Orioles turn to former All-Star Trevor Rogers against Rays

The Baltimore Orioles are hoping for another strong major league performance from Trevor Rogers when he starts Wednesday night against the host Tampa Bay Rays in the third contest of a four-game series.

Colton Cowser hit a solo homer, and Jordan Westburg and Dylan Carlson each collected three hits in the Orioles’ 5-1 victory over the Rays on Tuesday night.

Baltimore went 5-for-10 with runners in scoring position en route to notching its 15th win in the past 22 games and evening its four-game series with Tampa Bay at one win apiece. The Rays were 7-1 winners on Monday.

Rogers (0-0, 0.00 ERA) did well in his lone start of the season for the Orioles. The left-hander allowed two hits and struck out five in 6 1/3 scoreless innings against the Boston Red Sox on May 24. He did not figure in the decision of his team’s 2-1 win.

Rogers, 27, hasn’t fared well with Triple-A Norfolk this season, going 0-3 with a 5.45 ERA in seven starts.

Despite those numbers, Rogers has garnered the attention of Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino.

“We’re really optimistic,” Mansolino said. “I always ask the pitching guys how Trevor looked after every start (in Triple-A Norfolk), and they’ve been really, really bullish on how good he has looked.

“Trevor is a proven pitcher in the big leagues. He kind of looks like himself (now). I think he probably looks more like the pitcher they probably traded for, so we’re really excited to see him.”

Rogers was selected to the All-Star Game for the National League during the 2021 season with the Miami Marlins. He has struggled since his promising rookie season, recording a 7-24 mark in the majors since then.

“I think everyone knows the struggles I’ve had the past couple years,” Rogers said, per The Baltimore Sun. “You play this game every day; the self-doubt really creeps in pretty quick. Had a lot of self-talks with myself. I had to get better in certain areas, and I did. That start was a big step forward for me.”

Rogers has a 3.00 ERA without a decision in two career starts against Tampa Bay.

He’d be wise to keep a keen eye on Brandon Lowe, who had two hits and scored the Rays’ lone run on Tuesday. Lowe is 12-for-26 with a homer, three RBIs and seven runs during a six-game hitting streak.

The Rays, in turn, will hand the ball to right-hander Taj Bradley (4-5, 4.35 ERA) on Wednesday.

Bradley saw his winless stretch extend to four games after his second straight subpar performance — with both resulting in a no-decision. He allowed seven runs in four innings against the Marlins on June 7 and five unearned runs with four walks in four frames versus the New York Mets on Friday.

The Rays defeated the Mets 7-5 but lost to the Marlins 11-10 in 10 innings.

“He said he got tired of people asking him if he was OK,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said of Bradley. “The walks. We’ve got to do something about the walks to avoid those, because good teams are going to put added pressure (on us).”

Bradley has not won a game since May 21, an 8-4 victory over the Houston Astros in which he gave up two runs in six innings.

Bradley, 24, is 1-2 with a 6.52 ERA in four career starts against Baltimore.

–Field Level Media