Series Preview: Tampa Bay Rays vs Baltimore Orioles

We are officially half way through the 2025 regular season and the Tampa Bay Rays are currently in possesion of a playoff spot.

Fresh off a sweep of the Kansas City Royals, the Rays are now 46-35 on the season, and sit a half game back of the New York Yankees for the division lead; the Rays hold a 4.5 game lead atop the Wild Card chase. Tampa Bay has the best record in baseball since the start of play on May 20th, the Rays have a 25-9 record which is the best in baseball.

The Baltimore Orioles meanwhile are in last place in the American League East, entering play with a 34-46 record. They have lost six of their last ten games.

The Orioles’ offense is led by Ryan O’Hearn, who is hitting .301/.384/.485 with 11 HR, registering a 149 wRC+. Several others players are also having solid offensive campaigns with Ramon Laureano, Gunner Henderson, Colton Cowser, Jackson Holliday, Cedric Mullins, and Adley Rutschman all having wRC+s over 100.

It’s the pitching staff that has been problematic for Baltimore, but the Rays will be facing their top three starting pitchers and taking on Tomoyuki Sugano for the first time.

Frivolities

The top players by career bWAR to have played for the Rays and Orioles:

Nelson Cruz
Jose Bautista
Aubrey Huff
Alex Cobb
Erik Bedard

The Rays best player offensively against the Orioles all-time (min. 25 PA):Mike Brosseau: .322/.365/.729 with 8 HR over 63 PAThe next four are Rey Ordonez, Tommy Pham, Aaron Ledesma, & Logan Morrison

The Rays most previous transacation with the Orioles:— 7/6/24: Rays trade Zach Eflin to the Baltimore Orioles for Jackson Baumeister, Matthew Etzel, & Mac Horvath

The Rays first transaction with the Orioles— 3/29/99: Rays trade Jason Johnson to the Baltimore Orioles for Danny Clyburn & Bolivar VolquezREAD MOREFirst trades in Tampa Bay Rays history: “With the Baltimore Orioles”

Probable pitchers are projected by FanGraphs