Zach Eflin takes on his former team as the O’s look to build on Friday’s drubbing of the Rays.
Where to watch: MASN/MASN+
Probable pitchers: RHP Zach Eflin (6-4, 5.46 ERA, 42 Ks) vs. RHP Zack Littell (6-7, 3.78 ERA, 66 Ks)
Coming into this series, there was plenty of concern about the state of the Orioles offense. After scoring a season-high 22 runs and launching a franchise-record 14 extra-base hits on Friday, it’s safe to say we’re no longer concerned about offense.
After losing a game in Tampa where the Orioles led 8-0, the O’s setting an MLB record in their comeback from 6-0 down to up 22-8 felt both poetic and cathartic. However, that raucous Friday night will mean very little if the Baltimore bats can’t carry that confidence into today’s matchup.
After chasing Ryan Pepiot after five outs yesterday, the Orioles will be tasked with attacking Zack Littell this afternoon. The O’s have historically struggled to convert hits into runs against the 29-year-old who’s in his eighth season. Baltimore’s career average against Littell is a respectable .279, but despite that average Littell’s ERA against the O’s is only 3.03. The Rays’ righty relies heavily on his slider and splitter and used those secondary pitches to pitch five shutout innings last September in Baltimore.
Eflin will hope he can put his recent starts behind him and help the O’s prevail in the Battle of the Zach vs. Zack. The Orioles’ Opening Day Starter has only combined for eight innings over his last two outings, while giving up 22 hits, 13 ER and five HR.
The O’s starter will hope returning to Camden Yards can help reverse that troubling trend. His ERA is nearly two runs lower at Camden Yards this season, and Eflin has a 3.88 ERA in Baltimore since joining the Orioles last September.
The challenge for Eflin and O’s will be slowing down a lineup that’s historically crushed the veteran starter. Of the 10 Rays with previous experience against Eflin, eight have an OPS over 1.000 and five have taken the 31-year-old deep. The veteran leader of this pitching staff did put together a near-quality start last year vs. the Rays in Camden Yards, pitching 5.2 innings while allowing three runs and punching out four.
Orioles Lineup
- Jackson Holliday (L) 2B
- Ramón Urías (R) 3B
- Gunnar Henderson (L) SS
- Ryan O’Hearn (L) 1B
- Ramón Laureano (R) RF
- Colton Cowser (L) LF
- Gary Sánchez (R) DH
- Cedric Mullins (L) CF
- Chadwick Tromp (R) C
Rays Lineup
- Josh Lowe (L) RF
- Brandon Lowe (L) 2B
- Yandy Díaz (R) DH
- Jonathan Aranda (L) 1B
- Junior Caminero (R) 3B
- Tanner Magnum (S) LF
- Chandler Simpson (L) CF
- Taylor Walls (R) SS
- Matt Thaiss (L) C