Baltimore @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 29, 2018 ) Tampa Bay 5, Baltimore 11

The streaky Tampa Bay Rays are having a hard time getting up for teams that reside below them in the standings. After being swept by the disappointing Chicago White Sox, the Rays (56-56) aim to regain their footing on Tuesday when they open a three-game series versus the visiting Baltimore Orioles (34-78).

"Losses are losses. Wins are wins. You just want to play better baseball and they did things to take advantage of opportunities and found ways to win all three games," Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash told reporters after Sunday's 8-7 setback to the White Sox. Joey Wendle homered among his three hits in that contest to improve to 13-for-31 with seven runs scored in his last nine games while batting 19-for-51 in the season series against Baltimore. The cellar-dwelling Orioles defeated the Rays in three straight contests and split with the high-powered New York Yankees before dropping three of four at Texas. Mark Trumbo, who homered twice and drove in five in Sunday's 9-6 win, carries an eight-game hitting streak into the series opener.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Baltimore), FS Sun (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Alex Cobb (3-14, 5.83 ERA) vs. Rays RH Tyler Glasnow (1-2, 4.27)

Cobb posted his first win in nearly two months on Wednesday after limiting the Yankees to one run on seven hits over six innings of a 7-5 victory. The 30-year-old hasn't been as fortunate against his former team, as he fell to 0-3 with a bloated 6.06 ERA in three starts this season after permitting four runs on eight hits in six innings of a 4-3 setback on July 26. Wendle is 4-for-8 with two RBIs versus Cobb while Mallex Smith is 3-for-5.

Glasnow took a positive first step forward with his new team after being acquired from Pittsburgh for Chris Archer. The 24-year-old made his first start of the season after 34 relief appearances and allowed one run on two hits over three innings against the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday. "I'm comfortable as a starter. I've done it my entire career so I'm glad I'm getting put back as a starter," Glasnow told reporters.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tampa Bay traded SS Adeiny Hechavarria to Pittsburgh on Monday for minor-league RHP Matt Seelinger, who will join Class A Bowling Green.

2. Orioles OF Adam Jones is batting a robust 20-for-49 with two homers and nine RBIs versus the Rays this season.

3. The Rays are 5-7 this season when facing a former starting pitcher of their team.

PREDICTION: Orioles 4, Rays 3