The O’s look to rebound from an 11-1 loss in the series opener as Dean Kremer makes his first start of the second half.
Where to watch: MASN2, MASN+
Probable pitchers: RHP Dean Kremer (8-7, 4.24 ERA, 88 Ks) vs. RHP Zack Littell (8-7, 3.56 ERA, 80 Ks)
In a season where everything that can go wrong seemingly has, it was more of the same yesterday when the Orioles kicked off the second half of 2025. Charlie had his worst start in three months, the offense didn’t get on the board until the 9th inning and Baltimore suffered its fifth loss of 10+ runs this season.
While the Orioles collectively haven’t rebounded from their woeful start to the season, the same can’t be said about Dean Kremer. After a disastrous first month of the season, Kremer’s been a constant positive for this Orioles rotation over his last 13 starts. In that time, the 29-year-old right-hander has a 3.13 ERA, a .241 BAA and a 1.16 WHIP.
Kremer’s been a little rockier on the road during that stretch, posting a 4.26 ERA in his last seven road starts. However, Kremer is the only starting pitcher to guide the O’s to a win in Tampa this season. A month ago, he finished with a final line of 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB and 4 Ks in a 5-1 Orioles win.
It won’t matter how well Kremer pitches, though, if the O’s continue to sleepwalk at the plate. Baltimore is currently in the midst of their worst offensive month of the season. Through the first 12 games of July, the Orioles are hitting a measly .216 with a .635 OPS while scoring 3.3 runs per game.
Trying to break out of that funk against Rays’ starter Zack Littell won’t be an easy task, given Baltimore’s historical struggles against the soft-tossing righty. Littell has a 2.74 career ERA against Baltimore and has combined for 13 IP, 10 H, 4 ER and 8 Ks in two starts vs. the O’s this season—though Littell was the losing pitcher opposite Kremer in that 5-1 Baltimore win.
Colton Cowser may be the X-factor for the O’s offense tonight, as the Milk Man comes in with plenty of success in his previous matchups against Littell. Cowser is 4-for-13 with two HRs and a 1.143 OPS. After going 3-for-3 in yesterday’s loss, another good night at the plate could ignite a hot steak from Cowser—and perhaps kickstart this scuffling Orioles’ lineup.
Orioles Lineup
- Jackson Holliday (L) 2B
- Jordan Westburg (R) DH
- Gunnar Henderson (L) SS
- Ryan O’Hearn (L) 1B
- Ramón Laureano (R) LF
- Colton Cowser (L) CF
- Tyler O’Neill (R) RF
- Ramón Urías (R) 3B
- Jacob Stallings (R) C
Rays Lineup
- Chandler Simpson (L) CF
- Brandon Lowe (L) 2B
- Yandy Díaz (R) DH
- Jonathan Aranda (L) 1B
- Junior Caminero (R) 3B
- Josh Lowe (L) RF
- Tanner Mangum (S) LF
- Ha-Seong Kim (R) SS
- Matt Thaiss (L) C