Baltimore @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 7, 2018 ) Baltimore 3, Tampa Bay 4

The topsy-turvy Tampa Bay Rays hope to ride the momentum of a late rally in the opener to both a series victory and a winning homestand on Wednesday when they face the Baltimore Orioles (34-79). Willy Adames belted a walk-off homer with two outs in the ninth inning of Tuesday's 4-3 win for the Rays (57-56), who improved to 4-3 on their current nine-game stretch at Tropicana Field.

Matt Duffy collected two hits on Tuesday to boost his total to 12 with six runs scored in his last nine games for Tampa Bay, which had sandwiched three-game losing skids around a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels. Mallex Smith crossed the plate twice to give him seven runs in his last nine contests, although he is just 1-for-7 versus Wednesday starter Andrew Cashner. Baltimore's Mark Trumbo had a run-scoring single in the sixth inning to extend his hitting streak to nine games, during which he has driven in 12 runs. Adam Jones has tormented the Rays this season to the tune of going 21-for-53 with two homers and nine RBIs.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Andrew Cashner (3-10, 5.05 ERA) vs. Rays RH Ryne Stanek (1-3, 2.27)

Cashner answered two strong starts with a disastrous one on Thursday, as he allowed a career-high 10 runs and three walks in a season-low 1 2/3 innings of a 17-8 setback at Texas. The 31-year-old split a pair of decisions versus Tampa Bay this season, highlighted by tossing six strong frames in a 15-5 win on July 27. Carlos Gomez is just 1-for-7 versus Cashner, although C.J. Cron is 3-for-4 in a small sample size against the hurler.

Stanek struck out all five batters he faced on Friday as he recorded his seventh scoreless performance in his last eight outings in a no-decision versus the Chicago White Sox. The 27-year-old hasn't been as fortunate in his four meetings with Baltimore this season, surrendering three homers and four runs total over 5 2/3 frames. Stanek, who is expected to be followed by left-hander Jalen Beeks, has limited the current crop of Orioles to a .188 batting average with six strikeouts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tampa Bay CF Kevin Kiermaier is mired in an 2-for-23 stretch, including a 1-for-12 run with six strikeouts in his last three games.

2. Orioles 1B Chris Davis has struggled mightily versus the Rays, going 10-for-47 with 17 strikeouts.

3. Rays 2B Daniel Robertson is expected to miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb.

PREDICTION: Orioles 4, Rays 2