A pair of playoff hopefuls square off in a crucial three-game series at Tropicana Field this weekend, starting with Friday’s clash that’s highlighted by All-Star southpaws.
Boston Red Sox at Tampa Bay Rays
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Tag: Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays are looking to sweep the Angels in Anaheim for the first time in franchise history, as they welcome back a key member of their starting rotation.
Tampa Bay Rays at Los Angeles Angels
The Rays look to snap a season-high losing streak and turn to their All-Star left-hander in hopes of doing so.
Tampa Bay Rays at Detroit Tigers
Tampa Bay was nearly no-hit in a 1-0 road loss to the Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon and have managed to hit for a combined .149 average in dropping five straight games. This recent skid is the club’s longest losing streak of the season, after the team had gone 10-1 in their previous 11 games. “I was beginning to think no-hitters were commonplace,” said third baseman Evan Longoria. “It seems like we’ve been a part of and watched so many this year.” Rays outfielder Carl Crawford returned to the lineup yesterday after two days of rest, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. Tampa is 7-3 in Monday games this season (+340) and 27-19 on this day the past three years (+620). The Rays are also a dominating 34-17 against teams with losing records in 2010 (+410).
The Blue Jays aim for a sweep of their AL East rivals after slamming eight home runs on Saturday afternoon.
Tampa Bay Rays at Toronto Blue Jays
Tampa Bay has lost a season-worst four games in a row and is facing being swept for the first time since May 24-26. The Rays fell 17-11 in Saturday’s defeat, but manager Joe Maddon found some positive things to take away from the loss. “I really love the way we stayed with it all the way through,” he said. “I really appreciated our guys’ effort today.” Despite dropping the first two games of this series, the club still has 33-20 record on the road (+960), which is the best mark in baseball. Tampa is also a solid 21-12 during the day (+600) and the total is 14-18 O/U in those contests. The Rays are 6-5 on the season against the Blue Jays and 2-3 at the Rogers Centre.
The Rays will look to regain sole possession of first place in the AL East standings in the series finale against the Twins.
Minnesota Twins at Tampa Bay Rays
Minnesota captured a 2-1 victory in the third game of this four-game series against the Rays at Tropicana Field, overcoming a blown save in the ninth from new closer Matt Capps. “An exciting baseball game,” manager Ron Gardenhire said. “Well pitched by both sides.” Catcher Joe Mauer was back in the lineup for a second straight day, after missing two games with a shoulder injury. The win last night snapped a four-game losing streak for the Twins against the Rays, which was their longest losing streak against Tampa Bay since August 2001. The club is 21-18 in day games this season (-50) and the total is 17-18 O/U in those contests. Minnesota has also played just three games this season in domes due to moving into Target Field from the Metrodome this year, posting a 1-2 mark in this series thus far (-40). The Twins are still a dismal 13-18 against AL East opponents.
The first two games of the series have been decided by a single run, as the teams are separated by two games in the AL East pennant race.
New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays
New York pushed its divisional lead to two games with Saturday’s 5-4 road victory over the Rays at Tropicana Field. Both games in the series have been decided by a single run, with Tampa winning 3-2 on Friday night. “It feels like a playoff,” said second baseman Robinson Cano. “The fans get excited when they get an out and they’re in every pitch.” Newly acquired Lance Berkman went 0-for-4 in his debut with the Bronx Bombers, as he got his first taste of a pennant race this year. “It was definitely sore of a playoff-type atmosphere,” said Berkman. The Yankees own the best record in baseball at 66-37 (+760) and the total is 52-47 O/U in all games. The lines maker has placed them as a road favorite of -125 to -150 this afternoon, with the team tallying a 10-6 record in that situation in 2010 (+210) and compiling a 31-28 mark the last three years (-720).
The Rays have a chance of evening the AL East race and capture their eighth straight win in the process.
New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays
New York has acquired Astros first baseman Lance Berkman for the playoff push, but it’s unclear if he will be available for tonight’s contest. “That’s great,” said first baseman Mark Teixeira. “It’s going to be good for the clubhouse.” The Yankees may have started feeling the pressure of the race, as tonight’s opponent is just a game behind them. The club still owns the best record in baseball, but dropped to 31-21 on the road this season with least night’s loss (+210). New York has been a road underdog of +100 to +125 just seven times this season (+180), with the total being 4-3 O/U in those games. The Bronx Bombers are an even 8-8 when playing on Saturdays (-520), while sporting a healthy 22-13 mark against the division (+440). The Yankees are 4-5 versus the Rays this season, but have won 26 of the last 43 meetings.
The top two teams in the AL East division get ready to battle in a three-game series this weekend.
New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays will try to capture their first-ever four-game sweep of the Tigers at Tropicana Field.
Detroit Tigers at Tampa Bay Rays
Detroit will look avoid its first 10-game losing streak away from home since it ended the 2005 campaign in that fashion. The club has dropped 12 of its last 15 games overall. One good thing going for the Tigers is the fact that the Rays have never swept them in a four-game series at Tropicana Field. Detroit is currently in a stretch of playing 11-straight games against AL East opponents, producing a 10-7 record versus the division so far this season. The Tigers have also managed to still win eight of their last 14 games in Tampa Bay despite dropping the first three games of this series. In 27 games against southpaw starters this year, the team is a solid 17-10 (+730) and the total is 15-12 O/U in those contests.
The Rays come back from a long road trip and host the struggling Tigers on national television.
Detroit Tigers at Tampa Bay Rays
Detroit split a day-night doubleheder against the Blue Jays at Comerica Park on Sunday and now begin a seven-day road trip with the first game of four against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Tigers have won eight of the last 11 meetings versus the Rays dating back to September 25, 2008. The club has compiled a 10-4 mark against teams from the AL East division. Detroit hopes to turn things around starting with the series, losing nine of its last 12 games and falling two games behind the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central race. This may prove difficult considering the Tigers are 16-29 away from Comerica Park on the year (-1,350) and have averaged just 2.2 runs in losing six straight on the road. After playing 20 games this month, the Tigers have compiled an even 10-10 record in July (-190).
Continue reading “ESPN Monday Night Baseball Preview – Tigers at Rays”
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