The Tampa Bay Rays (38-32) and Philadelphia Phillies (34-38) are scheduled to play a day-night doubleheader on Sunday at Citizens Bank Park, with the first pitch in Game 1 scheduled for 1:05 ET
Tampa Bay Rays at Philadelphia Phillies
Tampa Bay has now dropped three of four on its current nine-game road trip, failing to hold onto an early 3-0 lead, suffering a 7-6 setback to Philadelphia on Saturday night. “We’ve been giving it up a little bit, and we have not gotten it on our side,” stated Rays manager Joe Maddon about the team’s recent struggles. The Rays may have a tough time ending their current losing streak, coming into the day portion of this double dip with a 9-14 record against southpaw starters. Tampa Bay is 19-6 after three or more consecutive losses since the start of the 2010 campaign.
Rays starting pitcher David Price (9-4, 3.08 ERA) has won three of his last four starts, including a 5-4 road victory over the Washington Nationals last time out, giving up four runs (three earned) and six hits over seven frames. The left-hander has gone 5-2 with a 3.75 ERA in eight road outings, striking out 39 batters in 48 combined innings. In 13 career interleague starts, Price has registered an even 6-6 record and 4.66 ERA, including a 4-3 mark and 5.04 ERA when on the road.
Philadelphia currently occupies fourth place in the NL East standings, and will now call upon its two best pitchers that are not on the disabled list to throw in this day-night doubleheader. The Phillies have been hitting the long ball recently, sending 22 home runs over the fence in June coming into Saturday’s contest, which was the sixth-most among NL clubs at that time. It’s important to note that the club is just 1-7 in its last eight day games.
Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels (10-3, 3.25 ERA) has won his last two efforts, picking up a 7-2 home win over the Colorado Rockies last time out, giving up two runs and six hits over eight frames. The left-hander has gone 5-3 with a 3.11 ERA in eight home starts, issuing just 14 walks and striking out 62 batters in 55 innings. Hamels hasn’t faced the Rays since going 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA in two starts against them in the 2008 World Series.
Bettors will likely back the Phillies due to their 23-9 record in opening games of doubleheaders, while the Rays are 2-5 on the road against left-handed starters.
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