Game Report for Tuesday, April 16th

Baltimore at RAYS
7:10; RAYS TV
RAYS RADIO/WHNZ 1250 AM

PITCHING MATCHUP:

RH Steve Trachsel, BAL:

Overview-Trachsel takes to the hill in the second of a three game series for the Orioles, and makes his first start against the Rays since 2001. The ex-Ray, who made the team's 2000 Opening Day start against Minnesota, was traded midway through that season to Toronto after making 23 starts for the Rays and compiling a 4.58 ERA. He has spent the past six straight seasons in the New York Mets' rotation, putting up a 4.97 ERA for New York last year. This will be his third start as a member of the Orioles.

Last Start-Trachsel went an impressive seven innings for Baltimore in his last start on Thursday against the Kansas City Royals. He gave up one earned run on three hits in seven innings, striking out one and walking one. He gave up three runs in 6.2 innings to New York in his first start of the season on April 7th.

vs RAYS-Trachsel has not made a regular season start against Tampa Bay since the 2001 season, in which he started for the New York Mets and gave up four runs over six innings. He made one start against the team after joining Toronto in the late part of the 2000 season, and has a 4.15 ERA against the team overall in two starts. Trachsel has a 5.82 lifetime ERA in Tropicana Field, where he has made 10 starts, nine of them with the Rays. Only Greg Norton has more than one at bat against Trachsel among Devil Ray hitters, he is 1 for 6 off of the Baltimore righty.

LH Casey Fossum

Overview-Fossum takes to the hill for the third time as well this season, coming off of an impressive seven inning start against Minnesota. The southpaw, recovering from left shoulder surgery that ended his 2006 season, unfortunately preceded that start against the Twins with a horrible 3.2 inning start against Toronto, during which he surrendered seven earned runs. Overall he has a 7.59 ERA in two starts this season, coming off of a 2006 in which he posted a 5.33 ERA in 25 starts.

Last Start-Fossum redeemed himself for his poor outing on the seventh, as he shut the Minnesota Twins down over seven innings in the Metrodome. He surrendered two runs, both earned, on six hits while striking out two on 92 pitches. Fossum did not walk a batter, and would have had a shutout if not for a two run Michael Cuddyer home run in the fourth inning of that contest.

vs Baltimore-Fossum is familiar with the Orioles, having pitched against them frequently entering his sixth season in the AL East. Last year he pitched decently against Baltimore, surrendering five runs in 12 innings of work, and was especially good at Tropicana Field where he had a 3.48 ERA in 77.2 innings on the season. He has a 4.60 ERA in 60.2 innings all-time against the Orioles, a stat which closely resembles his 4.48 ERA all-time in Tropicana Field. The Orioles are quite familiar individually with Fossum. Miguel Tejada is 10 for 29 all-time against the southpaw, while Jay Gibbons have combined for five home runs in 37 total at bats off of Fossum as well. Aubrey Huff also has ten relatively successful at bats against Fossum dating to when the Rays' lefty pitched for Boston.

STARTING LINEUPS:

Baltimore-After his excellent performance last night, Freddie Bynum gets yet another start for Baltimore in hitting ninth. Hopefully he doesn't become a Ray-killer like Corey Patterson was from center field last year. Paul Bako is relieved as the starting catcher this evening by Alberto Castillo, whom I didn't know was even still playing. I thought the former Blue Jay catcher had hung it up, last I heard he was playing for the Yankees' AAA Columbus affiliate a few years ago. Outside of those two, the Orioles send out their normal lineup.

DEVIL RAYS-Another day, another lineup for Rays skipper Joe Maddon. This particular version has SS Brendan Harris starting and batting second from the 'six' hole, preceded by Rocco Baldelli. Ty Wigginton is hitting clean-up and playing second, though oddly B.J. Upton is still in the lineup and is the Designated Hitter. Carlos Peña gets the start at first today and bats eighth.

GO RAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!