Rays at Rangers
Jeremy Hellickson turned in a terrific start on his birthday last season and looks for a repeat performance when he turns 26 on Monday. The Tampa Bay right-hander pitches against the Texas Rangers to start the Rays’ 10-game road trip and faces a team that slammed three homers on Sunday. Hellickson stymied the New York Yankees on three hits over 8 2/3 shutout innings while winning on his 25th birthday.
The Rangers took two of three from the Los Angeles Angels in a highly anticipated series due to Josh Hamilton’s return to Arlington after leaving Texas as a free agent in the offseason. Second baseman Ian Kinsler had a homer and four RBIs in Sunday’s victory and already has three homers and eight RBIs. Lance Berkman and David Murphy also homered for Texas. Tampa Bay was routed 13-0 by the Cleveland Indians on Sunday to end a 3-3 season-opening homestand. Second baseman Ben Zobrist is batting .429 with four multi-hit games.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, Sun Sports (Tampa Bay), Fox Sports Southwest (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Jeremy Hellickson (0-0, 7.11 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Alexi Ogando (1-0, 0.00)
Hellickson took a no-decision in his first outing when he was touched up for five runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings by the Baltimore Orioles. He is 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA in two career starts against Texas. Hellickson has a career ERA of 3.13 in 71 appearances (65 starts). Kinsler is just 1-for-7 against Hellickson.
Ogando dominated the Houston Astros in his first outing when he struck out 10 in 6 1/3 scoreless innings. Ogando allowed four hits and one walk. He started just once in 58 appearances last season after compiling a 13-8 mark and 3.51 ERA two years ago when he made 29 starts among 31 appearances. Tampa Bay shortstop Yunel Escobar is 3-for-8 against Ogando.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Rays went 5-4 against the Rangers last season.
2. Tampa Bay 3B Evan Longoria is batting .333 but has no extra-base hits.
3. Berkman has at least one hit in all six games and is batting .450. He has two homers in four career at-bats against Hellickson.