Catcher Gary Sánchez won’t return to the Orioles this week. His first, and likely only, season with the team ends after 30 games and a .231/.297/.418 line with two doubles, five home runs and 24 RBIs in 101 plate appearances.

The Orioles signed Sánchez to a one-year, $8.5 million contract. He made two stops on the injured list with wrist and knee injuries.

Another change was made to the Orioles bullpen this afternoon. They returned Colin Selby from his rehab assignment and reinstated him from the injured list.

Jose Espada was optioned to the spring training complex.

Selby hasn’t pitched since July 28 because of a hamstring strain. Espada tossed three scoreless innings in his only appearance with the Orioles, and his second in the majors.

Pitcher Chayce McDermott was reinstated from the bereavement/family medical emergency list and placed on the 15-day injured list with back discomfort. His season is done.

The Orioles begin the final home series of the 2025 season tonight with Adley Rutschman behind the plate for the first time since Aug. 17. He’s batting sixth.

Rutschman was reinstated from the 10-day injured list yesterday.

Samuel Basallo is serving as designated hitter. Tyler O’Neill is in right field and Dylan Beavers is in left. Coby Mayo is the first baseman.

Dean Kremer makes his final appearance tonight, his 30^th overall and 29^th start. He’s 10-10 with a 4.39 ERA and 1.256 WHIP.

Kremer has faced the Rays three times this season and allowed two runs in 19 innings. He’s 4-1 with a 1.83 ERA and 1.111 WHIP in 10 career starts against them.  

Per STATS, Kremer’s ERA is second-lowest by a pitcher in his first 10 career starts against the Rays after Orlando Hernandez’s 1.31.

The Orioles are 10-1 this month in games decided by two runs or fewer.

The Orioles and Rays have each used 57 different lineups since the All-Star break, per STATS, two behind the Twins and one behind the Astros and Pirates.

Right-hander Ryan Pepiot faced the Orioles on June 16 in Tampa and allowed one run with 11 strikeouts in eight innings, but he has a 5.74 ERA against them this season in three starts.

Left-handers are hitting .175/.265/.339 against Pepiot this season and right-handers are hitting .258/.324/.460.

The Orioles are 22-14 against the Rays since 2023. They’re trying for their third straight winning season against Tampa Bay, which would be the longest since 2014-16.

The last time that the Orioles hosted the Rays in June, they scored 30 runs with 38 hits and batted .342 to set their highest marks in any three-game series this season, per STATS.

The Rays lead the majors with 188 stolen bases, including 13 against the Orioles. They’ve swiped at least one base in eight straight games against the Orioles.

Tampa Bay has scored 11 runs or more in three games against the Orioles this season.

For the Orioles

Jackson Holliday 2B
Jordan Westburg 3B
Gunnar Henderson SS
Tyler O’Neill RF
Dylan Beavers LF
Adley Rutschman C
Samuel Basallo DH
Colton Cowser CF
Coby Mayo 1B

Dean Kremer RHP

For the Rays

Chandler Simpson CF
Yandy Díaz DH
Brandon Lowe 2B
Junior Caminero 3B
Josh Lowe RF
Jake Mangum LF
Hunter Feduccia C
Carson Williams SS
Bob Seymour 1B

Ryan Pepiot RHP