Baltimore @ Tampa Bay preview

Baltimore at Tampa Bay

Last Meeting ( Mar 28, 2013 ) Tampa Bay 4, Baltimore 4

The Baltimore Orioles were among baseball's biggest surprises a year ago, going from 93 losses in 2011 to 93 wins en route to snagging their first winning season and playoff berth since 1997. The unexpected success has expectations soaring in Baltimore, which is being touted as one of the favorites in the American League East. The Orioles will get a good early test when they open the season Tuesday at the division rival Tampa Bay Rays.

Pitching has been the cornerstone for Tampa Bay, which has won at least 90 games in each of the last three seasons. Reigning AL Cy Young Award winner David Price heads a staff that led the majors in ERA (3.19) to help offset one of the league's least productive offenses. A healthy season from Evan Longoria could go a long way to helping the offensive shortcomings. The Orioles lack a top-of-the-rotation starter but were able to compensate for that by slugging 214 homers - 65 combined by Chris Davis and Adam Jones - to rank second in baseball behind the New York Yankees.

TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, MASN (Baltimore), Sun Sports (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Jason Hammel (2012: 8-6, 3.43 ERA) vs. Rays LH David Price (20-5, 2.56)

Hammel had the look of an ace through the most of the first three months last year, winning eight of his first 10 decisions. He went on to lose four straight starts and landed on the the disabled list for nearly two months with a knee injury. Hammel was drafted by Tampa Bay and pitched his first three years with the Rays. He has never won more than 10 games in a season and his high for innings is 177 2/3 with Colorado in 2010.

Price led the AL in ERA and tied for the most wins during his Cy Young campaign. The No. 1 overall pick in the majors in 2007, Price emerged as a true stopper over the second half of the season, going 9-1 after the All-Star break and compiling a 4-0 mark in September. He limited the opposition to two earned runs or fewer in 15 of his last 17 starts. Price, who is 6-2 with a 2.21 ERA lifetime against Baltimore, tossed four scoreless innings against the Orioles in his final exhibition start.

WALK-OFFS

1. Baltimore was 29-9 in one-run games and 74-0 when leading after seven innings last year.

2. The Rays (.240) and Oakland (.238) became the first teams to win 90 games and bat .240 or worse since the 1972 Athletics.

3. Longoria hit three homers in the final game versus Baltimore, which won the 2012 season series 10-8.