Wilson vs. Smyly today at Camden Yards

Kevin Gausman finally nailed down his first 2016 win yesterday in Game 1 of the doubleheader. It only took him 14 starts.

Tyler Wilson will try today to win his first career game at Camden Yards. He's come up short in 12 appearances, including eight starts, over parts of two seasons.

Wilson is 0-5 with a 4.17 ERA at home and 5-2 with a 3.79 ERA in 11 games (eight starts) on the road.

In his first two starts in June, Wilson allowed 10 runs and 14 hits in 9 2/3 innings while also walking three and striking out four. In his last two starts, he's allowed three runs and 12 hits in 14 innings while also walking two and striking out 10.

Can Wilson string together three quality starts in a row? Besides winning at Camden Yards, of course.

Wilson has surrendered only one home run this month. Pitching down in the zone has made a tremendous difference in his last two starts.

In his only career start against the Rays, Wilson was roughed up for six runs and eight hits in 4 1/3 innings on Sept. 18, 2015 at Tropicana Field.

The current group of Rays are 2-for-7 against him. Tim Beckham is 1-for-2 with a home run.

The Orioles face Drew Smyly, their second left-hander in three days. He's 2-7 with a 4.78 ERA in 14 starts this season, but he's averaging 10 strikeouts per nine innings.

Smyly has walked three batters and struck out 24 in three starts this month over 18 2/3 innings, but he's also had three no-decisions. He's allowed 10 runs and 19 hits.

The Orioles wouldn't have minded if the Rays pushed back Smyly's start. He's 4-0 with a 1.82 ERA in eight career games (five starts) against them and 2-0 with a 0.82 ERA in four games (three starts) at Camden Yards, with two runs and 25 strikeouts in 22 innings in a place he's turned into the land of unpleasant living.

The current Orioles are batting .141 (12-for-85) against him. Chris Davis is 2-for-16 with two home runs and 10 strikeouts. Could manager Buck Showalter sit Davis today and provide two days' rest with no game scheduled for Monday?

Adam Jones is 2-for-18 with a home run and seven strikeouts, Jonathan Schoop is 2-for-12 with a double and five strikeouts, J.J. Hardy is 1-for-9 with a home run, Mark Trumbo is 1-for-6 with four strikeouts and Matt Wieters is 2-for-5 with a double and three strikeouts.

The Orioles are seeking their first four-game sweep of the Rays at Camden Yards.

When the series started, the Rays had lost seven in a row and Showalter wasn't putting much stock in the streak. It's grown to 10 over the weekend, but division life doesn't allow a team to lower its guard.

"Everybody's just right there," Showalter said. "Somebody told me if the season ended today that three teams from the American League East would be in the playoffs. Kind of gives you a feeling of reality about what's ahead of all of us.

"Tampa's a week away from ... Their pitching's always going to make them capable of running out an awful long string. You'd almost rather them be 5-5 coming in here because you know at some point somebody's going to pay. And when they get it going, they're not going to be able to do anything wrong for a while, so you've got to keep your foot on the pedal."

The Orioles have played two last place teams in a row and head to San Diego after today's game for a rematch with the Padres.

"I love when people say this is a team you shouldn't beat or you shouldn't lose to." Showalter said. "How do you know that? It depends on who's pitching, how good they are. That's why the game isn't played on paper."

Also, it would tear easily, especially with all the rain we've gotten in Baltimore.