Game 23: Rays at Baltimore Orioles — Pregame News and Notes

Updated 3:30 pm After recording a fifth straight win on Wednesday in Baltimore, the Rays will look to sweep the rain-shortened two-game series with the Orioles tonight. Tampa Bay has scored eight runs or more in each of the past four games, setting a new franchise record.

The lineup has been fairly unchanged during this stretch, with tonight’s exception that Brad Miller is the DH, and C.J. Cron will play first.

Span LF

Cron 1B

Gomez RF

Miller DH

Robertson 3B

Wendle 2B

Ramos C

Smith CF

Hechavarria SS

The Rays have not won more than five consecutive games under Kevin Cash, so winning tonight will set a new mark.

Chris Archer (1–1 6.59) will get the start for the Rays and is facing a team he has traditionally struggled against. Archer is 5–8 with a 4.81 ERA against Baltimore, and at Camden Yards he’s 1–5 with a 6.69 ERA, with his only win there on August 31, 2015. Here’s the lineup he’ll face:

Mancini LF

Peterson 2B

Machado SS

Jones CF

Davis 1B

Alvarez DH

Valencia 3B

Santander RF

Joseph C

The Orioles will start Dylan Bundy (1–2 1.42), who to this point has been the best pitcher on Baltimore’s staff. Bundy has given up two runs or fewer in all five of his starts. However, the Orioles are 2–3 in those outings.

Matt Duffy will not be in the lineup tonight, but is scheduled to make a rehab appearance with the Charlotte Stone Crabs. Duffy is eligible to come off the DL from a hamstring strain on Friday.

Here’s what happened yesterday in the Rays system:

Durham (8–10) fell 5–2 to Blue Jays affiliate Buffalo. Willy Adames drew a walk and had two hits.

Montgomery (6–14) dropped a 5–2 game to Milwaukee affiliate Biloxi. Brandon Lowe doubled and homered in the defeat.

Charlotte (11–11) won an 11–4 game at Mets affiliate St Lucie. Jesus Sanchez doubled and homered.

Bowling Green (10–10) lost 17–4 to Cubs affiliate South Bend. Ronaldo Hernandez and Vidal Brujan had two hits apiece.

Coverage of tonight’s Rays game begins at 6:30 p.m. on the Rays Radio Network, and Dave and Andy will have the call with first pitch at 7:05.