The Tampa Bay Rays wrap up a road series against the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday, August 23, 2026, with first pitch scheduled for 1:35 PM ET at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Nick Martinez gets the ball for Tampa Bay, while the Orioles counter with right-hander Shane Baz — a name Rays fans know well. This is a regular-season AL East matchup with divisional standing implications on the line, and Sunday afternoon baseball in Baltimore means both clubs will be fighting for every game they can get in a crowded conference race.
Pitching Matchup: Nick Martinez vs. Shane Baz
Nick Martinez draws the start for the Rays on Sunday. Martinez brings veteran experience and durability to a rotation that values both. He has the ability to work deep into games and eat innings when the bullpen needs a breather — a quality that matters in the grind of a long regular season.
On the other side, Shane Baz takes the hill for Baltimore. Rays fans will remember Baz well from his time in the Tampa Bay organization, where he was once one of the more highly regarded arms in the system. Now he toes the rubber against his former club, which adds an unmistakable storyline to an already meaningful divisional game. Baz has the stuff to keep lineups off-balance, and facing a familiar organization can cut both ways — extra motivation, but also familiarity on the opposing side.
Keys to Watch for the Rays on Sunday
- Plate discipline against Baz: Tampa Bay's hitters will need to be patient and work counts. Baz can be electric when he's locating his fastball and mixing his offspeed pitches. If Rays hitters can get him into deep counts early, they give themselves a better chance to do damage in the middle innings.
- Martinez keeping Baltimore's lineup in check: The Orioles feature a lineup capable of doing damage in bunches. Martinez will need to manage traffic on the bases and avoid the big inning that can swing a game in a hurry on a Sunday afternoon.
- Bullpen management: With this being the final game of the series, how both managers deploy their relievers will matter. The Rays have long relied on a bullpen-by-committee approach, and getting Martinez through five or six strong innings would keep that backend fresh heading into the next series.
- Situational hitting: In close divisional games, the ability to drive in runners from scoring position is often the deciding factor. Tampa Bay needs to capitalize when opportunities present themselves rather than leaving runs on the base paths.
Broadcast Information
Sunday's game can be seen on Rays.TV for Tampa Bay viewers and MASN for the Baltimore market. Radio coverage is available on WDAE 95.7 FM and 98 Rock 97.9 FM, with Spanish-language coverage on WQBN 1300 AM. Orioles radio fans can tune into WBAL 1090 AM.
Prediction
This is a game that figures to be decided by a run or two. Shane Baz knows the Rays well, and that familiarity could work in Baltimore's favor early. But Nick Martinez is a steady hand, and Tampa Bay's offense has enough patience and versatility to work through a tough starter. Expect a tight, competitive game befitting an AL East divisional matchup. The Rays have the pitching and experience to steal this one on the road. Rays 4, Orioles 3.
