The Rays are doing exactly what they have to do – beating up on lesser teams like the Orioles as they try to wrap up this American League East race and march on to the playoffs.
Today, James Shields gets the chance to deliever the sweep and pick up his 12th win of the year.
What to watch for: The Rays have struggled to pick up the “sweep” lately – dropping the final game after winning the first two a number of times in the past month and a half. Brian Burres might be the worst pitcher they’ve seen in those games, though.
Scouting Report on today’s starters from MLB.com:
James Shields – Shields took the loss against the Blue Jays on Tuesday night, allowing nine hits and four runs over six 2/3 innings. Despite carrying a League-leading 2.21 home ERA into the game, Shields wasn’t his usual dominant self at Tropicana Field and was outdone by Toronto ace Roy Halladay. Shields’ best pitch has always been his changeup, but he also has a plus fastball and curve, and he’s added a cutter that has helped him throw inside to left-handed hitters. He will face Baltimore for the fourth time this season, looking to match a career-high 12 wins from last season.
Brian Burres – Burres is back in the rotation, thanks as much to some injuries and some poor pitching by Baltimore’s starters as much as anything he’s done. The southpaw was yanked from the starting staff at the beginning of August and went down to Norfolk to work as a reliever but was recalled after Garrett Olson washed out of the rotation.
Check out the Rays’ career numbers against Brian Burres.
View the game preview from Baseball Reference.
| TAMPA BAY RAYS |
BALTIMORE ORIOLES |
| LINEUP 1 | LINEUP 1 |
| LINEUP 2 | LINEUP 2 |
| LINEUP 3 | LINEUP 3 |
| LINEUP 4 | LINEUP 4 |
| LINEUP 5 | LINEUP 5 |
| LINEUP 6 | LINEUP 6 |
| LINEUP 7 | LINEUP 7 |
| LINEUP 8 | LINEUP 8 |
| LINEUP 9 | LINEUP 9 |
Be sure to join us in the chat room for some good Rays talk during the game!!!
Tags: Orioles
August 31st, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Let me just say that today proves even though it has already been proven many a time just how good of not only an organization but an ownership we have. Today the Rays acquired Jorge Velandia and Michel Hernandez for cash from the Indians and Pirates respectively. Now granted, neither will be helping the big league team let alone be added to the 40-man roster. But the Rays knew they were going to promote a catcher from Durham as a safety valve for the playoffs. So instead of screwing over the minor league team, they got them 2 solid players for Durham’s own playoff run. Name me another organization when having to promote a player for the playoffs willing to spend money for 2 players for there minor league clubs stretch run. What a great ownership and organization.
August 31st, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Swept right back into the best team in baseball. How about the bats in this series? Thank you white sox. Rocco seems to be using the left field foul line as a navigational tool, looked like 3 in a row down the same line. And now the Yukees. Only 10 more games of fun at the trop and then the playoffs. Hell of a long ways for just hoping for 500. What a bush league move by the oinkioles. Hope management says something to the Commish and somebody gets fined.