Rays at Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles flaunted their power in the series opener and can match the franchise record for consecutive victories to open the season when they host the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday. The Orioles, who belted three homers in the three-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins, registered four solo blasts in a 6-1 victory over the Rays on Friday to start with four wins for the eighth time.
Manny Machado and Chris Davis, who have combined for 20 total bases, each went deep in the first of a three-game set and left-hander Drew Smyly gets the job of trying to keep Baltimore from matching its 5-0 start in 1970 when the Orioles won the World Series. Smyly, who will oppose Mike Wright, surrendered three blasts in his first start of the year as the Rays went 2-2 in their season-opening series against the Toronto Blue Jays. Evan Longoria hit his first home run of the season in the first inning Friday, but it was one of just five hits for Tampa Bay. The Rays attempt to extend their club-record streak to 20 games with at least one home run, dating back to last year.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSN Sun (Tampa Bay), MASN (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays LH Drew Smyly (0-1, 6.75 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Mike Wright (2015: 3-5, 6.04)
Smyly had some good moments in his season debut, but he gave up two of the homers against left-handed batters and five runs over 6 2/3 innings in the loss. The 26-year-old Arkansas native posted a 2.54 ERA with a 5-0 record in his final eight starts last season, including a pair of wins against the Orioles. Davis is 2-for-16 with two homers against Smyly, who is 4-0 lifetime versus Baltimore with a 1.82 ERA.
Wright won the No. 4 spot in the rotation after making his major league debut last season and posting a 2-2 record with a 4.79 ERA in 20 2/3 innings during the spring. The 26-year-old East Carolina product, who will face Tampa Bay for the first time, struggled while allowing a .322 batting average against left-handed hitters in 2015. Wright was 9-1 with a 2.22 ERA in 15 games (14 starts) at Triple-A Norfolk last year.
WALK-OFFS
1. Baltimore C-DH Matt Wieters had two hits Friday and is batting .321 with 15 homers and 56 RBIs in 84 career games against the Rays.
2. Tampa Bay 1B Logan Morrison notched his first hit for the team Friday as he went 1-for-4 after coming up empty in 10 at-bats during the opening series.
3. Baltimore OF Joey Rickard, a former Tampa Bay farmhand, has hit safely in his first four major league games and is 7-for-15 overall.