The Baltimore Orioles are staring down a critical Sunday afternoon showdown against the Tampa Bay Rays, needing every win they can get right now. Despite their incredible 8-4 record this season against the AL East-leading Rays, including winning eight of their last nine against them (they’re the only team to beat the Rays 6+ times!), the O’s are still clinging to a 63-67 record. With six other American League teams clustered between 61 and 64 wins, every single game is a near must-win if Baltimore wants to keep pushing for a playoff spot.
Shane Baz’s Personal Run Support Hell: Will It Doom The O’s Today?
Forget the team record for a second; let’s talk about the nightmare that is Shane Baz’s run support. The 27-year-old right-hander is literally almost dead last among qualified starting pitchers, getting an average of a pathetic 3.12 runs of support per game , 53rd out of 55! And it’s only gotten worse recently: in his last 10 starts, the Orioles are averaging a measly 2.7 runs per game, which has tragically doomed Baz to a 1-9 record in those games. That’s brutal, man. Here’s the kicker though: Baz has absolutely dominated his former team, the Rays, in his two previous outings as an Oriole. Back on May 20th in Tropicana Field, he tossed 6 innings of 2-hit ball, allowing just 1 run and striking out six. Just six days later, he faced them again in Baltimore and posted an equally impressive line of 7 innings pitched, 7 hits, 1 earned run, 2 walks, and 9 Ks. If he can pull off another gem today, the Orioles might not need a huge offensive explosion to grab this win.
Nick Martinez’s Slump and Pete Alonso’s Red-Hot Bat Set Up a Showdown
On the bump for the Rays is 36-year-old right-hander Nick Martinez, who’s had an All-Star season, leading their rotation in bWAR (3.0) and innings pitched (141.2), while ranking second in ERA (3.05). But don’t let those numbers fool you for *this* game. Martinez is in the middle of his absolute worst stretch of the season, posting a 5.96 ERA and a .303 batting average against over his last four starts. Even better for the Orioles, he’s averaging one home run allowed per game over his last eight starts! Talk about a potential feast for the Baltimore lineup. That has to light a fire under Pete Alonso, whose bat has been red-hot, and the rest of the middle of the Orioles’ order. Today marks Martinez’s first time pitching in Camden Yards since 2015, when he took an L against an Orioles lineup that featured Manny Machado, Adam Jones, and Chris Davis. Jackson Holliday, Gunnar Henderson, and Samuel Basallo will be leading the charge for the current generation of O’s, looking to add another loss to Martinez’s Camden Yards resume and secure a crucial victory.
This series started with excellent pitching from Trevor Rogers and Brandon Young, and now it all comes down to Baz to complete the sweep. This isn’t just another game; it’s a massive chance to gain ground in a ridiculously tight AL race. The Orioles need to capitalize on Martinez’s struggles and finally give Baz the run support he deserves. Let’s see if they can get it done!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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