masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgST. PETERSBURG – The Orioles have David Lough in left field and Ryan Flaherty at third base for tonight’s series opener against the Rays.

With Chris Davis at first and Nelson Cruz at designated hitter, the club has a bench led by Delmon Young, Alejandro De Aza and Kelly Johnson.

Lough makes his second start in three games, but first in left since Aug. 31. With four hits in his last nine at-bats, Lough has lifted his season average from .213 to .227.

Flaherty makes his first start since…ST. PETERSBURG – The Orioles have David Lough in left field and Ryan Flaherty at third base for tonight’s series opener against the Rays.

With Chris Davis at first and Nelson Cruz at designated hitter, the club has a bench led by Delmon Young, Alejandro De Aza and Kelly Johnson.

Lough makes his second start in three games, but first in left since Aug. 31. With four hits in his last nine at-bats, Lough has lifted his season average from .213 to .227.

Flaherty makes his first start since Tuesday, but his first at third since Aug. 16.

For the Orioles
Nick Markakis RF
David Lough LF
Adam Jones CF
Nelson Cruz DH
Chris Davis 1B
J.J. Hardy SS
Caleb Joseph C
Ryan Flaherty 3B
Jonathan Schoop 2B

Wei-Yin Chen LHP

For the Rays
Ben Zobrist CF
Brandon Guyer LF
Evan Longoria 3B
Wil Myers RF
James Loney 1B
Yunel Escobar SS
Logan Forsythe 2B
Ryan Hanigan C
Sean Rodriguez DH

Alex Cobb RHP

I updated Steve Pearce in my last blog entry. As for reliever Andrew Miller, he threw a bullpen session today to test his left leg.

Miller has been day-to-day since tweaking the leg on Monday. He threw off flat ground yesterday and today before heading to the mound.

The Orioles went 9-2 on their homestand, their best record in 11-plus games since going 10-2 during a homestand from June 22 to July 1, 1979.

The Orioles are a season-high 25 games above .500. They haven’t been 26 over since the end of the 1997 season.