Tuesday Bird Droppings: The biggest two-game series

Good morning, Birdland!

It’s only two games, but they are the two most important games the Orioles have played in a while. If the O’s get a quick sweep, they will be within three games of first place in the AL East for the first time since late May. A sweep in favor of the Rays would make it a seven-game deficit, the largest of the season for the Orioles.

If ever there was a time to face the Rays, right now might be it. They’ve lost two in a row and four out of their last six. That constitutes a lengthy slump for the league’s juggernaut.

The O’s dropped two out of three to the Cubs this past weekend, but had taken two series in a row before that, and they own a 7-3 record in their last 10…