Gameday Thread: Rays (14-11) @ O's (14-11)

	Today's Starting Pitchers	GS	IP	ERA	WHIP	BAA	BB	K	W-L
	Jason Hammel - RH	4	25.0	4.32	1.24	.240	8	15	2-1
	Garrett Olson - LH (2007 Stats)	7	32.1	7.79	2.16	.326	28	28	1-3

THE BATTLE FOR FIRST PLACE BEGINS! 7:05 on MASN2. BE THERE.

Garrett Olson is up from Norfolk to make today's start with Adam Loewen on the DL, and I'm pretty OK with that. I don't want Loewen to be on the DL, but I will say that I think Olson at this point is probably a better pitcher. Which doesn't mean he'll be any good. He was rocked pretty hard last season when he got called up, but his strikeout rate was encouraging if nothing else. And really, there was nothing else.

Olson was dominating at Norfolk (1.85/1.36, 25 K in five starts), so hopefully he'll just come in and throw strikes and not be overwhelmed by what is sure to be a rollicking crowd at the Yard tonight. This three-game series with Tampa Bay is the last time the O's will play at home until May 13.

Hammel is a big guy (6'6", 220) and went to Treasure Valley Community College, and the fine numbers he's putting up this season are the first time he's done so in the majors. He was socked around much like Olson was last season in both 2006 (7.77/1.86) and 2007 (6.14/1.65). He's always done well at Triple-A, but so have a lot of guys. He's not a big strikeout pitcher despite his size and decent stuff.

Note below that the D-Rays are pretty strong 3-through-8 tonight. Hinske has raked when he's been in this year, and they're hitting him eighth while Iwamura and Crawford fail to get on for Upton, Pena, Longoria and lefty-killer Gomes.