Miguel Gonzalez (2-1, 3.42 ERA) and the Baltimore Orioles (10-10) go up against Alex Colome (0-0, 0.00 ERA) and the Tampa Bay Rays (12-10) in the first of a three-game division series at Tropicana Field. The game starts at 7:05 p.m. ET on Friday, May. 1 and will air on SunSports and MASN2.
Gonzalez is 4-4 with a 3.82 ERA against the Rays in his career, and faces a less-than-stellar Tampa Bay offense that’s hitting just .238 on the year. Adam Jones (.400, 17 Rs, 5 HRs, 19 RBIs) went 1 for 3 Wednesday with one RBI. In his pitching opportunities against the Orioles, Colome is 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA, three strikeouts and four walks. Kevin Kiermaier (.306, 11 Rs, 2 HRs, 7 RBIs) has been doing well, going 2 for 4 Wednesday with two RBIs.
Oddsmakers have deemed this game an even matchup and the Over/Under (O/U) is currently unavailable. Against teams in the AL East, the Orioles have an SU record of 9-10. The Orioles have the most prolific home offense in the entire AL, averaging 7.1 runs per game.
Against divisional rivals, the Rays are 10-9 SU. Tampa Bay has an eye for the strike zone, ranking 3.6 in the AL with fourth walks per game. The last 10 games have really brought the best out of the Tampa Bay pitchers. They’ve allowed 2.8 runs per game during that span, which is lower than their season average of 3.9. They have a WHIP of 1.13 on the year, good for fifth in the league.
In their previous three games this season, the Orioles have a 2-1 record. The Orioles will take on a right-hander (Colome) in this game and have an 8-8 record against right-handed starting pitchers this season. Taking the hill against the Rays will be the right-hander Gonzalez. They sport a 9-7 record against righties.
Predictions: SU Winner – BAL
Notes
In their last game, the Rays won by a margin of one run. The Orioles are 3-3 in one-run games. The Rays have a 4-4 record in close games.
The Orioles are 1-0 in games that go into extra innings. Meanwhile, the Rays are 1-1 in such matchups.
After a weak showing last week where they got in seven hits, the Rays need to step it up. The Orioles have a record of 6-5 when opponents get seven hits or fewer.
When they outhit their opponents, the Orioles are 9-3. The Rays have a 10-1 record when outhitting opponents.
Ranking 19th, Tampa Bay sits in the bottom half of the league in runs, scoring 87 this season. Baltimore ranks in the top five at third with 112.
Ranking 21st, Baltimore is near the bottom of the league in walks, notching 56 this season. Tampa Bay ranks in the top five at fourth with 79.
When the Orioles hit at least one home run, they are 10-7, well-matched with the Rays who are 7-6 when hitting one or more homers.
