Oriole fans have Rays’ rooting interest in World Series

When the Orioles’ season ends, many fans lose interest in postseason baseball and turn their full attention to the Ravens. This season might be different.

Several fans I’ve talked to have temporarily adopted the Tampa Bay Rays, and are rooting for them against the Milwaukee Brewers in the World Series that begins on Friday.

It’s not surprising that Oriole fans would identify with one of their American League East rivals.

Tampa Bay has four recent Orioles on the team — closer Bryan Baker, right-hander Tyler Wells, infielder Jorge Mateo and centerfielder Cedric Mullins.

They also have right-handed reliever Cole Sulser, who saved 13 games for the Orioles in 2020 and 2021.

Former Orioles manager Brandon Hyde is spending the year as the Rays’ senior advisor of baseball operations. He’s been in uniform before home games, worked with Tampa Bay’s minor league teams and scouted postseason opponents.

Baker, who was traded in July 2025 for a competitive balance-round draft pick, has been the obvious standout. After finishing in a tie with Cleveland’s Cade Smith with 41 saves to lead the American League, Baker has continued his domination in the Division and Championship Series. In seven scoreless innings, Baker has allowed one hit and walked two, saving five games.

Wells was traded to the Rays on August 3^rd for right-hander Michael Forret, and was 3-0 with a 1.50 ERA and two saves in 14 games. He didn’t pitch in a game for a month because of right forearm tightness.

He was not on the active roster for the Division Series win against Chicago, and allowed four runs on five hits in 3 1/3 innings, striking out five in four games in the LCS.

Mullins, who was traded to the New York Mets in July 2025, signed with Tampa Bay before this season. He hit .205 with a .628 OPS, 15 home runs, 48 RBIs and 21 steals in 31 attempts.

He hasn’t played much in the postseason. Mullins was hitless in two at-bats in the Rays’ three-game sweep of the Yankees in the Division Series. He played in three of the six games in the LCS, hitting his second postseason homer in Game 1.

Mullins’ home run in Game 2 of the Orioles’ wild-card loss to Kansas City in 2024 was the only run the Orioles scored in that series.

Mateo began the season with the Atlanta Braves but was released and signed with Tampa Bay on August 13^th.

In 32 games, Mateo hit .141 with a home run, seven RBIs and nine steals. Mateo pinch-ran in four games this postseason and played second base in two of those games.

The Brewers do have some Orioles’ representation. Infielder Joey Ortiz, backup catcher Gary Sánchez and left-hander DL Hall are recent Orioles.

Ortiz and Hall were traded to Milwaukee in February 2024 for starter Corbin Burnes.

Ortiz, who played in 134 games this season, was the Orioles’ fourth-round draft pick in 2019. He hit .270 with a .730 OPS, nine home runs and 47 RBIs. He had a 2.6 WAR (Wins Above Replacement).

Hall was the Orioles’ first-round pick in 2017, and injuries marked his Orioles’ tenure. In 29 games in 2022 and 2023, Hall was 4-1 with a 4.36 ERA and a save in 33 innings.

After being limited to 33 games in his first two seasons with the Brewers, Hall was 4-0 with a 1.91 ERA in 47 games, though he missed nearly two months with a left pectoral strain

Hall has pitched in four postseason games, giving up four hits in 5 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out three and walking two.

Sánchez missed most of last season, playing in only 29 games for the Orioles, hitting .231 with five home runs and 24 RBIs.

He returned to Milwaukee, where he played in 2024, and hit .209 with a .771 OPS, 12 home runs and 38 RBIs this season.

Sánchez walked as a pinch-hitter in his only postseason action against San Diego in the Division Series.

Notes: The Orioles announced the previously reported surgery on left-hander Cade Povich’s left elbow. It was described as “successful left elbow debridement surgery to remove a loose body.” The October 14^th procedure was performed by Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington, Texas and the Orioles expect that Povich will be ready for spring training. … The Orioles signed left-hander Jayvien Sandridge to a minor league contract. Sandridge, a Hagerstown native, was 1-0 with a 10.13 ERA in six games with Triple-A Norfolk … They also announced the previously reported signing of right-hander Connor Cooke to a minor league deal.