Friday night Orioles game thread: @ Rays, 7:35

Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images

Happy second half, everyone! The Orioles are kicking things off in balmy Tampa, where the temperature at game time is expected to have a real feel of 94 degrees.

Charlie Morton is on the mound for the Orioles, and I have to admit I’ve come around on old Charlie. I guess that makes sense given that he’s been pitching well for a while now. On regular rest, Morton will have three more starts before the trade deadline. It wouldn’t surprise me if he didn’t make that last one. Not for this team, anyway.

I assume Taj Bradley is tired of seeing the Orioles. In two starts against them this year, Bradley has given up 12 runs in 6.2 innings. I would like to order up more of that tonight, please.

The Rays stumbled into the All-Star break and are just 3-9 in July. Will they turn back into the team that played .630 baseball in June? If so, I hope they wait until after this weekend.

Coby Mayo is in the lineup tonight and I sure hope he stays there for the rest of the season. This is his time to sink or swim. Go Coby!

Orioles lineup

1. Jackson Holliday (L) 2B
2. Jordan Westburg (R) 3B
3. Gunnar Henderson (L) SS
4. Ryan O’Hearn (L) DH
5. Ramón Laureano (R) RF
6. Colton Cowser (L) LF
7. Cedric Mullins (L) CF
8. Coby Mayo (R) 1B
9. Jacob Stallings (R) C

Rays lineup

1. Chandler Simpson (L) CF
2. Brandon Lowe (L) 2B
3. Yandy Díaz (R) DH
4. Jonathan Aranda (L) 1B
5. Junior Caminero (R) 3B
6. Josh Lowe (L) RF
7. Jake Mangum (S) LF
8. Ha-Seong Kim (R) SS
9. Danny Jansen (R) C

Let’s go O’s!

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