Simulated Season (05/17): Tampa Bay Rays sweep Orioles, win six straight

The Tampa Bay Rays are officially on fire in Baseball-Reference’s simulated season. They swept the Yankees and the Orioles in back-to-back series.

The Tampa Bay Rays are surging toward first place with two consecutive sweeps over divisional foes. This is, of course, in Baseball-Reference’s simulated season using OOTP. The Yankees sit atop the standings with a 30-17 record, but after six straight victories, the Rays are just four games back with momentum building.

Their starting pitching was lagging behind just a week ago but has since turned the corner. Brendan McKay took the ball today for Tampa with a chance to sweep the Orioles after Manuel Margot’s walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth last night.

The Rays gave Kevin Kiermaier and Austin Meadows the day off with Margot filling in at leadoff and playing centerfield. Joey Wendle got the start in left and hit second.

Orioles starter Kyle Lloyd only lasted 2.2 innings after walking four and giving up five earned. Ji-Man Choi hit cleanup and blasted his fifth home run of the season in the first inning off of Lloyd. Choi did not do a cartwheel as he did against the Yankees. He hasn’t lived down the missed landing from his previous attempt yet. Choi also stole his second base of the season in this game.

The Orioles just couldn’t handle rookie Brendan McKay who struck out 11 in 6.1 innings, allowing two walks, three hits, and just two earned runs. McKay was credited with the win and sits on a 3.49 ERA for the season. Brendan McKay is now 5-3 on the young season.

The Rays would end up tagging the Orioles for eight runs, on 10 hits, and seven walks.