O's return home to face Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays try to put the brakes on a three-game losing streak on Tuesday when they start a three-game set with the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.

Tampa enters this set on the heels of getting swept by the Boston Red Sox, including a 3-2 setback in Monday's tilt at Fenway Park. Evan Longoria homered, while Jeremy Hellickson struck out nine and allowed just two runs on three hits in seven innings in the loss for the Rays, who have lost six of seven.

The struggling Rays managed just four hits and have scored only six runs in their last five games. Nearly no-hit by Boston's Clay Buchholz on Sunday, Tampa Bay has just seven hits over its last 18 innings.

"It's not a new path," Rays manager Joe Maddon said about the team's struggling offense. "It's not the road less traveled. We've been there. We know how to deal with it, and we'll keep moving forward from there."

Hoping for a little more support on Tuesday will be righty Roberto Hernandez, who has lost both of his starts and has pitched to a 6.08 ERA. Hernandez's most recent loss came in Texas last Tuesday, as he allowed six runs (5 earned) and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings. He had lost to Baltimore in his first start and is 4-5 lifetime against them.

Baltimore, meanwhile, also enters on a sour note, after it dropped two of three to the New York Yankees over the weekend, culminating with a 3-0 loss at the hands of Hiroki Kuroda in Sunday's rubber match.

Wei-Yin Chen (0-2) allowed six hits and a walk over six frames for the Orioles, who have lost five of their last eight.

"With very few exceptions, he was just as good as Kuroda," O's manager Buck Showalter said of Chen.

Heading to the hill for the O's on Tuesday will be righty Jake Arrieta, who has yet to record a decision, but has pitched to a 7.20 ERA. He's also walked six batters in 10 innings to start the year.

Baltimore, which took two of three from the Rays earlier in the year, will be home for the next nine games. The O's have only played one series at Camden.