Tampa Bay Rays vs. Baltimore Orioles Pick & Prediction SEPTEMBER 8th 2024
Preview and Prediction
With only three weeks remaining in the regular season, each game holds increased significance for the Baltimore Orioles. The team is currently embroiled in a tight race in the American League East, and they will strive to end their six-game homestand on a positive note when they take on the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday afternoon.
Following a series win against the Chicago White Sox to kick off the homestand, the Orioles (82-61) have split the first two games of their three-game series against the Rays. Their most recent outing resulted in a 7-1 defeat at the hands of Tampa Bay.
With this loss, Baltimore has fallen into second place in the AL East, now trailing the New York Yankees by a half-game. The Orioles have struggled to regain their momentum since the All-Star break, posting a record of 24-23 in the second half of the season.
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"We're keeping an eye on what's happening around the league," remarked Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde. "We're exhausted, but our players are doing a commendable job of persevering, and I have faith that we will finish the season strong."
Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson expressed confidence that the team still has time to recapture their early season success, when they boasted a record of 53-31 heading into the month of July.
"We just need to play our game. There's no secret formula," Henderson stated. "We just need to continue playing with intensity. Our fortunes are bound to change at some point."
Although the Rays (70-72) are unlikely to secure a spot in the AL wild-card race, their victory on Saturday certainly improved their chances. Center fielder Jose Siri made a crucial play by robbing Henderson of a home run in the fourth inning.
"That catch was a game-changer," commented Rays shortstop Taylor Walls during a postgame interview with Bally Sports Florida & Sun. "It took the momentum and all of the energy out of the stadium."
Siri's defensive heroics were a frustrating sight for the Orioles, who have struggled to generate power at the plate. Of their 17 hits in the past three games, only 14 have been singles.
"We need to capitalize on our opportunities early in the game, to gain some momentum," Hyde acknowledged. "Unfortunately, we didn't do that (on Saturday)."
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In the series finale, the Orioles will send their ace Corbin Burnes (13-7, 3.19 ERA) to the mound. Burnes snapped a personal three-game losing streak in his last start against the Chicago White Sox, allowing just one earned run on six hits over five innings.
Burnes has faced the Rays twice this season, earning a win and posting an impressive 2.08 ERA. The 29-year-old right-hander has a career record of 1-0 against Tampa Bay.
The Rays will counter with right-hander Zack Littell (5-9, 4.04), who is making his second start since returning from the injured list due to fatigue in his throwing shoulder. In his last outing against the Minnesota Twins, Littell lasted just four innings and gave up four runs and seven hits.
In six career appearances (four starts) against the Orioles, Littell has a record of 0-2 with a 3.28 ERA.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Baltimore Orioles Recap SEP 8TH 2024
Jonny DeLuca belted a two-run homer and Zack Littell led five Tampa Bay pitchers by throwing five shutout innings in the Rays' 2-0 victory against the host Baltimore Orioles on Sunday afternoon.
Relievers Richard Lovelady, Kevin Kelly, Garrett Cleavinger and Edwin Uceta all contributed to the combined five-hitter.
The Rays (71-72) won the final two contests of the three-game series, holding Baltimore (82-62) to one run in those 18 innings. The Orioles are jockeying for first place in the American League East with the New York Yankees, but they had a rough weekend against a team that they defeated in the nine of the first 11 meetings of the season.
Gunnar Henderson had three of Baltimore's five hits. Cedric Mullins, who hit a solo home run Saturday, had the other two hits, including a one-out single in the ninth inning, for the Orioles.
Littell (6-9), in his second outing since a stint on the injured list with shoulder fatigue, limited the Orioles to three hits and one walk while striking out four in five innings.
Uceta worked the final 1 2/3 innings for his second save. The Orioles had two runners on base in the ninth with two outs before Coby Mayo struck out to end the game.
DeLuca's sixth homer of the season - and second in seven days - came in the sixth inning off Orioles ace Corbin Burnes (13-8). Burnes allowed seven hits with two walks and three strikeouts in his six-inning stint.
Jose Caballero joined DeLuca, who had the game's lone extra-base hit, with two hits for the Rays, who went 4-3 during the past week against potential AL playoff teams Minnesota and Baltimore.
The Orioles' first two batters of the eighth reached base against Cleavinger with Mayo's walk and Henderson's infield single. Cleavinger struck out Adley Rutschman before Uceta was summoned from the bullpen and fanned pinch hitter Eloy Jimenez and Anthony Santander.
The Orioles wrapped up a 3-3 homestand against two teams (Chicago White Sox was the other) with losing records.