This weekend, Tampa Bay faces Baltimore in a critical division match-up. With only five games separating first and fifth in the A.L. East, all three games are must win…for both teams.
Since the teams inaugural season in 1998, the Rays (Devil Rays back then) have developed classic baseball rivalries with everyone in the American League East…including the Baltimore Orioles.
For the only the second time this season, the two foes face off. Baltimore (35-37) holds the season record lead after taking 2-of-3 from the Rays (39-36) earlier in the year. But Tampa Bay currently holds the edge over all, leading the Orioles by 2.5 games. But Baltimore does hold the lifetime lead in the match-up 173-164, something Tampa Bay would like to take over.
And they have a chance to this season. This is only the second meeting this year, meaning they will play 16 of the remaining 87 games. In other words, it is entirely possible for the Rays to take over that all-time record by the end of the 2017 season.
Rays Up, Orioles Down
One thing in the Rays favor for this series is the sudden downfall of Baltimore’s play, and vice versa the hot run that Tampa Bay has had the last month. After taking 2-of-3 from the Reds earlier this week, securing another series win, the Rays have only lost one series since the middle of May.
Baltimore on the other hand, has dropped seven series in the same amount of time. They were swept in four of those including back-to-back series against Minnesota and Houston. A good omen for the surging Rays, who are currently rank in the top-5 in nine offensive categories.
The Series Ahead
Photo By Wayne Masut | The Scrum Sports
With the impressive play by Mallex Smith (12-game hit streak), the powerful bat of Logan Morrison (21 home runs), and the strong arm of rookie Jacob Faria (3-0 in three career starts), the Rays have definitely been rejuvenated from a 12-14 April. And of course, there is the all-around play from Corey Dickerson, who leads the American League in hits (94) and is top-5 in nine other batting categories including extra-base hits (39), doubles (20), triples (3), slugging percentage (.583), and batting average (.326).
The Rays are without the bat and fielding of Colby Rasmus, who was put on the 10-day disabled list today, retroactive to June 19th. Shane Peterson, called up from triple-A Durham, will fill in for him while he recovers from left hip tendinitis.
The #Rays place OF Colby Rasmus on the 10-day DL (left hip tendinitis), retro to June 19. OF Shane Peterson has been selected from Durham.
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) June 23, 2017
But with big hitters like Chris Davis, Manny Machado, and Adam Jones coming in this weekend, Rays pitching needs to focus on keeping the balls from becoming souvenirs. Combining for 41 home runs so far this season, those three batters are no strangers to Tropicana Field. Especially Davis, who leads the majors in homers since 2012 (211).
Archer vs. Jimenez
Photo By Wayne Masut | The Scrum Sports
For Friday’s series opener, the Rays send their ace Chris Archer to the mound, who’s coming off back-to-back winning starts and improving to a 5-4 record. He will be facing off against Ubaldo Jimenez, who aside from having a 2-2 record this season, is 5-2 lifetime against Tampa Bay, posting a 3.47 ERA against the Rays.
Here are the complete line-ups for tonight’s game.
Tonight’s starting lineups for #Rays vs #Orioles. First pitch at 7:10pm from The Trop. pic.twitter.com/rpQRmIxgMe
— The Scrum Sports (@TheScrumSports) June 23, 2017
