ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Chris Tillman is trying to become the first Orioles pitcher to record a 20-win season since Mike Boddicker in 1984.
This is a crop-destroying drought. Can Tillman be the one to end it?
He's 12-2 with a 3.41 ERA in 19 starts going into tonight's game against the Rays at Tropicana Field. In two July starts, Tillman has allowed two runs and eight hits over 14 innings.
This is a notable improvement after Tillman posted a 5.19 ERA in June that likely cost him a spot on the American League All-Star team.
Tillman is 8-0 with a 3.23 ERA in 12 home games and 4-2 with a 3.71 ERA in seven road starts.
This is the fourth start for Tillman against the Rays in 2016. He allowed one run and four hits over five innings on April 8, no runs and two hits with nine strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings on April 27 and six runs and 10 hits over five innings on June 25. The Orioles won all three games and Tillman received two of the decisions.
Tillman is 7-9 with a 4.23 ERA in 23 career starts against the Rays and 3-3 with a 2.61 ERA in 10 starts at Tropicana Field. Evan Longoria is 17-for-57 with four doubles and seven home runs, Logan Forsythe is 9-for-28 with three doubles and Logan Morrison is 5-for-11 with a double.
Rays left-hander Matt Moore is 5-6 with a 4.46 ERA in 18 starts and has posted a quality start in five of his last six outings.
This is the third start for Moore against the Orioles this season. He allowed three runs and three hits with nine strikeouts in seven innings on April 27 and five runs and seven hits with six strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings on June 24. The Rays lost both games.
Moore is 5-2 with a 3.57 ERA in 11 starts at home and 0-4 with a 5.93 ERA in seven starts on the road. He's 4-6 with a 4.13 ERA in 12 career games (11 starts) versus the Orioles.
Adam Jones is 12-for-31 with a double and three home runs against Moore. Matt Wieters is 8-for-23 with a double and two home runs. Jonathan Schoop is 4-for-9. Nolan Reimold is 4-for-13 with two doubles.
Manny Machado is 4-for-22 with a double and triple. Mark Trumbo is 3-for-16 with a double and home run. Chris Davis is 5-for-24 with two doubles.
Reimold is due for a start and this would be the logical spot. He hasn't been in the lineup since July 2 and has started once since June 26.
Hyun Soo Kim's strained hamstring didn't get Reimold into the lineup last night. Joey Rickard started in left field before shifting to right late in the game as Trumbo's defensive replacement. Reimold entered the game in left.
The Rays have lost seven in a row and are 34-55 this season, including 18-29 at home. They trail the Orioles by 18 1/2 games in the American League East.
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