Baltimore @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 1, 2012 ) Baltimore 3, Tampa Bay 5

The hottest team in baseball has nothing to play for, but it remains to be seen if that will help the visiting Baltimore Orioles when they face the Tampa Bay Rays in the second of a three-game series Tuesday. The Rays, despite winning 11 of their last 12 games, were eliminated from postseason contention Monday night when the Oakland Athletics beat Texas to clinch the last playoff spot and move into a tie with the Orioles for the American League wild card lead.

Monday's 5-3 loss snapped a four-game winning streak for Baltimore, which is one game behind the division-leading New York Yankees in the AL East. Division title aside, the Orioles have tons of incentive to win their last two games, particularly with the possibility of having to fly to Oakland for a one-game playoff because the Athletics hold the tiebreaker. Baltimore will send right-hander Miguel Gonzalez to the mound to oppose Tampa Bay's James Shields.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN 2 (Baltimore), Sun Sports (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Miguel Gonzalez (8-4, 3.45 ERA) vs. Rays RH James Shields (15-9, 3.62)

Gonzalez won his second straight start last time out, holding Toronto to two runs on five hits in seven innings. He has pitched at least six innings in nine of his last 10 starts and has gone 6-2 in that span. Gonzalez earned a no-decision against the Rays on Sept. 12, giving up two runs and six hits while walking a season high-tying five in six innings. He is 5-2 away from home in his rookie campaign.

Shields is seeking to match his career-high win total set last year. He did not factor in the decision last time out despite limiting the Chicago White Sox to two runs in 6 1/3 innings. Shields has won five consecutive starts at Tropicana Field, allowing a total of seven runs in that span. He is 9-6 in 23 career starts against the Orioles, but has split of pair of decisions this year, yielding 11 runs in 12 1/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Orioles RF Chris Davis has gone deep six times during a five-game home streak, the longest in franchise history since Reggie Jackson homered in six straight games in 1976.

2. Rays closer Fernando Rodney earned his 47th save with another scoreless appearance and his 0.61 ERA remains tied with the record set by Dennis Eckersley of the 1990 Oakland Athletics for lowest ERA by a reliever who pitched at least 50 innings.

3. Orioles C Matt Wieters hit his career-high 23rd home Monday, surpassing his previous high set last year.