masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Adam Jones and Chris Davis are out of the Orioles lineup for tonight’s series opener against the Rays.
Joey Rickard is in right field and batting second against left-hander Blake Snell. We’ll find out later why Jones is absent.
Trey Mancini is at first base and Tim Beckham is the designated hitter. Breyvic Valera is starting at shortstop.
John Andreoli is in left field and Austin Wynns is catching.
Dylan Bundy’s starts against the Rays have brought mixed results. He…

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Adam Jones and Chris Davis are out of the Orioles lineup for tonight’s series opener against the Rays.

Joey Rickard is in right field and batting second against left-hander Blake Snell. We’ll find out later why Jones is absent.

Trey Mancini is at first base and Tim Beckham is the designated hitter. Breyvic Valera is starting at shortstop.

John Andreoli is in left field and Austin Wynns is catching.

Bundy-Throw-Black-Front-Sidebar.jpgDylan Bundy’s starts against the Rays have brought mixed results. He allowed seven earned runs (eight total) and 11 hits in 4 2/3 innings on April 26, no runs and two hits over seven innings on May 13, and three runs in seven innings on July 29. In three career starts at Tropicana Field, Bundy has surrendered 12 runs and 17 hits with nine walks and seven home runs over 14 innings.

C.J. Cron is 4-for-13 with one double and three home runs against Bundy.

Bundy has allowed 35 home runs this season, five more than runner-up Bartolo Colon.

Snell is a Cy Young Award candidate with a 17-5 record, 2.02 ERA and 1.009 WHIP in 26 starts. He’s averaging 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings.

Left-handers are hitting .142 against Snell and right-handers are hitting .199. He’s 8-1 with a 1.06 ERA and 0.872 WHIP in 11 home starts. He’s allowed only four earned runs and struck out 43 batters in 32 2/3 innings in the second half.

He’s really, really good.

In Snell’s only start against the Orioles this season, he allowed five runs and six hits in 3 1/3 innings in a 17-1 loss on May 13 at Camden Yards. Rickard, Mancini and Danny Valencia homered off him.

It was the only start in a span of 12 when Snell allowed more than two earned runs.

Snell has a career 4.98 ERA in four career starts against the Orioles, with 12 runs allowed in 21 2/3 innings.

Jones is 3-for-7 with a double and home run against Snell. Mancini is 3-for-8 with a home run.

For the Orioles
Cedric Mullins CF
Joey Rickard RF
Jonathan Villar 2B
Trey Mancini 1B
Tim Beckham DH
Renato Núñez 3B
John Andreoli LF
Breyvic Valera SS
Austin Wynns C

Dylan Bundy RHP

For the Rays
Mallex Smith RF
Matt Duffy 3B
Ji-Man Choi DH
Tommy Pham LF
Joey Wendle 2B
Kevin Kiermaier CF
Willy Adames SS
Jake Bauers 1B
Nick Ciuffo C

Blake Snell LHP