The Tampa Bay Rays (52-43, 44-51 RL, 45-45-5 O/U) collide with the Baltimore Orioles (47-48, 61-34 RL, 42-48-5 O/U) in an AL East showdown on Tuesday evening. The Rays will have their ace, Shane McClanahan on the hill. The Orioles will answer with Spenser Watkins. The Rays lead the season series 7-5.
It will be Shane McClanahan on the hill for the 19th time of the season. McClanahan was brilliant in his previous start, limiting the Red Sox to only one run in 6.1 innings, and was awarded the win. The talented left-hander has allowed zero or one run in seven consecutive outings and is sporting a dazzling 1.71 ERA and a 0.80 WHIP complemented by a 10-3 record in 110.2 innings pitched. McClanahan tossed 4.1 shutout innings in his lone meeting against the Orioles this season and is perfect 4-0 with a stellar 2.45 ERA in five career meetings.
The Rays continue to win for the most part. They have won two out of their last three series propelled by stellar pitching. They are in the midst of a seven-game road trip. They lost two of three against the Royals this week and have slipped to the 2nd Wildcard spot.
Yand y Diaz has been the Rays' best hitter this month, recording a .373 average and a dazzling 1.03 OPS. The 30-year-old is one of the most underrated players in the game. Diaz is now hitting .295 with 30 RBIs. He is 7 for 33 with one RBI against the Orioles this season. Wander Franco and Manuel Margot remain out of action.
Tampa Bay is scoring an average of 4.21 runs on the season, ranking them 21st overall. The pitching staff has amassed a 3.40 team ERA, good for fifth in the big leagues.