Sunday afternoon Orioles game thread: vs. Rays, 1:05

So much of this series with the Tampa Bay Rays, the first of the second half, has looked ugly for the Orioles. Baltimore lost a pair of games by 16-4 and 12-4 scores - and yet, thanks to a 2-1 win in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday, the O’s have a chance at a split this afternoon.

How often to you get outscored 29-10 and get a chance to pull even?

The Orioles will give the ball to Tom Eshelman, who has appeared in one game with the O’s this season. It was a start against these same Rays, and Eshelman was solid, going five innings while allowing two runs on six hits and one walk. He was in line for the win before the Rays rallied against Branden Kline, and Tampa Bay won 6-3.

Eshelman, a second-round pick in the 2015 draft out of Cal State Fullerton, was acquired in a trade with the Phillies and has gone 2-5 with a 4.56 ERA at the AA and AAA levels with both organizations this season.

His counterpart today will be the same as his first start. Ryne Stanek will take the mound for the Rays, and is currently 0-2 with a 3.26 ERA. In his last start against the Orioles, he went two scoreless innings while allowing one hit and one walk before being lifted for Ryan Yarbrough.

The quick hook was nothing new with Stanek. He’s worked often as an opener for the Rays, and as such has made 25 starts, the most in Major League Baseball.

Orioles lineup

Jonathan Villar 2B

Anthony Santander LF

Trey Mancini RF

Renato Nunez DH

Pedro Severino C

Chris Davis 1B

Hanser Alberto 3B

Stevie Wilkerson CF

Richie Martin SS

• Tom Eshelman RHP

Rays lineup

Austin Meadows RF

Tommy Pham LF

Kevin Kiermaier CF

Nate Lowe DH

Mike Brosseau 3B

Ji-Man Choi 1B

Willy Adames SS

Joey Wendle 2B

Mike Zunino C

• Ryne Stanek RHP