McClanahan, Bradish Set Memorial Day Rays Vs Orioles Test

Shane McClanahan and Kyle Bradish are set to open rays vs orioles on Memorial Day, giving Tampa Bay and Baltimore a pitching matchup built around two starters who have both handled injuries. The Rays enter leading the American League East, while the Orioles arrive 12 games back at 23-29.

McClanahan’s 5-2 Start

McClanahan brings a 5-2 record, a 2.82 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP into the matchup. He also has recent work against Baltimore, having faced the Orioles last week and allowed four earned runs on six hits over five innings.

Tampa Bay’s road record sits at 15-11, a useful marker for a club that has been one of the best teams in baseball. That combination of division lead and winning away from home gives the Rays a stronger base heading into a game that already carries one of the day’s sharpest pitching pairings.

Bradish’s 10 Starts

Bradish counters with a 2-6 record, a 4.13 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP across 10 starts. In his last outing against the Rays, he allowed two earned runs on four hits over 5.1 innings, keeping Baltimore close enough for a different result this time.

The Orioles are in fourth place in the AL East, and their 23-29 record leaves them well behind Tampa Bay. They were 18-34 on Memorial Day last year, so the gap is real even before this meeting begins.

AL East Gap

The matchup is being framed as likely the best pitching matchup of the day, and the numbers explain why. McClanahan has the stronger season line, but Bradish has already shown he can hold the Rays down for stretches, which gives Baltimore a slimmer path than the standings suggest.

Pete Alonso also appears in the recent backdrop, having hit a home run in the sixth inning against the Rays at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida on May 20, 2026. For Tampa Bay, the task is simple: keep the division lead intact against a Baltimore team trying to erase a 12-game gap with one start.