Orioles option Young and recall Strowd

The Orioles went back to five starters and eight relievers today by optioning Brandon Young and recalling Kade Strowd from Triple-A Norfolk.

Young was sent down yesterday after facing the Rangers on Wednesday and allowing four runs in four-plus innings in his third major league start.

Strowd also made his major league debut this season and allowed one run and two hits in one inning May 18 against the Nationals. He’s registered a 5.02 ERA and 1.465 WHIP in 24 appearances with Norfolk.

Strowd is averaging 11.3 strikeouts per nine innings and has surrendered only two home runs.

Tomoyuki Sugano is on the mound tonight as the Orioles begin a three-game series against the Rays at Camden Yards. Sugano hasn’t completed five innings in his last three starts.

Since holding the Mariners to one run in seven innings in Seattle, Sugano has allowed a combined nine earned runs and 10 total over 12 2/3 innings against the Athletics, Angels and Yankees.

Sugano is working on six days’ rest.

The rotation has only two quality starts in the last 14 games, posting a 5.02 ERA

The Orioles are 14-9 at home against the Rays since 2022, their best record against a division opponent in that span, per STATS. The stretch includes an 8-0 record when the Rays don’t homer.

The Orioles are seven games back for the last Wild Card after losing four of their last five.

The Rays swept the Royals and have won 10 of their last 13 games to improve their record to 46-35. They trail the first-place Yankees by a half game and hold the first Wild Card. They’ve gone 19-12 on the road.

Tampa Bay’s 3.49 ERA ranks eighth in the majors, and the bullpen’s 3.30 ERA is third. The Rays have scored 383 runs to rank sixth, and their .257 average is lowest in the American League and second in the majors.

Ryan Pepiot has a 3.04 ERA and 1.099 WHIP in 16 starts. He held the Orioles to one run in eight innings in Tampa and followed up with one run over five innings against the Tigers.

Pepiot has faced the Orioles three times in his career and allowed six runs in 19 1/3 innings. He’s started once at Camden Yards and allowed one run in 5 1/3.

Gunnar Henderson is 3-for-9 with a home run. Ryan O’Hearn also is 3-for-9.

Henderson has a career .619 slugging percentage against the Rays. Mike Trout (.677) is the only active players with a higher slugging in a minimum 125 plate appearances, per STATS.

The teams split a four-game series in Tampa.

The Rays have three road sweeps this season, most in the majors.

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