The Tampa Bay Rays and the Baltimore Orioles began the most important series of their respective seasons last night (Thursday).
For what? Because before the first duel of the four-game series, the gap between the two teams was only two small games at the top of the East division of the American League.
Taking the measure of the first meeting with a score of 4-3, the Rays therefore came within one game in the standings. And the latter have the wind in their sails at the moment, having won eight of their last ten matches.
Even though the Orioles only need one series win to get their hands on the tiebreaker, the momentum is clearly on Florida’s side.
This errant move is possible, among other things, because of the relief bullpen, which has not allowed an earned run in its last 34 innings of work.
And despite the fact that the relievers are used to excess, they are not worried about the amount of work that is asked of them. At least that’s what manager Kevin Cash believes.
They know what is at stake right now. The messages they gave me and they sent to pitching coach Kyle Snyder is that they’re ready to throw.
Add to that the imminent return of Jason Adam and you have a bullpen that every manager would dream of right now.
It is true that the next generation of the Orioles has nothing to be ashamed of, despite the loss of Felix Bautista for probably the rest of this campaign. But it is not at the level of that of the Rays.
This will certainly lead to very close duels between the two teams and it must be admitted that the advantage must go to Tampa Bay thanks to the momentumto the enclosure and to the experience.
