Tampa Bay Rays news and notes

Up next

Rays at Orioles

When/where: 1:35 today; Camden Yards, Baltimore

TV/radio: Sun Sports; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)

Probable pitchers:

Rays

RHP Wade Davis (11-9, 4.29)

Orioles

RHP Chris Tillman (1-4, 7.92)

Wadin' in: Davis returned from the DL and resumed his roll, extending his winning streak to six games. He is 3-0, 0.75 in three career starts against the Orioles.

At the Till: The O's called up Tillman to go to a six-man rotation, hoping he's more like he was at Triple A (11-7, 3.34) this year than the majors (1-4, 7.92). He is 0-2, 7.04 vs. the Rays.

Rays vs. Tillman

Carl Crawford 4-for-9

Evan Longoria 3-for-7

Ben Zobrist 2-for-8, HR

Orioles vs. Davis

Nick Markakis 0-for-10

Felix Pie 2-for-8

Luke Scott 2-for-10

On deck

Monday: at Red Sox, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — Jeff Niemann (10-5, 3.97); Red Sox — Jon Lester (15-8, 3.27)

Tuesday: at Red Sox, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — David Price (16-6, 2.92); Red Sox — Daisuke Matsuzaka (9-4, 4.29)

Wednesday: at Red Sox, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — Matt Garza (14-7, 3.46); Red Sox — Clay Buchholz (15-6, 2.25)

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Good timing of the day

When his Rice team jumped out to an early 3-0 lead over Texas on Saturday, RHP Jeff Niemann quickly texted a taunt to injured LHP J.P. Howell, a former Longhorn. "I had to," Niemann said. Howell's response? "Enjoy the first six seconds of the game." The outcome? Fifth-ranked Texas won 34-17.

American League wild card

W L GB GR

Rays83 52— 27

. Next five days: at Bal., at Bos., at Bos., at Bos., off

Red Sox76 60 71/226

. Next five days: vs. Chi., vs. TB, vs. TB, vs. TB, off

White Sox75 60 8 27

. Next five days: at Bos., at Det., at Det., at Det., at Det.

Good deed of the day

CF B.J. Upton is raffling off his BRayser, with proceeds going to the Childs Park and Wildwood rec centers in St. Petersburg. Tickets are $15 each or 3 for $40, with only 500 being sold, and the winner getting to meet Upton. See https://mcgraffle.com/upton/ to participate.

Number of the day

70 Games decided by one or two runs (with a 40-30 record), third most in the AL.