Orioles at Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays owned a one-half game advantage in the American League East after winning six of their first 10 games in June, but the inability to win consecutive games for nearly three weeks has them staring at a seven-game deficit in the division. The Rays were able to string back-to-back victories together for the first time since June 9-10 over the weekend and look to make it three in a row on Monday when they host the opener of a three-game set against the Baltimore Orioles.
Tampa Bay (48-36) moved a season-high 17 games over .500 after defeating Oakland three weeks ago before a prolonged stretch against two AL division leaders and six more games versus the Athletics contributed to a stretch in which the club went 4-11. The Rays rediscovered the early pitching excellence that served as the foundation for their major-league best 3.21 team ERA in an 18-inning triumph in Minnesota and closed June by winning three of four after beating Texas 6-2 on Sunday. Majors-worst Baltimore (24-59) missed an opportunity to secure its first sweep of the season, ending a bizarre three-game series in which it became the first club in major-league history to post consecutive shutouts of at least 13-0 with Sunday's 2-0 loss to Cleveland. The Orioles did not give up a home run in three games to the Indians after surrendering a major-league high 165 entering the weekend.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN (Baltimore), FS Sun (Tampa Bay)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles TBD vs. Rays RH Ryne Stanek (0-1, 2.76 ERA)
Dylan Bundy is expected to be moved back in the rotation and start Tuesday’s game, but manager Brandon Hyde did not announce who would get the nod in the series opener. Left-hander Tanner Scott was also optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday to potentially open up space for a pitcher to be called up and start Monday. The Orioles may opt for a bullpen game with righty Jimmy Yacabonis being a potential choice to get the start.
Stanek labored through his most recent outing as an opener Thursday in Minnesota, throwing a season-high 40 pitches while giving up two runs on three hits over two innings. It was a rare bump in the road in that role for the 27-year-old, who owns a 2.25 ERA in his 23 starts - games in which Tampa Bay is 15-8. Trey Mancini is 2-for-7 with a home run versus Stanek, who struck out the side as the opener in his only inning of work against the Orioles on April 17.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Rays never trailed in Sunday's victory after having fallen behind in 16 of their previous 18 contests - by multiple runs in 14 of those games.
2. The Orioles struck out 14 times Sunday, marking the eighth time this season they have recorded that many in a game this season.
3. Tampa Bay is 21-8 against sub-.500 opponents in 2019.