Baltimore @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 4, 2012 ) Baltimore 4, Tampa Bay 0

Tampa Bay’s David Price is the leader of the hottest pitching staff in baseball and he’ll try to extend his winning streak to seven games – and become baseball’s first 15-game winner – when the Rays host the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday in the rubber match of their three-game series. Price, who is 6-2 with a 2.45 ERA against the Orioles, hasn’t lost since a 9-1 setback to the New York Mets on June 13. Tampa Bay leads the majors in ERA (2.41), strikeouts (220) and batting average against (.206) since the All-Star break.

Baltimore evened the series with a 4-0 victory on Saturday to move back into a tie with Tampa Bay. They are 1½ games behind the Los Angeles Angels for the final American League wild card spot. The Orioles’ Miguel Gonzalez will look for a better result against Tampa Bay after the Rays torched him for seven runs in a 10-1 loss on July 25. Price was the recipient that game of a rare offensive outburst by Tampa Bay, which has scored only 71 runs in 21 games since the break, a big reason it is only 11-10 during that span.

TV: 1:40 p.m. ET, MASN, WJZ (Baltimore), Sun Sports (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Miguel Gonzalez (3-2, 4.46 ERA) vs. Rays LH David Price (14-4, 2.64)

After three long relief appearances to begin his major league career, Gonzalez has settled nicely into the rotation. He allowed four runs, six hits (three homers) and struck out eight in 6 2/3 innings in a 5-4 victory at Yankee Stadium on Monday and has won all three of his road starts. The Rays scored five runs in the first inning against Gonzalez in the previous meeting. Gonzalez has yielded seven homers in his last three starts, including two by Tampa Bay.

Price received a no-decision when he allowed three runs, five hits and struck out 11 in Tampa Bay’s 4-3 loss at Oakland on Monday. Price has averaged nine strikeouts in his last four games, including 10 against the Orioles on July 25. Baltimore’s roster is hitting .232 against Price, with Nick Markakis (9-for-29) and Matt Wieters (7-for-24) having the most success. Adam Jones and Mark Reynolds are a combined 8-for-46, but Reynolds is responsible for the only two homers against Price.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tampa Bay’s bullpen pitched five shutout innings Saturday and has allowed two runs in its last 48 frames.

2. Baltimore 2B Brian Roberts had season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right hip and manager Buck Showalter said he could be ready for spring training.

3. Rays 3B Evan Longoria, out since April 30 with a hamstring injury, could rejoin Tampa Bay next week as his rehab work with Triple-A Durham is going well.