TAMPA BAY – For the second consecutive road series, the Orioles find themselves in a minor league park.
The Rays’ temporary home of George M. Steinbrenner Stadium, though, has a bit more familiarity than the Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento.
“I mean, it’s Yankee Stadium, it’s just in Florida,” Tony Mansolino said today. “So, we kind of know the stadium.” Just a bit hotter than New York.
“I do think actually playing in Sacramento kind of prepared you to come here because it got you out of the big league stadium, and the energy and atmosphere that a big league stadium gives you,” Mansolino added. “Understanding that we’ve kind of got to create that ourselves, we definitely learned that in Sacramento.”
Getting two key pieces back in the lineup is certainly cause for a boost in energy.
After missing a few games, Colton Cowser and Ryan O’Hearn found their names back in the lineup card to kick off a week of division clashes. The pair of lefties will be key for a series in which Tampa Bay lists four right-handers as their projected starters.
O’Hearn, tonight’s starting first baseman, hasn’t served as a designated hitter since June 4. But a new batch of All-Star voting revealed today that O’Hearn is the leading vote getter among American League designated hitters as he vies for his first bid to the Midsummer Classic.
“Kind of came back from the dead a little bit out of the Kansas City situation,” Mansolino said. “And he’s not a DH. Put that on record. He’s playing a lot of right field and first base and he’s doing a really good job for it. Just really happy for Ryan and his story.”
DH or not, the O’s will be happy however he can get a bid. Rafael Devers wearing a National League uniform for the All-Star game doesn’t hurt, either.
But O’Hearn isn’t the only Oriole that could find themselves in Atlanta for their All-Star break. Jackson Holliday is second in votes behind the Tigers’ Gleyber Torres.
“Just to see what he went through last year, very unfair in a lot of ways, that he was kind of judged off 40 at-bats, 50 at-bats nationally,” Mansolino said of his second baseman. “Kind of killed this kid after 40 at-bats last year, and it was just crazy … Here he is. Becoming one of the really good players in the game right now, and I think you’ll look up here in a couple of years and he might be one of the best players in the game.”
They lead a lineup that will need to find a groove against a Rays team that boasts the fifth-best team ERA in the AL. The key will be getting to Tampa Bay’s starters, as their 3.05 reliever ERA is best in the AL.
It’s a crucial series for Baltimore, who currently sits six games back of the final AL wild card spot. They’re eight-and-a-half games back of the Rays, who own the top wild card spot in the league. The Orioles have a chance to make things a lot more interesting.
Breadcrumbs from the Skipper
Mansolino expects Cade Povich to be back in the fold soon. “I think it’s minor, so we don’t expect him to be out too long,” Mansolino said. “Definitely feels like it’s minor.”
The Orioles do, though, have a vacancy in their rotation this week. Logic dictates that the spot could be filled by Trevor Rogers, who looked outstanding in his season debut against the Red Sox in late May.
“We definitely have a plan in place and we will share that when we are ready to,” Mansolino said with a knowing smile. It feels fair to read between the lines a bit there.