Orioles (76-62) vs. Rays (58-79)
Where: Tropicana Field
First pitch: 1:10 p.m.
TV/Radio: MASN/105.7 The Fan
Starting pitchers: Orioles RHP Dylan Bundy (8-5, 3.47 ERA) vs. Rays LHP Drew Smyly (6-11, 4.94 ERA)
What to watch
1. Chance to tie: Who would've thought that within a matter of six days, the Orioles would be able to go from appearing on the brink of being pushed out of the division race to back to within one game of first place? Well, that's where they find themselves heading into this afternoon's series finale at the Tampa Bay Rays: one game behind the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox in the American League East, and one game ahead of the Detroit Tigers for the second wild card. The Orioles will have to wait to find out where they stand heading into the day off, as both AL East front-runners play tonight. But the Orioles have a chance to finish the sweep and leave Florida back atop the division.
2. Bundy day: And luckily for the Orioles, they have perhaps their most reliable pitcher of the second half of the season on the mound looking to finish off the Rays. Dylan Bundy has a 3.76 ERA since moving into the rotation, but the number drops by a half-run when you take away his mediocre debut. He faces the Rays for the first time since his first major league start, when he allowed four runs on three homers in 3 1/3 innings on July 17. But he is coming off his latest scoreless outing -- 5 2/3 innings in a win over the New York Yankees.
3. Machado mash: Few hitters have been as productive as Manny Machado over the past month. After his five RBIs on Tuesday, the Orioles third baseman has 32 RBIs over his past 31 games dating to Aug. 5. During that time, he's hitting .323/.341/.654 with 12 home runs and eight doubles.
Orioles lineup
CF Adam Jones
LF Michael Bourn
3B Manny Machado
DH Mark Trumbo
1B Steve Pearce
2B Jonathan Schoop
SS J.J. Hardy
RF Drew Stubbs
Latest Orioles
C Caleb Joseph
