Orioles at Rays (Game 2)
The Tampa Bay Rays are piling up the wins of late and have a great chance to pick up two more in a hurry before Hurricane Dorian hits Florida when they host the last-place Baltimore Orioles for a doubleheader Tuesday. The Rays won Monday's opener of the abbreviated three-game set with a 5-4 triumph in 10 innings, their fifth victory in a row.
Tommy Pham's third hit of the game drove in Joey Wendle with the game-winning run as Tampa Bay remained alone atop the wild-card race in the American League. The Rays will utilize Trevor Richards in the first game Tuesday while the Orioles hand the ball to struggling lefty Ty Blach. The pitching matchups for the second game will be determined by which hurlers gets utilized in the matinee. Hanser Alberto slugged a solo homer Monday for Baltimore, which saw veteran slugger Mark Trumbo contribute a two-run double in his season debut after missing more than a year with a knee injury.
TV: 6:40 p.m. ET, MLB Network, MASN2 (Baltimore), FS Sun (Tampa Bay)
PITCHING MATCHUP: TBD vs. TBD
Asher Wojciechowski gave the Orioles seven innings in the series opener Monday, sparing the bullpen somewhat. That, as well as a handful of imports from the minors as part of September call-ups, will give Baltimore plenty of options as long as Ty Blach gives them some innings in Tuesday's opener. John Means is next up in the regular rotation and would be working on three days of rest if he is needed.
Trevor Richards is working the opener Tuesday and gave the Rays six innings the last time he faced the Orioles, so there's a chance the bullpen could be spared in the matinee. The team brought up left-hander Anthony Banda and Cole Sulser from Triple-A Durham on Monday. Banda threw five innings last Wednesday for Durham and Sulser thrived while working largely out of the bullpen in the minors, recording 89 strikeouts in 66 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Trumbo's hit Monday was his first since Aug. 19, 2018.
2. Rays RF Austin Meadows is batting .340 with four home runs and nine RBIs in 14 games against Baltimore this year.
3. Alberto has multiple hits in five of his last eight games.