10:16 AM EDT, Tue October 03, 2023
Baltimore Sun

Rays or Rangers: Who should the Orioles prefer to face in the ALDS?

Ahead of Game 1 between the Rangers and Rays on Tuesday, here are the arguments for Baltimore fans rooting for either team to advance to play the Orioles in the American League Division Series.

Camden Chat

The Orioles took their lumps in late May to make themselves stronger long term

Photo by Mark Blinch/ Late May brought a Rodriguez demotion and an injury to Mullins, two unfortunate events that the Orioles turned into opportunities. Heading towards this weekend’s Division Series, Camden Chat writers will be looking at each of the winning months that got the Orioles to where they are right now. Yesterday: March and April. Today: May Record: 16-12 (35-21 overall) Injuries: Ramón Urías - hamstring strain (missed 15 games), Cedric Mullins - groin strain (missed 20 games), John Means - back muscle strain during Tommy John rehab (pushed potential...

Camden Chat

Why Orioles fans should root for the Rays in the Wild Card Series

Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports Rooting for the the O’s to match up with the rivals may seem counterintuitive, but there are good reasons why Tampa may actually be the better matchup for the ALDS. Orioles fans are used to going into “wait and see” mode come October. However, this year, instead of waiting to see who will win the World Series and waiting to see when the Orioles can get a jump on their offseason plans, we’re doing a different kind of waiting. After clinching the AL East and home field advantage throughout the American League playoffs, the O’s (and...

Over the Monster

OTM Open Thread 10/3: It is Tuesday

Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/ Here we go... Happy Tuesday. Well, according to the poll, Red Sox Nation is pulling for the Baltimore Orioles. In Wild Card action today we have the Texas Rangers at the Tampa Bay Rays at 3:08 PM ET on ABC. The other AL Wild Card series starts with the Toronto Blue Jays at the Minnesota Twins at 4:38 PM ET on ESPN. In the National League the Arizona Diamondbacks travel to face the Milwaukee Brewers at 7:08 PM ET on ESPN 2. The day finishes with the Miami Marlins in Philly to take on the Phillies at 7:08 PM ET on ESPN....

DRaysBay

Rays Your Voice: Postseason Preview

Photo by Mark Blinch/ The Rays open the Wild Card round on Tuesday.

DRaysBay

Rays 12, Blue Jays 8, : Resilient Rays cap off tumultuous season with 99th win

John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports Rays win 99th game of the year behind Aranda’s bat And breathe... Yandy, Randy, and Isaac are still healthy along with Glasnow, Eflin and Fairbanks. Despite everything that this team has endured over the past six months, they will enter October with 99 wins to their name and a formidable core group of players, even if that core is missing key members such as Brandon Lowe, Shane McClanahan, Wander Franco, and the duo of Rasmussen and Springs. Sunday afternoon proved to be the end of a trying six months of baseball for a Rays club...

DRaysBay

Come watch post season baseball at the Trop! It will be WILD!

Photo by Julio Aguilar/ Wild Card Series at Tropicana Field The Rays will be playing the Rangers in the three-game Wild Card series this week. Because the Rays had the best record among all non-division winners, they have the home field advantage for all three games. That means you have many opportunities to see an actual playoff game in person. Please allow me a quick rant. If you’ve been a Rays fan for a while you know that the least appealing and accessible start time will always be ours. In this case, there are some time zone issues so that other teams also get...

Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Mom of Nathaniel and Josh Lowe battling cancer, won't attend Rangers-Rays playoff series

The mother of Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Josh Lowe and Texas Rangers first baseman Nathaniel Lowe will not make the trip to Tropicana Field for this week's AL Wild Card Series featuring her sons because she is battling cancer and undergoing chemotherapy.

Lone Star Ball

Poll: Rangers/Rays series outcome

Photo by Steph Chambers/ How will the Wild Card Series between Texas and Tampa turn out? As I’m sure y’all know by now, the Texas Rangers are facing the Tampa Bay Rays in the Wild Card Series starting on Tuesday afternoon. It is a best of three series, with all three games being played in Tampa. How do you think this series will turn out? Cast your vote below...

Camden Chat

Why Orioles fans should root for the Rangers in the Wild Card Series

MVP candidate Corey Seager could give the Rays plenty of trouble in the Wild Card Series. | Photo by Ron Jenkins/ Texas certainly wouldn’t be an easy opponent for the Orioles in the Division Series, but they’d be doing the O’s a solid if they can knock out the 99-win Rays first. The stage is set. The 2023 regular season has ended, and the 18 non-playoff teams have gone home for the winter, while the Orioles and 11 other clubs prepare for postseason baseball. The O’s have known since Thursday, when they clinched the AL East, that they’ll be hosting the Division...

