O's game blog: The Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays begin a weekend series

The clubs split a four-game series last week

Since they split a four-game series in Tampa last week, the Orioles (34-46) are 2-4, losing series to the Yankees and Rangers. Since that series, Tampa Bay (46-35) is 5-1, taking two of three from Detroit and sweeping three from Kansas City.

The Rays are still red-hot, right where the O’s left them and beat Kansas City by 5-1, 3-0 and 4-0 pitching back-to-back shutouts. They are now only a 1/2-game behind the Yankees for first place.

Tampa Bay has won three in a row, five of six, 10 of 13 and 19 of their last 27 games. Since May 20, the Rays are 25-9, a 119-win pace. In that span, they are 8-1-2 in 11 series, losing one only to Boston and tying two, one each with the Orioles and Houston. Tampa Bay, in this span, has series sweeps over Texas, the New York Mets and K.C.

In going 25-9, the Rays have a plus-91 run differential in those games. Their offense in this stretch is producing 5.9 runs per game with a .815 OPS. Their pitchers have an ERA of 2.91.

The O’s have lost two in a two and four of their past five games, scoring seven runs in the four losses.

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Team comparison (AL rank)

Batting Avg: O’s .236 (11) & TB .257 (1)

Team OPS: O’s .691 (11) & TB .729 (4)

Runs per game: O’s 3.94 (11) & TB 4.73 (3)

Team ERA: O’s 4.88 (14) & TB 3.49 (5)

Rotation ERA: O’s 5.21 (15) & TB 3.61 (6)

Bullpen ERA: O’s 4.49 (13) & TB 3.30 (2)

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Tonight’s pitchers

Righty Tomo Sugano (5-4, 3.55 ERA) gets the start for the Orioles and righty Ryan Pepiot (5-6, 3.04 ERA) for the Rays. Pepiot is 13th in the AL in ERA and Sugano is 18th.

Sugano has struggled his past three starts, not pitching past 4 2/3 in this time. His ERA is 6.39 the last three games as he’s allowed 21 hits in 12 2/3 innings, allowing a .362 batting average and .967 OPS. In four starts against AL East teams, he is 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA.

Pepiot has been on a strong roll, going 3-1 with a 1.64 ERA his last six games. In this span he has four quality starts and has allowed a .502 opponent OPS.

He gave up just one run over eight innings last Monday against the Orioles. In his career he is 2-1 with a 2.79 ERA in three career starts versus the O’s with four walks to 24 strikeouts over 19 1/3 innings.