Rays at Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles were looking for a strong performance from a starting pitcher to spark the team and finally found one on Saturday. The Orioles will try to carry the momentum from a rare win to a series victory when they host the Tampa Bay Rays in the finale of a three-game set on Sunday.
Baltimore leads the majors with 207 runs allowed and ace Dylan Bundy was sporting a 6.67 ERA before he breezed through 7 1/3 scoreless innings while permitting only three hits Saturday to lead the Orioles to a 3-0 victory - their first shutout of the season. Baltimore was on the other end of a shutout in Friday's 7-0 loss and remains tied for the worst record in the American League at 12-22. The Rays own the most wins in the AL (21) but dropped three of their last five games as they near the end of a nine-game road trip. Tampa Bay will try to get back in the win column by throwing opener Ryne Stanek out at the start on Sunday while Baltimore counters with left-hander John Means.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), MASN (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Ryne Stanek (0-1, 2.81 ERA) vs. Orioles LH John Means (3-3, 2.81)
Stanek will serve as the opener and is 0-1 with a 2.31 ERA in eight starts, covering 11 2/3 innings. The 27-year-old's worst start came on Wednesday at Kansas City when he was ripped for three runs on as many hits and a walk while recording three outs. Stanek opened against Baltimore at home on April 17 and struck out the side while allowing one hit in a scoreless inning.
Means allowed one earned run in each of his first three starts but was roughed up for four runs on six hits - two homers - and a walk over five innings in a loss at the Chicago White Sox on Monday. The 26-year-old is 1-3 with a 3.50 ERA as a starter after beginning the season in long relief. Means came on in relief at Tampa Bay on April 18 and earned the win while striking out four over two hitless innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Orioles OF Trey Mancini went 2-for-4 on Saturday after going 0-for-8 with seven strikeouts in the previous two contests.
2. Tampa Bay 2B Brandon Lowe has hit safely in each of his last nine games.
3. Baltimore RF Dwight Smith Jr. homered on Saturday and is 9-for-20 over the last five contests.