Game: Tampa Bay Rays @ Detroit Tigers
Time: 6:40 p.m.
Odds: Rays –148, Tigers +124
Total: 9
The Tampa Bay Rays started their season with a 13-game winning streak. It all began with three victories over the Detroit Tigers. The Rays will now attempt to launch a second-half surge this weekend when they play three games in Detroit beginning tonight and they may have to do it without one of their best players.
In that season-opening series, Tampa Bay outscored Detroit 21-3. Prior to the Baltimore Orioles passing them on July 20, the Rays held the lead in the American League East Division. Tampa Bay led the Orioles by 6.5 games at the end of June, but the Rays dropped seven of their final eight games before the All-Star break. During a five-game losing streak from July 16 to 20, Baltimore was able to take over the division lead.
The Rays have recently displayed signs of regaining some of their early confidence. Prior to Wednesday’s 7-2 loss to the New York Yankees and ace Gerrit Cole, they had won three straight games and five of their previous seven. They will also have to navigate a good part of August without ace Shane McClanahan. He was put on the 15-day IL with forearm tightness.
It’s also uncertain whether Luke Raley will be available for the Tigers series as well. The first baseman/outfielder, who has hit 15 home runs this season, was hit by a foul ball and sustained a right knee contusion.
Zack Littell (1-2, 4.85 ERA) will start tonight for the Rays. The 27-year-old right-hander has spent the majority of his career as a reliever. Last Sunday, he pitched five innings in an 8-2 victory over Houston, earning him his first win in eight starts. He allowed eight hits and two runs, but no walks.
The Tigers have dropped six of their previous eight contests, but one of those victories came on Wednesday against Pittsburgh by a score of 6-3. Four of those runs were scored by Zack Short and Jake Rogers, both of whom were on the bench to start the game.
Rookie Reese Olson (1-4, 4.71) will start tonight for Detroit. Olson lost last Friday’s game in Miami by a score of 6-5 after allowing four runs and eight hits over six innings. In his last three starts, Olson has given up four home runs. Tonight’s game begins a seven-game homestand for the Tigers.
The Rays have won eight of the last nine games against the Tigers. Tampa Bay is also 6-3 SU in the last nine against the Tigers in Detroit. The Rays have also had great success against the AL Central Division. In the last 20 games against AL Central opponents, the Rays are 16-4.
Tampa Bay is the fourth-highest scoring team in MLB. The Rays average 5.19 runs per game. What’s interesting is that in 12 of their last 18 games the total has gone Under. The Under is also 6-3 in the Rays last nine games on the road.
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