Orioles @ Rays

Who will WIN this matchup?

Baltimore Orioles (31-63)

@ Tampa Bay Rays (56-39)

Starting Pitchers:

Akin (BAL): 0-5; 8.19 ERA

Wacha (TB) 2-2; 5.14 ERA

Current odds:

Baltimore Orioles: (+145)

Tampa Bay Rays: (-165)

• While the Tampa Bay Rays maintain their high expectations for this season, the Baltimore Orioles are hoping some second-half success will bode well for the future. The Rays will look to win back-to-back contests for the first time since the All-Star break when they play the rubber match of a three-game series against the Orioles on Wednesday at St. Petersburg, Fla.

• Tampa Bay has alternated losses and wins for six games since winning six straight from July 4-10. The Rays bounced back from a 6-1 series-opening loss to Baltimore on Monday, rolling to a 9-3 victory on Tuesday.

• Backup catcher Francisco Mejia homered and had a career-high five RBIs while Randy Arozarena also homered and posted his second straight two-hit game after going 4-for-41 in his previous 13 contests. Tampa Bay overcame a season-high four errors Tuesday by scoring four times in the eighth inning to break open what was a 5-3 contest.

• Michael Wacha (2-2, 5.14 ERA) is slated to take the ball for the Rays on Wednesday. The right-hander allowed four runs — three off two homers — and five hits over four innings in a no-decision at Atlanta on Friday. Wacha has allowed one run and five hits while striking out 13 over 11 innings while going 1-0 in his past two home starts. Against the visiting Orioles on June 13, Wacha yielded a run over a two-inning start.

• Baltimore’s Cedric Mullins is 2-for-3 with a double and a triple off Wacha. Anthony Santander is hitless in three at-bats vs. Wacha, but with two doubles on Tuesday, he is 4-for-13 in his past four contests.

• The Orioles totaled 19 runs during a three-game winning streak that ended Tuesday, when they struck out 15 times and went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

• Despite losing to the Rays for the 13th time in 15 meetings, Baltimore is on the rise since the All-Star break, boosting the club’s collective confidence.

• Scheduled Baltimore starter Keegan Akin (0-5, 8.19 ERA) has allowed 36 runs, 47 hits and 16 walks over 28 1/3 innings over his past seven outings, six of them starts. He yielded six runs and eight hits in just three innings during a 9-2 loss at Kansas City on Friday.

• Akin’s current rough stretch began at Tampa Bay on June 11, when he allowed a two-run homer to Brandon Lowe, one other run and walked three over four innings of a 4-2 defeat. He also gave up two runs and five hits in three innings of relief during the Orioles’ 10-1 loss to the Rays on May 20, although he wasn’t involved in the decision. Arozarena is 2-for-3 against Akin.