Rays at Orioles
One night after riding a grand slam to their third victory in a row, the Tampa Bay Rays had the tables turned on them by the Baltimore Orioles. Despite absorbing a 7-1 drubbing on Saturday night, Tampa Bay can secure its fifth consecutive road series victory when it wraps up a four-game set against the Orioles on Sunday afternoon at Camden Yards.
Rookie Mike Brosseau accounted for the Rays' only run with his sixth home run - five of which have come against Baltimore in 23 at-bats. Tommy Pham had to exit Friday's game with a jammed wrist but he had two hits Saturday to improve to 5-for-12 in the series for Tampa Bay, which lost for only the second time in its last 13 road contests. While the Rays dropped a half-game behind Cleveland for the top wild card, the Orioles halted a 12-game losing streak against American League East foes as Pedro Severino hit a grand slam. Jonathan Villar and Hanser Alberto each homered among two hits for Baltimore - the fourth in six games for Villar and third in five contests for Alberto.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), MASN2 (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Diego Castillo (2-6, 3.44 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Dylan Bundy (5-13, 5.03)
Castillo will make his 51st appearance when he serves as the opener before turning the ball over to Jalen Beeks, who pitched five innings in each of his last two appearances while taking the loss both times. The lefty gave up four runs (two earned) versus Seattle on Tuesday and was roughed up for five runs and eight hits at San Diego on Aug. 14. Beeks struggled in a relief appearance against the Orioles on April 18, giving up three runs and six hits over six innings.
Bundy gets a chance to atone for a wretched performance against Tampa Bay in the first game after the All-Star break, when he was tattooed for seven runs and eight hits in just one inning. He split a pair of decisions against the Rays earlier this season, earning the win with 7 1/3 scoreless innings of three-hit ball on May 4 and taking the loss after allowing three runs and three hits over five innings on April 16. Avisail Garcia is 6-for-13 with a home run against Bundy.
WALK-OFFS
1. Garcia was hitless in four at-bats in his first game coming off the injured list.
2. Villar needs one homer to become the sixth player in franchise history with 20 blasts and 20 stolen bases.
3. Rays LHP Jose Alvarado, who served as the opener Saturday, is heading to the IL with an elbow issue.