Orioles at Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays franchise is in its 22nd year of existence and has never held more than a six-game lead in the American League East at any point of the season, but it finds itself on the brink of breaking through that glass ceiling less than one month into the 2019 campaign. The Rays will try to do that and set a club record for the best start in team history Tuesday when they host the Baltimore Orioles.
Tampa Bay has already recorded two five-game winning streaks and won each of its first five series to match the 2010 team for the best mark after 16 games (12-4), building an early 5 1/2-game edge over the Orioles and New York Yankees. "We have the team to make this a very special season. The way everything is clicking right now, we're going to try to keep this thing rolling as long as possible," Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier told reporters after Sunday's 8-4 victory in Toronto to complete a 7-2 road trip. Baltimore wasted a 4-1 start to its season by dropping eight of its next nine before generating some momentum by taking two of its last three in Boston to split a four-game set with the Red Sox. Struggling slugger Chris Davis came alive in the two wins, snapping a 0-for-54 stretch - a major-league record for a position player - with a 3-for-5 effort Saturday before clubbing a two-run homer in Monday's 8-1 triumph.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Baltimore), FS Sun (Tampa Bay)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Dylan Bundy (0-1, 8.76 ERA) vs. Rays RH Tyler Glasnow (3-0, 0.53)
Bundy surrendered a major league-worst 41 home runs in 2018 and is struggling to keep the ball in the park again this season, giving up six across his last two starts despite working only 8 2/3 innings. The Oklahoma native struck out a season-high eight Thursday against Oakland but took the loss after getting pounded for six runs on seven hits - four homers - in five frames. Kiermaier is 4-for-9 with two home runs versus Bundy, who is 3-4 with a 6.30 ERA in 10 career appearances (nine starts) against the Rays.
Glasnow became only the second pitcher in club history to get the victory in three straight starts and yield no more than one run in any of them Wednesday, allowing two hits and fanning a career-high 11 across six frames at the Chicago White Sox. The 25-year-old extended his scoreless streak to 16 innings in the outing and has only permitted a total of five singles in his last two starts. Glasnow settled for a no-decision in his only career turn versus the Orioles last season, giving up one run in four frames.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rays OF Tommy Pham has reached base safely in a club-record 47 straight games - the longest active streak in the majors.
2. Baltimore 3B Renato Nunez is riding a six-game hitting streak and batting .349 over his last 11 outings.
3. Tampa Bay is 53-29 since last year's All-Star break - the best mark of any team in the majors over that span.