With an eye on the wild card, Orioles join Rays in playing 'meaningful baseball'

Before Saturday night's game against the American League East-leading Tampa Bay Rays, Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said he was happy the club was playing meaningful games in August after trading away multiple key players at the deadline.

His team indeed is faring nicely this weekend.

The Orioles will attempt to clinch the four-game series Sunday afternoon in St. Petersburg, Fla., after opening with a pair of one-run victories over the division-rival Rays.

"Separation? We're trying to get into the playoffs," Albernaz said before his club's 4-3 win in 10 innings behind Tyler O'Neill's tiebreaking single. "Every game means a lot. You feel like when you lose a game it's a big loss and a win it's a big win.

"That's all you can ask for is to play meaningful baseball down the stretch."

The Saturday win allowed the Orioles to move into a three-way tie a half-game behind the Texas Rangers for the final AL wild-card spot with the Toronto Blue Jays and Detroit Tigers. The Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Guardians are a half-game behind that group.

A winner in four of his past five decisions, Baltimore left-hander Trevor Rogers (7-8, 4.21 ERA) will make his 23rd start of the season Sunday and look to improve on mediocre numbers against the division rival.

In five career starts against the Rays, the seven-year veteran from New Mexico is 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA. The defeat was a memorably bad one, coming May 18 in St. Petersburg, Fla. The Rays won 16-6, and Rogers allowed eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits and two walks over 3 2/3 innings in what remains his worst 2026 start.

Like most clubs, the Tampa Bay Rays' offense works from the top down, and it helps to have one of the game's best leadoff hitters in Yandy Diaz. The designated hitter hit .330 and won the American League batting title in 2023.

The two-time All-Star hit .385 with a .465 on-base percentage in June to end the month batting .334. But July brought a rare slump, and Diaz hit just .213 for the month.

However, Diaz has been back to his old ways in the past week, bringing his average back to .303 after it dipped to .293 on Aug. 8.

In the past six games, Diaz is batting .464 (13-for-28) with two homers and five RBIs.

Tampa Bay acquired shortstop Jorge Mateo at the end of a 9-0 road trip, rolling perfectly through the Colorado Rockies, Seattle Mariners and Athletics before returning for a seven-game homestand.

The 31-year-old Mateo played five seasons with the Orioles before signing a free-agent deal with the Braves in January. Atlanta released him last week.

He brings a strong glove, some power and elite speed to the lineup, and manager Kevin Cash said Mateo could sub for left-handed-hitting second baseman Richie Palacios when a southpaw like Rogers is on the mound.

Mateo is 117-for-139 in stolen base attempts during his seven-year career and would be the right-handed bat to replace Ben Williamson (hamstring) in the middle infield.

"I feel like we've known him for quite some time," Cash said. "I think he fits us really well. ... He has pretty electric speed, and we love his defense. He can beat you a lot of different ways."

Freddy Peralta (5-9, 5.33) will make his third Rays start since being acquired from the New York Mets at the trade deadline. He gave up seven runs and nine hits in 3 2/3 innings in his Rays debut on Aug. 4, a 9-7 win in extra innings. In his second game on Monday at the Athletics, he allowed three runs on six hits in six innings but didn't factor into the decision in the 10-6 win.

The right-hander is 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA in two career starts against the O's. He has 20 strikeouts in 11 innings pitched.

--Field Level Media