Rays at Astros
Evan Longoria looks to follow up a historic night when the Tampa Bay Rays visit the American League-best Houston Astros on Wednesday night for the third of a four-game series. Longoria became the second player in Rays history to hit for the cycle Tuesday when he went 4-for-5 with three RBIs in a 6-4 victory and became the franchise leader in runs scored with 766, passing Carl Crawford.
Longoria told Fox Sports Sun, “It’s tough to get four hits in a game, let alone a cycle. So, I’m very proud,” as he matched B.J. Upton’s cycle in 2009 while Tampa Bay moved within four games of first place in the AL East and 1 ½ of Kansas City for the second wild card. University of Houston product Austin Pruitt is slated to get his second straight start for the Rays and he will face 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel, who hopes to rebound after a rough start following a stint on the disabled list. The Astros own a big lead in the AL West, but have dropped four of their last six games and continue to add players to the DL. Veteran Carlos Beltran has hit safely in eight straight games for Houston, going 12-for-32 with six RBIs during that stretch.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN Sun (Tampa Bay), AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Austin Pruitt (5-2, 6.63 ERA) vs. Astros LH Dallas Keuchel (9-0, 1.94)
Pruitt was solid through 4 2/3 innings in the longest outing of his career last time out before allowing a three-run homer to rookie Clint Frazier, and surrendered five runs in all over five frames to the New York Yankees. The 27-year-old was subbing for the injured Jake Odorizzi in the rotation and struck out a season-high seven, but yielded three homers. Pruitt pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief to earn the win against Houston on April 22.
Keuchel makes his second start since coming off the disabled list after permitting three runs, six hits and three walks over three innings in a no-decision against Detroit. The 29-year-old Oklahoman gave up two or fewer runs in 10 of his first 11 starts in 2017 before missing almost two months with a neck injury. Logan Morrison is 3-for-9 with a double versus Keuchel, who is 1-4 with a 4.70 ERA in seven career starts against Tampa Bay.
WALK-OFFS
1. Houston OF Josh Reddick is 9-for-25 with eight RBIs and four runs scoring during a seven-game hitting streak to raise his average to .306.
2. Tampa Bay 1B-DH Lucas Duda is 6-for-16 with three homers and four RBIs while hitting safely in his first five games with the team since being acquired.
3. The Astros placed RHP Michael Feliz (shoulder) and LHP Tony Sipp (calf) on the disabled list Tuesday while activating LHP Francisco Liriano and recalling RHP Jordan Jankowski.