Rays at Tigers
After pounding previously unbeaten Matt Moore in the first game of the series, the Detroit Tigers will try their luck against red-hot Alex Cobb on Wednesday. Cobb has not lost in five starts as he takes the mound for the visiting Tampa Bay Rays. The Tigers totaled 15 hits in the 10-1 victory Tuesday and Prince Fielder continued to warm up with his third homer in as many games while hitting behind Miguel Cabrera, who leads the league in RBIs and batting average.
After pulling within two games of the American League East lead, the Rays have dropped two of three. Tampa Bay’s Evan Longoria is starting to break out of a mild slump with a homer and a triple in the last two games. Kelly Johnson, who leads the Rays with 35 RBIs, has cooled off with two hits in his last 20 at-bats.
TV: 7:08 p.m. ET, SunSports (Tampa), Fox Sports Detroit
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Alex Cobb (6-2, 2.66 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Doug Fister (5-2, 3.28)
Cobb missed his last start due to a cut on a finger of his pitching hand, following a strong performance in a victory over the New York Yankees on May 26. The right-hander has allowed 10 runs combined over the last five starts, winning all three decisions in that span. Cobb is 0-1 in two career outings against Detroit with a 4.09 ERA and Torii Hunter is 6-for-9 against him.
Fister pitched seven shutout innings and struck out a season-high 12 against Pittsburgh in his last outing, but did not receive a decision. The right-hander has walked 11 while striking out 62 in 68 2/3 innings overall and is only 1-2 in his last six starts. Fister is 2-2 in five career games (four starts) against Tampa Bay with a 2.77 ERA while Ben Zobrist is 5-for-14 with three RBIs against him.
WALK-OFFS
1. Detroit SS Jhonny Peralta is 7-for-14 in three games in June after batting .362 in May.
2. Tampa Bay OF Matt Joyce has reached base in 31 straight games in which he has started.
3. The Tigers have won 13 of the last 16 games against the Rays, dating back to the 2010 season.