The Tampa Bay Rays continue their road trip and begin a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park

Tampa Bay Rays at Detroit Tigers

Tampa Bay avoided getting swept in its first interleague series of the season with a 4-0 win over Florida at Sun Life Stadium.  The Rays are now 2-3 on the current road trip, but still own an Major League-best 15-8 record away from Tropicana Field.  “We definitely were in a little skid there losing games,” Rays catcher Kelly Shoppach stated.  The club has tallied an impressive 12-6 record versus American League Central teams this year, which happens to be the best mark in the league.  Tampa Bay is 19-17 under manager Joe Maddon against Detroit and hasn’t lost a series in the Motor City since 2007.  The team is 11-4 in its last 15 road games versus a left-handed starter.

Rays starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson is 5-2 with a 3.18 ERA in eight starts this season and will be aiming for a fifth consecutive win.  Tampa Bay has outscored opponents 32-10 in his last four starts, including a 6-5 win over Toronto last time out.  The right-hander allowed four runs (three earned) and five hits over 5 2/3 innings, while issuing three walks and striking out six in that particular start.  Hellickson has tallied a perfect 4-0 mark and 3.38 ERA in five away appearances, as hitters are managing to hit just .232 against him.  He will be making just his second career start versus the Tigers, picking up an 8-0 win at Comerica Park on August 10, 2010, tossing seven shutout innings and scattering three hits.

Detroit snapped a five-game losing streak with a 2-0 road win at Pittsburgh and now heads back to open a 10-game homestand.  “We’ve got to hope that a good win gets us going a little bit, and we start relaxing a little more and swinging the bats a little bit better,” said Tigers manager Jim Leyland.  “Our starting pitching has been very, very good.”  The Tigers are still a dangerous offensive club and have recorded at least one extra-base hit in all 46 games this season.  Catcher Victor Martinez has definitely done his part during May, hitting .377 with two home runs and 14 RBI in 15 games during the month.  Detroit is 5-1 in its last six home games.

Tigers starting pitcher Phil Coke will be making his ninth start (11th appearance) tonight and brings in a dismal 1-5 record despite having a respectable 3.88 ERA.  The left-hander is coming off one of his best outings of the season, hurling seven shutout innings in a no-decision effort at Boston.  Coke will be toeing the rubber for just the third time at Comerica Park, entering with an 0-2 mark and 7.36 ERA.  In 14 career appearances versus the Rays, he is 0-1 with a 1.29 ERA.

Bettors will likely back the Rays due to their 4-1 record in Hellickson’s last five road starts, while the Tigers are 0-5 in their last five games versus a right-handed starter.