ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Following a trip to the Golden State that yielded a 3-4 mark against Oakland and San Diego, the Rays return to Tropicana Field to open a six-game homestand.
Tampa Bay is an eye-opening 31-7 at home.
The Baltimore Orioles will get things started with a quickie two-game series beginning Tuesday night (6:40) and concluding Wednesday afternoon (12:10). Kansas City will be at the Trop for a four-game series that gets underway Thursday evening (6:40).
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The Orioles (44-27), who will visit St. Pete for the first time this season, are in second place and five games behind the Rays (51-24) in the American League East. Baltimore is only three back in the loss column. The teams met in the Charm City in early May, with the O’s taking two of three.
Baltimore and Tampa Bay are two of the highest-scoring teams in MLB. The Rays are second with an average of 5.53 runs per game, and the O’s are tied for eighth (Angels) at 4.93. The Rays’ 117 home runs are second in the majors to the Dodgers’ 126, and their .263 average is fifth.
On the mound, the Rays have an ERA of 3.49 that is second to Houston’s 3.33. The Orioles are 15th at 4.15.
Tyler Glasnow (2-0, 3.43) will be on the mound Tuesday night and he will be opposed by Kyle Bradish (2-3, 3.90). Glasnow picked up the win in Oakland last Wednesday when he allowed six hits, four walks and three earned runs in 5 1/3 innings. He will make his fifth start after missing the season’s first two months due to an oblique strain.
In the news: Tampa Bay Rays Resume West Coast Trip In San Diego
The Rays will go with Taj Bradley (4-3, 4.19) on Wednesday with Tyler Wells (6-2, 3.20) taking the mound for Baltimore. It will be the 22-year-old Bradley’s 10th start of his rookie season. In has been rough of late for the righthander, who over his last three starts has a 5.53 ERA and has walked 10 batters in 13 innings.
At 19-52 Kansas City is mere percentage points ahead of Oakland for the worst record in the majors. The Royals are 28th among 30 teams with a staff ERA of 5.22. Their .233 average is 23rd and their 65 homers are 25th. The Royals have a three-game series in Detroit before arriving at the Trop.
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