Out of nowhere last night, the Orioles got a win, and an excellent pitching performance from Dylan Bundy.
Now they’ll try to build on it.
After a tough stretch against the AL Central that included two sweeps and losses of three of four series, the O’s can beat Tampa Bay today and win their fourth series of the year and only their second since April 2.
John Means will get the ball in that endeavor. Means has been the Orioles’ best starter with a 3-3 record and 2.81 ERA, but he’ll have to bounce back from his first bad start this season after he allowed four runs in five innings in a 5-3 loss to the White Sox.
He has faced the Rays once this season, but not in a start. Means pitched the 10th and 11th innings of a 6-5 win on April 18 and was excellent, allowing only one walk and striking out four.
Ryne Stanek will get the ball for Tampa Bay, sporting an 0-1 record with a 2.81 ERA. He started - or, rather, opened - against the Orioles on April 17, going just one inning before giving way to Yonny Chirinos.
It is raining in Baltimore, so there’s a possibility of a delay or postponement lingering. Should they make it out, these will be the lineups:
Orioles
Jonathan Villar 2B
Trey Mancini RF
Dwight Smith Jr. LF
Renato Nunez DH
Hanser Alberto 3B
Chris Davis 1B
Joey Rickard CF
Pedro Severino C
Richie Martin SS
- John Means LHP
Rays
Yandy Diaz 3B
Tommy Pham DH
Daniel Robertson 2B
Avisail Garcia RF
Ji-Man Choi 1B
Mike Zunino C
Kevin Kiermaier CF
Guillermo Heredia LF
Willy Adames SS
- Ryne Stanek RHP