O's game blog: John Means faces Rays at The Trop

The Orioles have beaten the Tampa Bay Rays just one time this year in 13 tries. And after Monday's 9-2 loss to the Rays, they have three more games in this series to try and get a win to end a long losing streak.

The current skid reached 12 Monday night and the Orioles have been outscored by 113-35 during this streak. They've also lost by seven runs or more seven times during the streak, including last night.

The Rays scored eight or more runs for the eighth time in their last 10 games and hit a season-high-tying five homers in Monday's win. Tampa Bay has scored a majors-most 6.50 runs per game since July 23 and their 51 homers in 25 games since July 20 are the most in the American League. The Rays have 24 homers in their last nine games and 38 in their last 16 games since July 29.

The Rays have won six straight games over the Orioles, improving to 12-1 against them this season and outscoring Baltimore 103-51. The Rays improved to 11-5 (.688) when using an opener this season. Tampa Bay is 8-3 in the last 11 games, 12-5 in the last 17 games and 18-11 since the All-Star break. That is the second-best record in the AL behind the Yankees.

Rays pitchers have allowed three or fewer runs an AL-most 62 times. The Rays improved to 36-18 (.667) against AL East opponents, including 30-10 in their last 40 games against divisional opponents with that win over the Orioles.

The Orioles (38-79) are now 0-4 on this trip and have been outscored 39-7. They fall to 14-25 in series openers with the Monday loss, 21-42 on the road and 10-18 since the All-Star Game.

Lefty John Means (5-4, 3.21 ERA) will make his 18th start tonight. He is coming off a poor outing versus Detroit where he gave up eight hits and six runs, including three homers, over 4 1/3 innings.

Means threw 79 pitches in that game and the six runs allowed tied his career high. He had last yielded six runs in a start on Aug. 13, 2019 at the New York Yankees. This was the third time he gave up six runs in a game.

Means has had some issues giving up homers this year. That game was the eighth time in 17 starts he has allowed two or more and he did that for the sixth time in his past nine starts. Coming into that game against the Tigers, 13 of his 17 homers allowed on the year were solo shots, but that day just one of three was.

"I thought he threw really well the first three innings," manager Brandon Hyde said of Means after his outing. "The finish on his fastball, for me, wasn't there as much as it has been these last couple starts. Primarily, you know, all right-handed lineup. But just didn't execute some pitches. ... I just didn't think the finish on his pitches were the same."

In 12 starts before he went on the injured list, Means went 4-2 with a 2.28 ERA and allowed a .182 batting average. But over five starts since coming off the IL, he is 1-2 with a 5.67 ERA and has allowed a .286 average.

Right-hander Drew Rasmussen (1-1, 3.98 ERA) will make his 14th appearance and fourth start for Tampa Bay. For the Rays, after his May trade from Milwaukee, he is 1-0 with a 3.81 ERA. Over 26 innings, he has allowed 23 hits with nine walks and 29 strikeouts.

In his last start, Thursday against Boston, he allowed one hit and one run over four innings. In two games this season against Baltimore, he has allowed five hits and one run over 4 1/3 innings.