Orioles and Rays lineups for potential playoff clincher

The Orioles are on the threshold of their first playoff berth in seven years.

They need a win today or a Rangers or Mariners loss to clinch.

Gunnar Henderson, who’s leading off again, tied and surpassed Cal Ripken Jr.’s single-season team rookie record for most runs scored with his 91^st last night. His 27 home runs are tied with Eddie Murray for third-most.

Adley Rutschman is the designated hitter today. Ryan O’Hearn is playing first base and batting cleanup.

Ryan Mountcastle remains out of the lineup with left shoulder discomfort.

Dean Kremer is 12-5 with a 4.25 ERA in 29 starts. He lasted only 4 1/3 innings in his last outing, against the Cardinals, and allowed five runs and seven hits with four walks. He blanked the Rays over six innings on May 10 in Baltimore.

Kremer has made five career starts against Tampa Bay and allowed eight runs in 24 innings.

Randy Arozarena is 3-for-7 with two home runs against him.

Kremer has a tough act to follow in Grayson Rodriguez, who tossed eight scoreless innings. Rodriguez tied Kyle Gibson for the longest Orioles outing this season.

“That's as good as stuff as you're gonna see,” said Rays manager Kevin Cash.

“He's just a very talented pitcher, and he kind of fed off that energy in the crowd today and was able to kind of harness pitches in the zone. Sometimes young pitchers, they get a little amped up and they start spraying balls (all) over. He did not do that. He was really tough against us.”

Rays right-hander Zack Littell, selected off waivers from the Red Sox in May, is 3-6 with a 4.06 ERA and 1.128 WHIP in 23 games (12 starts). He’s walked only six batters in 75 1/3 innings.

Littell has made two relief appearances against the Orioles this season and allowed one run in three innings. Henderson homered in the ninth.

Tampa Bay also can clinch a playoff berth today.

For the Orioles
Gunnar Henderson SS
Adley Rutschman DH
Anthony Santander RF
Ryan O’Hearn 1B
Cedric Mullins CF
Austin Hays LF
Adam Frazier 2B
Ramón Urías 3B
James McCann C

Dean Kremer RHP

For the Rays
Yandy Díaz 1B
Brandon Lowe 2B
Randy Arozarena LF
Josh Lowe RF
Isaac Paredes 3B
Jonathan Aranda DH
Manuel Margot CF
Tristan Gray SS
Christian Bethancourt C

Zack Littell RHP