Baltimore @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 12, 2011 ) Tampa Bay 9, Baltimore 6

THE STORY: The Tampa Bay Rays return home from a 4-3 road trip to begin a three-game series with the Baltimore Orioles on Friday. Tampa Bay began the trek with three victories but dropped three of the last four contests, including a 7-2 setback at Texas on Thursday. The Rays still have an outside chance for the playoffs as they are nine games behind Boston in the American League East and trail New York by 8 1/2 for the wild card. Baltimore, which plays nine of its next 10 on the road, has lost four of five.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN 2 (Baltimore), Sun Sports (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles LH Zach Britton (8-9, 4.28 ERA) vs. Rays LH David Price (12-11, 3.40 ERA).

After yielding one run over five innings in a win at Minnesota on Aug. 22, Britton tossed seven scoreless frames against New York on Sunday en route to another victory. The 23-year old rookie has been less than impressive on the road this season, going 3-6 with a 6.71 ERA in 11 starts. Britton defeated Tampa Bay in his major-league debut on April 3 but fell to the Rays at home on May 6.

Price recorded a career-high and franchise-record 14 strikeouts over seven scoreless innings Sunday at Toronto to improve to 9-1 lifetime against the Blue Jays. The All-Star has allowed just one run over 23 frames in his last three road starts and enters Friday with a 19-inning road scoreless streak. Price has struggled against Baltimore this year, going 0-1 in two outings while yielding eight runs in 13 innings.

ABOUT THE RAYS (74-62): Thursday's loss left Tampa Bay at 996 victories in franchise history. Manager Joe Maddon needs three wins for 500 in his career. Johnny Damon needs two stolen bases to become the ninth player in major league history with 200 homers and 400 steals. The Rays activated Justin Ruggiano from the disabled list and recalled fellow outfielder Brandon Guyer before Thursday's game as rosters expanded to 40. Both were in the starting lineup and combined to go 0-for-4. Righthander Andy Sonnanstine is expected to be brought up from Triple-A Durham on Friday.

ABOUT THE ORIOLES (54-81): Baltimore gave up 26 runs in losing two of three to Toronto. Nick Markakis went 0-for-8 against the Blue Jays, ending his streak of 182 straight series with at least one hit. Markakis had not gone hitless in a series since May 23-25, 2008 against Tampa Bay. Thursday's loss guaranteed the Orioles their 14th consecutive non-winning season. Baltimore recalled pitcher Rick VandenHurk and outfielder Kyle Hudson on Thursday. VandenHurk tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings vs. Toronto.

FINAL PITCH: Baltimore's J.J. Hardy is one home run away from setting a new career high. He has 26 on the season, equaling his previous best set with Milwaukee in 2007.