Pre-game notes: O's face Price in series finale vs. Rays

The Orioles face Rays all-star left-hander David Price this afternoon in the teams' series finale at Tropicana Field.

Price is 6-2 with a 2.45 ERA in his career against the Orioles. In two starts against the O's this season, Price has allowed just one run over 14 1/3 innings. He held the Orioles to one run on seven hits with 10 strikeouts in a 10-1 win at Camden Yards on July 25.

"We don't like seeing him," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "He's one of the best pitchers in the game. You're competing against some of the best, and up in the big leagues, the good competitors take on that challenge like David does. You see the process he's gone through to get where he is. ... They're very deep. That's why they're going to be there the whole time."

-- Orioles minor leaguer Steve Tolleson, playing at Triple-A Norfolk, broke his right index finger while fielding a ball last night. Tolleson is expected to recover within 15 days.

-- Showalter said the Orioles are still waiting to see if Jim Thome's epidural will relieve inflammation in a herniated disk in his neck. Thome had the injection Friday and Showalter said it takes 3 to 5 days to see if it works. If it doesn't, Thome could receive a second injection. "I think in the next couple days we'll have an idea of the timeframe we're dealing with here."

Today's Orioles starting lineup has a little different look. Robert Andino, starting at third, will make his second start of the season in the No. 2 spot in the order.

Also, right-handed hitting Lew Ford starts against the left-handed Price in left field. Matt Wieters gets a day off from catching with the day-after-night game. Taylor Teagarden will catch today.

Orioles
Nick Markakis RF
Robert Andino 3B
J.J. Hardy SS
Adam Jones CF
Matt Wieters DH
Lew Ford LF
Mark Reynolds 1B
Omar Quintanilla 2B
Taylor Teagarden C
Miguel Gonzalez RHP