The Tampa Bay Rays wrap up their series at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Sunday, August 23, 2026, with a 1:35 PM ET first pitch. Nick Martinez gets the ball for Tampa Bay against none other than Shane Baz — the former Rays pitching prospect now wearing Baltimore orange. With the AL East race grinding through its late-summer stretch, this is exactly the kind of divisional game that can shift the standings in either direction. Rays.TV and WDAE 95.7 FM have the call for Tampa Bay fans.

Pitching Matchup: Martinez vs. Baz

Nick Martinez is a known quantity for this Rays organization — a veteran arm who eats innings and competes. He does not overpower hitters, but he works the zone and trusts his defense. In a day game on the road against a capable Baltimore lineup, Martinez will need to be sharp early and limit the free passes that can quickly snowball against this kind of firepower.

Shane Baz is the storyline here. The hard-throwing right-hander came up through Tampa Bay's system before making his way to Baltimore, so he knows these hitters and this organization as well as anyone. That familiarity cuts both ways — the Rays will have their own book on Baz, and this shapes up as a chess match from the first pitch.

Baltimore Lineup to Watch

The Orioles are sending out a formidable lineup. Martinez will face the following order:

• Jackson Holliday (2B) — leadoff
• Pete Alonso (1B) — protection and power in the two hole
• Gunnar Henderson (SS) — one of the most dangerous hitters in the AL
• Samuel Basallo (C) — cleanup duties
• Coby Mayo (DH)
• Dylan Beavers (LF)
• Christian Encarnacion-Strand (3B)
• Colton Cowser (CF)
• Leody Taveras (RF)

Gunnar Henderson in the three spot is the name Martinez cannot afford to make a mistake to. With Pete Alonso hitting second and Samuel Basallo cleaning up, the heart of this Baltimore order can do real damage in a hurry. The Orioles have built a lineup that does not have many soft spots, and Martinez will need to navigate it without letting the big boppers beat him in hitter's counts.

Keys to the Game for Tampa Bay

Martinez Must Limit the Big Inning

With the Henderson-Alonso-Basallo core in the middle of the Baltimore order, there is no margin for error with runners on base. Martinez's best path to a quality start is getting ahead in counts, keeping the ball on the ground, and not letting the Orioles string together extra-base hits.

Tampa Bay Offense Needs to Solve Baz

The Rays lineup will need to work counts against their former rotation mate. Baz has the kind of stuff that can make a team look passive if they do not come in with a plan. Getting into the Baltimore bullpen early would take pressure off Martinez and give Tampa Bay a real path to a win.

Defense and Special Teams Baseball

Day games at Camden Yards with a 1:35 start can have quirky conditions. Clean defense behind Martinez, smart baserunning, and situational at-bats will matter as much as anything in what figures to be a competitive, lower-scoring affair.

Prediction

This is a tight one. Baz knows the Rays, and the Baltimore lineup gives Martinez very little room for error. But Martinez is a professional who has navigated tough spots before, and a motivated Tampa Bay club hitting the road in August is not to be overlooked. Expect a close game decided by the middle innings. Rays 4, Orioles 3 — Tampa Bay steals one in Baltimore.