DRaysBay

Wild Card Umpire Preview

Photo by Mike Carlson/ Who watches the watchmen? I realized I was in the deep end of both baseball fandom and analytics when the first thing I did when I saw the umpire crew for the Rays vs Rangers series was to check out how good this crew was by their expected metrics. Thankfully, our friends at UmpireScorecards has a tremendous amount of data to query and look through. Their daily scorecards throughout the season are a ton of fun, but their website has so much more, and I was able to use their resources to research the crew for this Wild Card series. The good news...

Camden Chat

Monday Bird Droppings: And now we wait for the Division Series

Mr. Splash got to leave his post yesterday to throw out the first pitch | Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports The regular season is finished but for once the Orioles are not. Happy Monday, Camden Chatters! Sometimes it still feels like we’re in a dream, doesn’t it? Your Baltimore Orioles are currently in the midst of their five-day stretch of no baseball before playing the winner of the Wild Card series between the Rays and Rangers on Saturday. Yes, you read that correctly. After being comfortably ensconced in the second wild-card spot for some time, the Toronto Blue...

Lone Star Ball

AJM’s guess as to the Rangers Wild Card roster

Photo by Steph Chambers/ What the 26 man roster for the three games in Tampa might look like With the Texas Rangers starting their Wild Card Series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday, October 3, for the first time since 2016, we have the excitement of speculating as to who will be on the playoff roster. The playoff roster is set at 26 players, with no more than 13 of those players being pitchers. While, technically, the rule is that players have to be on the 40 man roster or the 60 day injured list as of August 31 to be eligible for the postseason roster, players...

DRaysBay

Can’t get to Tropicana Field? Here’s how you can watch/listen to games

Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports The Wild Card games will be broadcast on ABC. All three (if needed) start at 3:08. If you want to hear a local broadcast, you can listen to the game on WDAE radio. Generally the team has sponsored official watch parties in the Tampa Bay area when the team is playing on the road — with the idea that the “party” is in the stadium if they are playing at home. But many of you won’t be at Tropicana Field, yet would still like be able to commiserate/celebrate with other Rays fans. We’ll use this post to report on any watch parties we...

Call to the Pen

MLB’s efficiency experts for 2023: The teams that spent their money most wisely

The Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays qualified for postseason play at least in part because of efficiency. Their front offices spent money far more wisely than their MLB rivals. The proof of that assertion can be easily seen in the payrolls and win totals of the 30 MLB teams. In 2023, the most important […] MLB’s efficiency experts for 2023: The teams that spent their money most wisely - Call to the Pen - Call to the Pen - MLB News, Rumors, Prospects, and more

Camden Chat

The Orioles overcame some tough early losses and beat up on weak teams in April

From the third of three Orioles walkoff wins in April. | Kenneth K. Lam/The Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service via The dropped pop-up and walkoff homer in Boston did not actually presage a disastrous season Heading towards this weekend’s Division Series, Camden Chat writers will be looking at each of the winning months that got the Orioles to where they are right now. Up first: March and April. Record: 19-9 (19-9 overall) Injuries: Dillon Tate - flexor strain (never appeared with team), Mychal Givens - knee inflammation (missed 46 games), James McCann - oblique...

Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff will miss Wild Card Series with shoulder injury

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff will miss this week's Wild Card Series against Arizona because of a right shoulder injury.

Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Woodruff's shoulder injury leaves Brewers down a starter against Diamondbacks in Wild Card Series

One of Milwaukee's biggest strengths just got a little weaker on the eve of the postseason.

DRaysBay

Rays 7, Blue Jays 5: Blown lead creates exciting finish

Photo by Cole Burston/ Rays outlast Blue Jays in ten innings. All games count, even when they don’t ultimately matter. The Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 7-5 on Saturday in a game the Rays managed more like a Spring Training game, giving players rest than the second to last game of the season, preparing for a postseason run since they already have the top Wild Card spot secured. The Blue Jays ultimately clinched the postseason despite the loss but certainly needed the win more than the Rays. The Rays jumped onto the board early in the top of the first...

Baltimore Sun

Orioles end historic regular season with 101 wins after 6-1 loss to Red Sox; will face Rays or Rangers in ALDS

The Orioles wrapped up their historic regular season Sunday with a 6-1 loss to the Red Sox, finishing with an AL-best 101 wins. Next up is Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the Rays or Rangers on Saturday.

