Orioles hoping to regroup against the Rays

Can the Orioles regroup and take out their frustrations this weekend on the Tampa Bay Rays?

Can they make the idea of being buyers instead of sellers seem like a worthy endeavor?

This team is seven games out of first place - its largest deficit in two years - 4 1/2 out of the wild card race and two below .500 for the first time since June 10, when they were 28-30. They've lost 14 of their last 19 games. The ship now looks like the raft in "Cast Away."

No one is crying over Wilson Betemit, but otherwise...

(By the way, just watched the movie again a few days ago and I still say Wilson was a soccer ball, though Tom Hanks referred to it as a volleyball. The grandfather's birthday card included the word "score." This makes no sense to me, but I digress...)

Let me blow up one theory, floated by some fans on this blog and Twitter, that the Orioles are lacking heart. That's ridiculous. They're lacking consistent starting pitching and run production, which will make any team look bad. Heart has nothing to do with it. And it's not an issue of team chemistry. They're a close group.

Consistent starting pitching and run production. Those are the issues.

Kevin Gausman allowed three runs in the first inning Wednesday night and Ubaldo Jimenez permitted four runs in the first yesterday. Chris Tillman needs to get out of the gate without tripping.

Tillman hasn't lost since May 31, going 5-0 with three no-decisions. He retired the last 23 batters he faced in his last start in Detroit, allowing one hit over eight scoreless innings and striking out eight.

Tillman's 4.96 ERA is the lowest since opening day. He's allowed two earned runs or fewer in his last four starts, walking three and striking out 24. He could move above .500 tonight for the first time since being 2-1 on April 18.

If I really do have the power to jinx, he won't make it out of the team hotel.

Tillman has faced the Rays three times this season, allowing one run and four hits over 6 2/3 innings on April 6, two runs and three hits over seven innings on May 1 and six runs (five earned) and nine hits over 4 2/3 innings on May 31. The first two starts were in St. Petersburg.

Though he's 5-8 with a 4.05 ERA in 17 career starts against the Rays, Tillman is 2-3 with a 2.95 ERA in seven starts at Tropicana Field.

Evan Longoria is 15-for-40 with three doubles and six home runs against Tillman, and Steven Souza Jr. is 3-for-9 with a double and home run. James Loney is 4-for-27 with a double and home run, and Kevin Kiermaier is 1-for-12.

An offense that seems to be running on fumes must contend tonight with Rays right-hander Chris Archer, who's 9-7 with a 2.73 ERA. He's 1-4 with a 5.65 ERA in seven career games (six starts) against the Orioles.

The current Orioles are batting .300 (30-for-100) against Archer. J.J. Hardy and Ryan Flaherty are 4-for-11 with two doubles, Matt Wieters is 4-for-12 with a double, Chris Davis is 3-for-8 with a double and home run, Caleb Joseph is 2-for-4 with a double and home run, and Adam Jones is 2-for-17.

Hardy extended his road hitting streak to eight games yesterday with a home run. Manny Machado has reached base in 15 of his last 16 games.

Orioles relievers have posted a 1.40 ERA over the last nine games, with 24 strikeouts in 25 2/3 innings.

I took a late train home last night, repacked my suitcase and set the alarm for my early flight this morning into Tampa. Let me know how many of you will be sitting behind the visiting dugout at Tropicana Field.