Tampa Bay @ Baltimore preview
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Last Meeting ( Aug 5, 2012 ) Baltimore 1, Tampa Bay 0
The Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles each have their eyes on the same prizes and are standing in each other's way to get them. Locked in tight races for both the American League East title and wild card, the teams will open a crucial three-game series Tuesday in Baltimore. The Orioles are coming off a four-game split with New York that left them one game behind the division-leading Yankees and holding down the second wild card by one game over the Rays and Los Angeles.
It could be a make-or-break week for Tampa Bay, which follows the series with Baltimore with a three-game set at Yankee Stadium. The Rays took two of three from Texas over the weekend to improve to 6-2 in September. Both teams feature red-hot sluggers. Baltimore's Mark Reynolds has clubbed nine home runs and driven in 17 runs during a sizzling nine-game stretch, while Tampa Bay's B.J. Upton has gone deep five times in six games.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Sun Sports (Tampa Bay), MASN2 (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays LH Matt Moore (10-9, 3.66 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Miguel Gonzalez (6-4, 3.62)
Moore lost his second straight start last time out, giving up six runs - four earned - and striking out nine in a 6-4 loss to the Yankees. It ended a string of nine consecutive starts in which he had not allowed more than three runs. Pitching deep into games continues to be an issue for the rookie southpaw, who has gone beyond 6 1/3 innings once in his last eight starts. He blanked the Orioles over 5 1/3 innings Aug. 3.
Gonzalez is also coming off a rough outing, surrendering five runs in 6 1/3 innings in losing to the Toronto Blue Jays. He was brilliant in his previous start, shutting out the Yankees on four hits over seven innings. Gonzalez has managed to curb his penchant for giving up the long ball. He's been taken deep only twice in his last six starts following a stretch in which he surrendered nine home runs in five outings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Gonzalez blanked the Rays on two hits over seven innings Aug. 5 at Tampa Bay, but was shelled by the Rays for seven runs in 2 2/3 innings July 25 at Camden Yards.
2. Orioles RF Nick Markakis will undergo thumb surgery Tuesday with the hope that he will be recovered if the team reaches the postseason.
3. Upton and RHP James Shields shared AL Player of the Week honors, the second pair of teammates to be feted this year..