Orioles and Rays lineups to begin four-game series in St. Petersburg

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Cole Irvin is starting for the Orioles tonight on normal rest, the only certainty in the rotation for the four-game series against the Rays at Tropicana Field.

Irvin has allowed two runs in 11 1/3 innings since returning to the rotation, and he’s carrying a 2.61 ERA and 1.142 WHIP in nine starts. He faced the Rays on Sunday at Camden Yards and allowed two runs in 6 1/3 innings. José Caballero led off the seventh with a homer.

Irvin has a 3.86 ERA and 1.169 WHIP in five career games (four starts) against the Rays. He’s surrendered six runs and 14 hits in 13 1/3 innings at Tropicana Field.

The starters for the next three games remain TBA.

Jordan Westburg is starting at second base and Ramón Urías is at third. Connor Norby goes to the bench.

Ryan O’Hearn is the designated hitter. Colton Cowser is in left field and Cedric Mullins is in center.

Adley Rutschman’s six home runs against left-handers equals his total from last season.

The Orioles have totaled 46 home runs from the top three spots in their order, which is most in the majors, per STATS.

The Orioles lost the last two games in Toronto and are 4 ½ behind the first-place Yankees. The Rays have won three straight and five of seven, are 31-31 and remain 13 games behind New York.

The Orioles have won or split their last 20 series against division opponents.

The Rays are starting right-hander Aaron Civale, who faced the Orioles last Friday and allowed one run and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. He owns a career 5.48 ERA and 1.406 WHIP in four starts against the Orioles but has won both decisions.

Ryan Mountcastle is 6-for-9 with a double and two home runs against Civale. Mullins is 5-for-10 with a double and two home runs. Gunnar Henderson and James McCann are both 2-for-4 with a homer.

Civale has surrendered a home run in eight consecutive home starts.

Harold Ramírez was designated for assignment today to make room for Taylor Walls.

The Rays are 17-18 at home and the Orioles are 18-10 on the road. The Orioles went 4-2 last year at Tropicana Field and won the series 8-5. The Orioles haven’t won the season series in back-to-back years since 2014-16.

They were 0-15-1 in their last 16 series at Tropicana Field before last season.

Both teams are facing opponents from now until the All-Star break with .561 winning percentages, highest in the majors, per STATS.

For the Orioles

Gunnar Henderson SS
Adley Rutschman C
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Ryan O’Hearn DH
Anthony Santander RF
Jordan Westburg 2B
Colton Cowser LF
Cedric Mullins CF
Ramón Urías 3B

Cole Irvin LHP

For the Rays

Yandy Díaz 1B
Randy Arozarena LF
Amed Rosario DH
Isaac Paredes 3B
Jose Siri CF
Jonny DeLuca RF
Taylor Walls SS
José Caballero 2B
Alex Jackson C

Aaron Civale RHP