Battle for the AL East

Tonight starts the first series between AL East rivals the Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles. Both teams come into the series 20-12. Tampa Bay just lost a 1-2 series with the New York Yankees in the Bronx, and Baltimore ending a series with the Texas Rangers who lead the AL thanks to power hitter Josh Hamilton. 

Coming into tonight the Rays have done well except losing to the A’s and Red Sox in April who are generally effortless teams for the Rays. As for Baltimore they lost early on to the Angels but have become a first-rate team in the AL over the past month with the exception of the Rangers.

Both teams are in the top 10 for scoring runs, and top 15 in batting average, but where the difference lies is slugging and on base percentage. The Orioles are in the top 5 of slugging percentage with hitters like Adam Jones and Robert Andino, but lack in the on base department, being in the bottom half of the MLB. However Tampa Bay reaches the top 10 of both areas making them a tough opponent at the plate.

On Paper the pitching staff look very different, but don’t let the stats fool you. The Rays overall ERA of 3.82 is 19^th in the league, but with pitchers like James Shields and David Price who lead the AL with 5 wins a piece, and Fernando Rodney who is now 9 for 9 on the season in saves they are a force to be reckoned with.  

The Orioles bullpen staff is 8^th overall with a 3.35 ERA with their go to pitchers Josh Hammel having a 2.09 ERA and 4 out of 5 wins, and Jim Johnson with a stand out 9 saves.

If the Orioles want to win this series will have to play solid defense and not let the Rays score key runs late in the game. One player they must keep an eye out for is Luke Scott who leads the team in RBI’s. Scot was traded to the Rays this year after playing 4 seasons in Baltimore. Dana Eveland who makes his MLB debut tonight needs to shut him down early, to make sure he doesn’t add any more home runs to the 53 he already has at Camden Yards.

The Rays will need to continue playing solid offense with their key players like Matt Joyce, Carlos Pena, and Desmond Jennings if they wish to score in Baltimore. Also Hellickson who had a rough last game against the A’s a week ago needs to get it together early in the night to stop Adam Jones. Jones has been the driving force for this Oriole team who is 5 for 13 against Hellickson.

When it is all said and done at Camden Yards this weekend the Rays will come out victorious, leaving 2-1 in the series. I believe the Rays are the best team in the AL East despite their loss against the Yankees earlier this week.

The Rays have reached the post season the last 3 out of 4 years, and I believe to be a fuller team that has what it takes to stay strong late into August and early September.

The Orioles are playing great baseball right now, but unless they start having more players step up on offense, Adam Jones will burn out. The Orioles also need another good pitcher to help their rotation last, if not when July and August arrive I believe they will start slipping in the division.