Probable pitchers: RHP Chris Basssitt (4-4, 5.27 ERA, 37 Ks) vs. LHP Steven Matz (5-4, 5.46 ERA, 48 Ks)
Where to watch: MASN/MASN+
The Orioles had an opportunity in the immediate wake of yet another trade deadline sell-off. With series against bottom-feeder Angels and fellow Wildcard hopefuls in the Rangers and Twins, the O’s had a chance to really make up ground in their quest for a playoff spot. Instead, Baltimore went 3-6 in those series and now stare down an AL East gauntlet.
Tonight starts a four-game set against the American League-leading Rays, and the first of nine straight games against the Rays and Yankees. The good news for Birdland is that Baltimore remains only two games out of the final AL Wild Card spot. That bad news is they’ll now have to try to make up ground against a Rays team who enters on a nine-game winning streak.
The Rays will look to extending that winning streak by forcing the O’s to face their biggest weakness: a mediocre left-handed starter. Baltimore ranks 25th in team OPS and 29th in average vs. LH starting pitchers. Coby Mayo and Christian Encarnacion-Strand are lefty mashers, but the rest of the lineup has been league average or worse against southpaw starters.
The O’s were able to get after Rays’ starter Steven Matz when he visited Camden Yards in May. The journeyman left-hander only lasted three-innings that day, giving up seven hits, six runs and a majestic two-run blast off the bat of Gunnar Henderson. Matz was significantly better in an earlier may start vs. Orioles in Tropicana Field, limiting the Baltimore bats to three hits and one run over four innings in a 5-3 Rays win.
The Trop has at times been a house of horrors for the Orioles, and a sight of the O’s best victories at other times. Across this season and last season, the O’s are 3-7 in St. Petersburg, having been outscored 27-64 across those 10 games. In 2023 and 2024, however, the O’s went 10-3 in Tropicana Field en route to two playoff appearances. If the 2026 Orioles want to somehow make it back to the postseason, they’ll need to start winning in Western Florida again.
Chris Bassitt makes his first start in black and orange since landing on the IL with a back injury on June 8th. He hasn’t faced the Rays this season, but has a career 3.67 ERA with a .238 batting average against in Tropicana Field.
Orioles Lineup
- Pete Alonso (R) 1B
- Jackson Holliday (L) 2B
- Coby Mayo (R) DH
- Tyler O’Neill (R) RF
- Gunnar Henderson (L) SS
- Christian Encarnacion-Strand (R) 3B
- Leody Taveras (S) LF
- Colton Cowser (L) CF
- Carlos Narváez (R) C
Rays lineup
- Yandy Díaz (R) DH
- Jonathan Aranda (L) 1B
- Chandler Simpson (L) LF
- Junior Caminero (R) 3B
- Liam Hicks (L) C
- Víctor Mesa Jr. (L) RF
- Cedric Mullins (L) CF
- Richie Palacios (L) 2B
- Taylor Walls (S) SS