Orioles and Rays lineups before All-Star break

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – So here we are, the final game before the All-Star break. The Orioles already have 46 wins, the same amount they reached last season in their 140^th game on Sept. 10. One fewer than their entire 2018 total.

They can do no worse than .500 in the unofficial first half.

Adley Rutschman is catching today. His pinch-hit home run yesterday was the sixth for the Orioles in the last 27 years that tied a game in the eighth inning or later.

It was the third on the road, joining Luis Sardinas on April 18, 2018 in Detroit and Rafael Palmeiro on Sept. 22, 2004 in Boston.

Trey Mancini was the last Orioles rookie to hit a pinch-hit home run, on June 7, 2017 in Pittsburgh.

DJ Stewart was the last Oriole age 24 or younger with a pinch-hit homer, in 2018 at Yankee Stadium.

Ramón Urías, with four multi-hit games in his last five starts, is playing third base.

Jordan Lyles is starting on normal rest rather than being skipped and waiting until the Orioles return home on Friday. He made his Orioles debut at Tropicana Field on April 9 and allowed five runs and seven hits in five innings. Francisco Mejía hit a two-run homer.

The Rays are sending veteran Corey Kluber to the mound, and the Orioles know all about him.

Kluber has a 3.58 ERA and 1.091 WHIP in 17 starts in his first season with the Rays. He’s faced the Orioles three times and allowed four runs in 13 2/3 innings, but lost his only decision. Anthony Santander hit the only home run.

Kluber has made 13 career starts against the Orioles and gone 5-2 with a 3.06 ERA and 1.172 WHIP in 79 1/3 innings.

Cedric Mullins and Rougned Odor are 6-for-15 lifetime against Kluber. Odor has two doubles and two home runs.

Austin Hays is 2-for-10, and both hits are home runs.

The Orioles are 7-3 in extra-inning games. Yesterday’s win in the 11^th was their first on the road since June 25, 2021 versus the Blue Jays in Buffalo.

They’ve won their last four extra-inning games against the Rays, including three this season.

The Orioles have 20 comeback victories this season, four fewer than in 2021. They’ve held a lead in 14 consecutive games since July 1.

For the Orioles
Cedric Mullins CF
Trey Mancini DH
Anthony Santander LF
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Austin Hays RF
Adley Rutschman C
Ramón Urías 3B
Rougned Odor 2B
Jorge Mateo SS

Jordan Lyles RHP

For the Rays
Josh Lowe RF
Harold Ramírez 1B
Randy Arozarena LF
Brandon Lowe DH
Isaac Paredes 3B
Taylor Walls SS
Brett Phillips CF
Francisco Mejía C
Yu Chang 2B

Corey Kluber RHP