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Homer-Happy Orioles Chase More Success vs. Rays
This season, Ryan Mountcastle, Jordan Westburg, and Anthony Santander have performed admirably in opposition to the Tampa Bay Rays’ pitching. On Saturday afternoon, when the Baltimore Orioles take on the Tampa Bay Rays in the second game of a four-game series in St. Petersburg, Florida, this trio will attempt to maintain their impressive form.
Orioles’ Power Display
Mountcastle and Westburg each hit two-run homeruns, and Santander likewise dove deep in Baltimore’s 6-3 triumph over Tampa Sound on Friday. The Orioles lead the majors in homers this season and gloat five players who have hit somewhere around 10 homers each.
“We have a lot of guys who can shoot the ball out to all parts of the field,” Westburg told MASN about the team’s power display. “Guys who have good approaches consistently. I think that’s what happens when you have a good approach and you take your plan up to the plate and execute — the ball seems to jump a little bit.”
Player Performances Against the Rays
Mountcastle homered twice, and Santander and Westburg also went deep against Rays right-hander Taj Bradley last Saturday, powering the Orioles to a 9-5 victory in Baltimore. Mountcastle is 6-for-15 with three homers, six RBIs, and four runs in four games against Tampa Bay this year. Santander (7-for-15, two homers, three RBIs, and four runs) and Westburg (5-for-13, two homers, four RBIs, and three runs) have also thrived against the Rays in 2024.
“People were getting Santander out early in the year with elevated fastballs, and he got one (Friday) above the zone and put it in the seats,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “He’s done that a few times now the past week or so. He’s made a really nice adjustment where they’re trying to crowd him and get him up out of the zone, and he’s gotten on top.”
Taj Bradley’s Challenge
Bradley (1-3, 5.81 ERA) will try to recover from his June 1 setback when he faces the Orioles again on Saturday. The 23-year-old allowed nine runs on as many hits, including four homers, in 3 1/3 innings in his last outing, taking the loss.
“One bad game isn’t going to beat you,” Bradley said, according to the Tampa Bay Times. “Just try to keep it from cycling and tumbling.”
Bradley has a career record of 1-1 with an 8.16 ERA in three starts against the Orioles.
Rays’ Struggles and Adjustments
The Rays (31-32) had their three-game winning streak snapped in the series opener and fell back below .500.
“It’s kinda what our record is stating that we can’t get a little momentum going, but we can bounce right back (Saturday) and play a good baseball game,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said.
Jose Siri hit a solo homer and had two hits on Friday, while Taylor Walls went 2-for-4 in his return from the 60-day injured list, having recovered from right hip surgery.
Kyle Bradish’s Task
Orioles right-hander Kyle Bradish (1-0, 3.18 Period) will mean to contain Siri, Walls, and the remainder of the Beams’ arrangement on Saturday. After giving up five runs on seven hits in two and a half innings in a no-decision against the Rays on Saturday, Bradish got two more days off. In six appearances against Tampa Bay, he has a career record of 1-3 and a 7.12 earned run average.
Saturday’s matchup between two successful teams promises to be an exciting one as the Orioles attempt to extend their power surge and the Rays attempt to rebound. With the two groups anxious to do something worth remembering, fans can anticipate a completely exhilarating confrontation on the precious stone.
