ST. PETERSBURG -- There is hope on the horizon for the Rays’ scuffling lineup. Rehabbing outfielder Manuel Margot might be a week away from returning. Wander Franco and Harold Ramírez might be back soon after that.

Problem is, they could clearly use some help right now.

The Orioles cruised to a 10-3 win over the Rays on Friday night at Tropicana Field, dealing Tampa Bay its third straight loss and its 12th in 19 games since the All-Star break. Beyond that, the defeat knocked the Rays (58-53) out of the three American League Wild Card spots for the first time since they were 40-36 through July 1.

Taking the Rays’ place in the postseason picture? That would be the Orioles, who now hold a half-game lead in the standings after bumping the Rays to fourth place in the AL East. Yes, the same Orioles team that lost 18 of 19 games to the Rays last season has won nine of its 17 matchups this year and would make the playoffs if the season ended today.

“They're a more complete team” than last year, Rays infielder Yandy Díaz said through interpreter Manny Navarro. “Their offense is a little bit better, and their pitching is playing very well.”

Meanwhile, the Rays can’t seem to find their rhythm. They are 27-32 since June 4, and during that stretch they’ve gone from having a 5 1/2-game cushion for a postseason spot to being out of the field entirely. They rank fourth in the AL East in August or later (excluding the shortened 2020 season) for the first time since they were 72-75 on Sept. 13, 2017.

Their lineup has looked particularly listless, averaging only 3.37 runs per game since the break. In 13 of their 19 second-half games, they’ve scored three runs or fewer. They couldn’t hit their way out of this skid in Friday’s series opener, either, mustering only five hits and a walk while striking out 11 times.

Orioles starter Austin Voth held the Rays hitless for five innings before Jose Siri reached on an infield single and Randy Arozarena pulled a two-run homer out to left field in the sixth.

“[We've] got to somehow find a way to get out of this a little bit. It's not coming easy for anybody,” manager Kevin Cash said. “[It] was encouraging that Randy hit the ball. … We’ve got to do more of that. Guys know that, though. They're going to continue to work, and hopefully, this thing turns around sooner than later.”

Indeed, there is some urgency for the Rays to get back on the right track. They can bank on better days ahead, especially with a third of their lineup potentially set to return within the next two weeks, but they also can’t afford to fall too far behind in a crowded AL Wild Card race as they begin a stretch of 17 games in 17 days with a grueling September schedule looming.

“We've got to play well, there's no doubt, because the teams that are right in the middle with us, that are right in the thick of it -- they are playing well,” Cash said. “So we've got to do our thing, and that's pitching well, playing good defense and start finding ways to get some timely hitting.”

That was the same outlook veteran starter Corey Kluber offered after giving up seven runs on 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings on Friday, marking the fifth consecutive start in which he’s allowed at least three runs, tied for the longest streak of his career.

Overall, the Rays allowed double-digit runs for the fifth time this season and surrendered a season-high 19 hits -- including three off infielder Yu Chang in the ninth inning of an already-lopsided game.

Kluber allowed a handful of hard-hit balls, including Adley Rutschman’s first-inning homer off the C-ring catwalk, but he was also done in by some softly hit singles and balls that landed just in front of Tampa Bay’s outfielders. 

It was that kind of night, again, for the Rays.

“No doubt it's frustrating. Frustrating in the sense that it's resulting in runs, that it's making it harder to win games,” said Kluber, whose ERA has climbed from 3.58 to 4.40 since July 17. “I'm not going to be able to come out here next time throwing 100 mph, you know what I mean? I don't know, other than to stick with it and continue trying to execute pitches -- that's the only way I know.”