing speeds. So changing speeds changes the bat speed, and being able to do that is something that is part of the craft that I really love.
— Rich Hill
Since the start of May, Hill has performed to a 0.68 ERA, an 0.81 WHIP, and 3.00 K/BB across 39-2/3 innings.
Jorge López allowed three runs on four hits and three walks while striking out two in five innings to earn the win against Cleveland on Sunday. López earned his first win since April 16 in Sunday’s matchup, and he’s now lasted at least five innings in each of his last four starts. The righty has posted a 5.30 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in 56 innings across 12 starts to begin the season. He relies primarily on a 95 mph sinker with slight arm-side run, a whiffy 95 mph four-seam fastball, and an 82 mph curveball with sharp downward bite and 12-6 movement, while also mixing in a firm 88 mph changeup with arm-side fade and natural sink. López is 0-0 with a 3.00 ERA in three career outings (two starts) against the Rays, although he has not faced them this season. Key Matchups: Randy Arozarena (1-3, HR, 2 RBI), Mike Brosseau (2-5), Kevin Kiermaier (2-5, 2B), Brandon Lowe (2-3), Manuel Margot (1-1)
TBA
Bruce Zimmermann allowed two runs on six hits with seven strikeouts and two walks over 5-1/3 innings against the Twins on Tuesday. The 26-year-old set a season-high with seven strikeouts and has given up three runs across 10-1/3 innings with a 4.33 K/BB in his past two starts. Zimmermann has a 4.96 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, and 2.87 K/BB over 49 innings (10 starts) on the season. He relies primarily on an 85 mph slider with 12-6 movement and an 89 mph worm-killer sinker with natural sinking action, while also mixing in an 89 mph four-seam fastball, a whiffy 84 mph circle changeup, and an 80 mph curveball with 12-6 movement. Zimmermann is 0-0 with a 15.00 ERA in one career start (three innings) against the Rays. Key Matchup: Joey Wendle (1-1)
Noteworthiness
— It bears mentioning…
— The Rays have acquired RHP Matt Wisler and cash considerations from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for farmhand LHP Michael Plassmeyer. To make room on the 40-man roster, C Deivy Grullón was designated for assignment.
— 1B/DH Ji-Man Choi got eight at-bats in Port Charlotte on Friday and is expected to play the field Saturday in game action. He will then be re-evaluated. Choi is eligible to come off the Injured List as soon as Sunday.