• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

O's, Rays resume series at the Trop

May 14, 2011 - 2:29 PM (Sports Network) - The best and worst teams in the American League East are set for the middle tilt of a three-game set at Tropicana Field this evening when the surging Tampa Bay Rays host the Baltimore Orioles.

Despite the presence of some exciting young talent, Baltimore finds itself in a familiar position - last place in the division standings. First-place Tampa Bay, meanwhile, has won its last three outings and sits atop the standings by two games over the second-place Yankees.

On Friday, Jeremy Hellickson tossed his first career shutout, allowing only four hits to lead the Rays to a 3-0 victory.

Hellickson (4-2) also walked a batter and struck out three in the 117-pitch performance. The 24-year-old right-hander was making his 11th career start and beat the Orioles and Jeremy Guthrie for the second time this month.

He threw five scoreless innings against Baltimore this past Saturday, helping the Rays to an 8-2 victory. Guthrie gave up seven runs in five innings to take the loss in that one.

"It was night and day compared to the last time I faced these guys," Hellickson said. "I wanted to come out early and establish my fastball, and me and (catcher John Jaso) were on the same page pretty much the whole game."

While Guthrie (1-6) was much improved in Friday's rematch -- limiting the Rays to three runs in eight innings -- he dropped his sixth consecutive decision.

"There wasn't much margin for error," said Orioles manager Buck Showalter.

Tampa Bay right fielder Ben Zobrist did not cross the plate Friday, snapping his streak of 10 consecutive games with a run scored. He had tied Alex Sanchez's franchise record.

Wade Davis will get the ball for Tampa this afternoon, and he owns a 4-2 record with a 3.07 ERA. Davis is 2-1 at home this season with a 2.73 ERA, so confidence shouldn't be hard to muster today. He did struggle with his control in Sunday's outing against Baltimore, permitting five walks in five innings.

Davis is 1-1 versus Baltimore this season and 4-2 lifetime versus the Orioles with a 3.09 ERA.

The worst starter in the Orioles' rotation this season has been Brad Bergesen, as he continues to search for his first victory. Bergesen is 0-4 with a 5.57 ERA, and he is fresh off a poor showing against this same Tampa squad on Sunday. In that affair, Bergesen was touched up for five earned runs in 4 2/3 innings while striking out only one batter.

The Rays have owned Bergesen over the years. He is 0-5 lifetime versus Tampa Bay with a 9.13 ERA.

Tampa has won four of its seven matchups with the O's this season.