Baltimore @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 3, 2012 ) Baltimore 0, Tampa Bay 2

The Tampa Bay Rays are in the thick of the American League playoff race thanks to their pitching staff. Their offense, however, isn’t providing much help. The Rays, who have won five of their last six games, will try to keep their mound dominance rolling – and get their bats going – when they host the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday. The Rays lead the majors in ERA (2.34), strikeouts (208) and opponent batting average (.202) since the All-Star break. Tampa Bay, though, is second-to-last in the American League with 71 runs scored since the break, the main reason it is only 11-9 during that span.

The Rays are a half-game behind Los Angeles in the AL wild card race and took sole possession of second in the AL East – 6 1/2 games behind New York – following Friday’s 2-0 victory over the Orioles. Baltimore is one game behind Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay’s Jeremy Hellickson has returned to the form that landed him the 2011 American League Rookie of the Year award with two straight victories. He will oppose Baltimore rookie Wei-Yin Chen, who has won two of his last three starts. Chen is 0-2 with a 5.84 ERA against Tampa Bay, including a 3-1 loss to Hellickson two starts back July 24.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN, WJZ (Baltimore), Sun Sports (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles LH Wei-Yin Chen (9-6, 3.65 ERA) vs. Rays RH Jeremy Hellickson (6-6, 3.23)

Chen allowed one run, three hits and struck out a season-high 12 in 5 1/3 innings in the Orioles’ 6-1 victory over Oakland on Sunday and one more out would have given him four straight quality starts. Chen, who has a 1.22 WHIP and a batting average against of .233, has been Baltimore’s most consistent starter and a big reason the Orioles remain in the postseason hunt. The Rays are hitting .200 against him in two games.

Prior to his last two starts, Hellickson went 0-6 with three no-decisions in his previous nine outings. He allowed two hits and struck out five in six innings in Tampa Bay’s 2-0 victory at Los Angeles on Sunday after yielding one run and three hits in 6 1/3 innings against Baltimore. Hellickson is 5-2 with a 2.25 ERA lifetime against the Orioles. Baltimore’s roster is hitting .200 against him, although Adam Jones (7-for-24) and Nick Markakis have combined for five homers.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tampa Bay’s bullpen has allowed two runs in its last 43 innings.

2. Baltimore’s Nick Markakis is hitting .359 (33-for-92) since returning from the disabled list July 13 after recovering from a hamate bone fracture.

3. Tampa Bay’s B.J. Upton hit his 100th career homer Friday. He joined Rickey Henderson, Barry Bonds, Bobby Bonds, Cesar Cedeno, Lloyd Moseby, Eric Davis and Hanley Ramirez as the only players in major league history to record 100 homers and 200 stolen bases before their 28th birthday. Upton, who turns 28 on Aug. 21, has 220 steals. His brother – Justin – also hit his 100th career homer Friday for Arizona.