Orioles lineup vs. Rays

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Orioles begin the final series before the All-Star break with Tyler Wells working on extra rest for his 18^th start.

His first in the majors came against the Rays at Tropicana Field, where he returns tonight. Wells was on a strict pitch count and came out of the game after 54, allowing four runs and three hits in 1 2/3 innings. Brandon Lowe hit a home run.

Wells faced the Rays again on May 20 at Camden Yards and allowed three runs and two hits in 4 2/3 innings. Mike Zunino hit a three-run homer.

Anthony Santander is in left field and Austin Hays is in right. Adley Rutschman is catching and batting sixth.

Ramón Urías is the third baseman.

The Orioles will attempt to extend their winning streak to 11 games, the longest since September 1999. They’re 1 1/2 back for the last wild card spot, and their run differential is down to minus six.

A win tonight would put the Orioles two games above .500 for the first time since April 7, 2021.

The Athletic’s Jayson Stark wrote today that the Orioles are the first team to lose at least 19 games in a row, as they did in 2021, and craft a winning streak of at least 10 games the following season since the 1889-90 Louisville Colonels. That team lost 26 straight in 1889 and put together three winning streaks of 10 or more games the next year.

The Rays activated right-hander Luis Patiño from the 60-day injured list to make tonight’s start.

Patiño has made one start this season and allowed one run and one hit in two-thirds of an inning. The Rays will rely heavily on their bullpen.

The Orioles faced Patiño on May 18, 2021 in Baltimore and tallied four runs and six hits in 3 1/3 innings.

The Rays have won four in a row and are in second place in the division, 13 games behind the Yankees. They’re 29-17 at home, including a three-game sweep of the Orioles to start the season.

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

Tyler Wells RHP

Pitcher Brenan Hanifee was reinstated from Double-A Bowie's injured list.