Lone Star Ball

Rangers/Rays Game 1 at 2:08 pm Tuesday

Photo by Julio Aguilar/ Day baseball at the Trop for the Rangers The Texas Rangers will play the Tampa Bay Rays in Game One of the Wild Card Series at 2:08 p.m. Central time on Tuesday, October 3, in Tampa Bay, it has been announced. Game Two will be on Wednesday at 2:08 p.m. If a Game Three is necessary, it will be at 2:08 p.m. on Thursday if there are four games being played that day. We had hoped, of course, that Texas would win the American League West, and thus be off until Saturday, when the ALDS starts. Instead, Texas lost three of four in Seattle, while the...

DRaysBay

GDT: October baseball officially starts now!

Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports This has been a weird season, but the postseason starts before you know it! Go Rays!

Bluebird Banter

Game #162 Game Thread

Photo by Cole Burston/ Well, the playoffs are assured but who the Jays play is not. Also, 90 is such a nice, round number. Wes Parsons is up to make the start this afternoon. He’s had a decent season with the Bisons, posting a 4.52 ERA in 81 innings. Jay Jackson was DFA’d to make room, which I have to say I don’t like. Jackson’s been valuable this year, and seems like a terrific guy. Hopefully they’re able to find a way to keep him in the organization. Rays Lineup: Caminero, SS Lowe, RF Ramirez, DH Paredes, 3B Aranda, 1B Mead, 2B Margot, CF Tapia, LF Pinto,...

MASN: School of Roch

Orioles recall Irvin and option Zimmermann (with lineup)

The Orioles have reached one finish line. The end of the regular season.Game 1 of the Division Series is Saturday at Camden Yards. The Orioles will play the winner of the wild card series between the Rays and either the Blue Jays, Astros or Rangers – the identity revealed later this afternoon.They made a roster move this morning, recalling left-hander Cole Irvin from Triple-A Norfolk and optioning lefty Bruce Zimmermann, who tossed two scoreless innings last night.Irvin also didn’t make the trip to Las Vegas for Norfolk’s 7-6 victory over Oklahoma City in the Triple-A championship...

Bleed Cubbie Blue

Cubs 10, Brewers 6: Funeral for a friend

Photo by John Fisher/ The Cubs brought out the big bats Saturday, but their playoff dreams ended. If you are looking for a post-mortem on the Cubs season here, after they were eliminated from postseason consideration with the Marlins win over the Pirates Saturday night, you’ll have to wait until tomorrow. Instead, let’s celebrate some good Cubs performances as they defeated the Brewers 10-6 Saturday in Milwaukee. The bats came out in a big way in the first inning against Eric Lauer, who had not pitced in a major league game since May and had injury issues all...

Brew Crew Ball

Brewers can't keep up with Cubs, lose 10-6

Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports The bullpen got some valuable work in despite the loss As the Brewers prepare for the postseason, they called up Eric Lauer to get the start against the Cubs. Lauer hasn’t pitched since May 20th due to a shoulder injury. He would go against an offense that was red hot to start the second half of the season, but then went cold as they fought for their playoff lives. On Saturday the Cubs needed a win and a Marlins loss to keep their playoff hopes alive. They were off to a hot start against the rusty Lauer. The Cubs put up a six spot in...

MASN: Mark Zuckerman

Robles aiming for winter ball after ending year on IL

ATLANTA – When he last appeared in a ballgame for the Nationals, Victor Robles was enjoying one of the best-sustained stretches of his career. Over 126 plate appearances to begin the season, the enigmatic center fielder was batting .299 with a .385 on-base percentage and a revamped approach at the plate that had club officials as encouraged as they had been in a long time.That, unfortunately, was way back on June 20. Which was six weeks removed from the initial back injury that ruined his season.Robles hasn’t been back on the field since, and today he ends the season on the 60-day injured...

Lowe's home run lifts Rays to walk-off win | Red Sox-Rays Game Highlights 9/21/19

Condensed Game: Nate Lowe hit a walk-off two-run home run in the 11th inning, giving the Rays a 5-4 win over the Red Sox Don't forget to subscribe! https://www.youtube.com/mlb Follow us elsewhere too: Twitter: https://twitter.com/MLB Instagram: https://

Adames' walk-off lifts Rays in 11 frames | Red Sox-Rays Game Highlights 9/20/19

Condensed Game: Willy Adames lined the walk-off single in the 11th to deliver the Rays a 5-4 victory over the Red Sox Don't forget to subscribe! https://www.youtube.com/mlb Follow us elsewhere too: Twitter: https://twitter.com/MLB Instagram: https://www

Meadows' HR in 11th propels Rays | Rays-Dodgers Game Highlights 9/18/19

Condensed Game: Austin Meadows clubbed a go-ahead home run in the 11th inning to lead the Rays to a marathon win in extras Don't forget to subscribe! https://www.youtube.com/mlb Follow us elsewhere too: Twitter: https://twitter.com/MLB Instagram: https: