Miley making start with split on the line

If the Orioles fail to make the playoffs, and they're still tied for the top wild card spot, they can look back to the three losses last month in Oakland and how the bats went silent against Kendall Graveman, Zach Neal and Ross Detwiler. And they may point to this series against the last-place Rays, which threatens to produce three more losses in four games.

Matt Andriese was 0-3 with a 9.24 ERA in five career games against the Orioles before last night. They scored two runs off him in 5 2/3 innings and lost 5-2.

"Man, it's not like we're going out there playing against ourselves. We're going out there playing against other major leaguers," said center fielder Adam Jones. "You say what you want about the Rays and their standings, but they've got a formidable major league team over there They're not just laying down, dying, quitting and just letting us win."

If only they'd do that today. Is it asking too much?

This is a huge game. It's September and we can stop saying that you can't put too much emphasis on one. The Orioles can't lose this series and then welcome the Red Sox for four games.

I mean, they technically can do it, but it would be a really bad idea.

"I think at this time it's not necessarily a must-win, but at this point of the year you need every W you can get," Jones said. "I think we have 14 left and at this point you can't give games away. We're not giving them away, but we've just got to go out there tomorrow, handle (Jake) Odorizzi, get some runs early and let our starter settle in and bring in that bullpen."

The starter is left-hander Wade Miley, with the 8.41 ERA and 1.868 WHIP in eight starts as an Oriole. He retired only four Red Sox in his last outing, but he's getting another chance because he's 4-2 with a 2.81 ERA and 1.071 WHIP in eight career starts against the Rays. And because rookie Dylan Bundy can get an extra day's rest. And because manager Buck Showalter can line up Bundy, Kevin Gausman, Ubaldo Jimenez and Chris Tillman against the Red Sox if he chooses to go that route.

Showalter could have given the start to Vance Worley, Tyler Wilson or Mike Wright. He's trusting Miley, who's due for a good start.

Miley is 2-7 with a 6.42 ERA in 11 starts since the All-Star break. Right-handers are hitting .306 against him this season.

Kevin Kiermaier is 4-for-10 with a double, triple and home run against Miley. Evan Longoria is 5-for-22, but the hits include three doubles and two home runs.

Odorizzi is making his sixth - count them, six - start against the Orioles this season. He may dress in their clubhouse.

Odorizzi has allowed two earned runs or fewer in eight of his last 11 starts. However, he's 1-2 with a 6.58 ERA and 1.654 WHIP in his five starts against the Orioles.

Odorizzi is 3-4 with a 5.48 ERA in 13 career games (12 starts) against the Orioles and 1-3 with a 7.26 ERA in six starts at Camden Yards. Jones is 11-for-31 with a double and two home runs. J.J. Hardy is 8-for-25 with two doubles and a home run. Jonathan Schoop is 6-for-17 with three doubles.

Manny Machado has three home runs and 10 RBIs in 29 at-bats against Odorizzi. Chris Davis has two doubles, three home runs and 11 strikeouts in 26 at-bats.

Mark Trumbo is 5-for-15, but he may sit out another game so the Orioles can make sure that the back spasms won't return.

Odorizzi is a reverse-splits guy, with left-handers batting .199 against him and right-handers batting .274. Hyun Soo Kim may go back to the bench, though the possibility of Trumbo not playing could create a spot.