The Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays are set to square off in the middle game of their late-season three-game series at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m. ET on Wednesday, September 24, 2025. Both clubs are looking to finish the season on a high note, but recent results and looming weather have added intrigue to this critical American League East clash.
The Rays, sitting at 58-99, enter the contest trailing the season series by a slim 6-5 margin. They’re coming off a tough 6-0 loss to the Orioles on Tuesday night—a game that highlighted both their offensive struggles and the Orioles’ pitching prowess. Baltimore, meanwhile, boasts a record of 89-68 and is eager to maintain momentum as the regular season winds down.
Tuesday’s opener was all about pitching dominance. Orioles right-hander Dean Kremer, making his final start of the season, delivered a gem. He allowed just one hit and no runs over 6 1/3 innings, striking out four and walking none. Kremer’s mastery over the Rays continued, improving his career record against Tampa Bay to 5-1 with a sparkling 1.64 ERA. As interim manager Tony Mansolino praised, “It was really good. I feel like we’ve seen that outing seven or eight times this year, that same type of deal. Commanding the pitches, attacking the zone. When he got behind, he was able to get back in the fight a little bit, getting them to put the ball in play, weak contact. It was a very nice outing for him right there.”
The Orioles’ bullpen backed Kremer up in style. José Castillo, Colin Selby, and Yaramil Hiraldo combined to finish the final innings, securing Baltimore’s seventh shutout of the year. The 15,267 fans in attendance saw a clinical pitching performance and a balanced offensive attack. Gunnar Henderson’s sacrifice fly and Tyler O’Neill’s run-scoring infield out put Baltimore ahead in the first. Henderson added an RBI single in the third, Jordan Westburg drove in a run with a fifth-inning sacrifice fly, and Colton Cowser capped the scoring with his 16th home run of the season—a two-run blast in the sixth.
The Rays’ offensive woes were glaring. They managed just two hits all game, going 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. Since September 5, Tampa Bay has stumbled to a 5-12 record, and their bats have fallen silent at the worst possible time. The Orioles’ offense, despite a recent .567 OPS since early September, took full advantage of their opportunities in the series opener.
Baltimore’s catcher Adley Rutschman made his return from the 10-day injured list, though he went hitless in four at-bats. Still, his impact behind the plate was evident, as Mansolino noted, “Our pitching guys said, I think it was the eighth or ninth inning, they made the comment, ‘He just knows what he’s doing back there.’ In terms of calling the game, don’t undervalue the fact Deano just had such an efficient, clean outing the first day Adley’s back. He has become a very good catcher in this league in understanding how to get hitters out and how to navigate the game multiple times through the order with our pitchers, specifically, too. I thought it was a very nice game behind the plate. Liked where he’s at. Give him a few days, hopefully he gets the bat going.”
Looking ahead to Wednesday’s matchup, the starting pitchers are set and both bring intriguing storylines. For Tampa Bay, right-hander Shane Baz (10-12, 4.99 ERA) will make his 31st start of the season. Baz is coming off a strong five-inning, scoreless outing against the Toronto Blue Jays, where he allowed just two hits and struck out four. He’s posted a 0.75 ERA in two career starts against Baltimore, albeit with a limited sample size. Baz’s recent form—3.70 ERA over his last five starts and a 3.63 ERA on the road over the past two seasons—offers a glimmer of hope for a Rays team desperate for a turnaround.
Baltimore counters with Tyler Wells (2-0, 2.04 ERA), who’s making just his fourth start after returning from a lengthy injury layoff. Wells was sharp in his previous outing, tossing six innings of one-run ball with four strikeouts and no walks against the Chicago White Sox. His career numbers against Tampa Bay are less impressive (0-3, 5.97 ERA in 31 2/3 innings), but Wells has looked rejuvenated since coming back from UCL revision surgery last June. The Orioles hope his recent success continues as they push for a strong finish.
Betting markets reflect the tight nature of this matchup. According to BetMGM Sportsbook, the Rays are narrow -105 moneyline favorites, while the Orioles are at -115. The run line has Tampa Bay -1.5 (+150) and Baltimore +1.5 (-185), with the over/under set at 8.5 runs (-110 both ways). The prediction from several analysts leans Rays 4, Orioles 3, citing Baz’s edge on the mound and the Rays’ bullpen depth, though Baltimore’s recent surge and home-field advantage can’t be overlooked.
Recent trends favor low-scoring affairs between these teams. The under has hit in three straight series meetings and in six consecutive Baltimore games, suggesting another tight, pitching-dominated contest could be on tap. Weather could also play a role, as Tuesday’s opener was delayed 71 minutes by rain and more precipitation is in the forecast for Wednesday and Thursday.
Both teams have plenty at stake as the season winds down. For the Orioles, who are 13-7 in September, a sweep of this series would tie them with the Rays for fourth place in the AL East. As Colton Cowser reflected, “It’s one of those things when you look at how the trade deadline went, got rid of a lot of guys and be able to jell together as a team is really important, especially this last month. Even against the Yankees, I don’t feel like we played all that poorly, but this month has been really good, and we’re looking to finishing strong. Hopefully, we win as many games as possible. We only have five left.”
The Rays, on the other hand, are searching for answers after a disappointing September slide. Their record in one-run games (22-28 across 50 contests) has been a sore spot, and their offense needs a spark if they hope to avoid a sweep in Baltimore. Still, with Baz on the mound and a rested bullpen, Tampa Bay remains a dangerous opponent.
As the Orioles and Rays prepare for Wednesday night’s showdown, all eyes will be on the mound and the weather. Will Baz’s recent dominance or Wells’ resurgence tip the balance? One thing’s for sure—both teams have something to prove as the regular season ticks down, and fans in Baltimore are in for another night of tense, high-stakes baseball action.
