Rays at White Sox
The Tampa Bay Rays are starting to warm up with the bats and look to win two in a row for the first time this season when they visit the Chicago White Sox Tuesday afternoon for the middle contest of a three-game series. The Rays coughed up a five-run lead Sunday in a demoralizing loss at Boston despite a season-high 11 hits and topped that with 14 one day later in a much-needed 5-4 win to open the series.
“I think the guys have held their heads up really well, given the stretch,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash told reporters after his team snapped an eight-game losing streak. “I don't see guys moping around. They're frustrated, and that's OK. Sometimes tough stretches can build amongst a team. Hopefully, it’s done that and we can get on a roll. But before we can do that we had to win one ballgame and we did that (Monday).” Left-hander Blake Snell gets the call on the mound for the Rays on Tuesday against righty Carson Fulmer, who will try to end Chicago’s four-game losing streak. The White Sox have lost their first four home contests of the season for the first time since 1987 after leaving the tying and winning runs at second and third with none out in the ninth inning Monday. Outfielder Nicky Delmonico belted a homer in the loss to the Rays and is 4-for-10 in his last three games while slugger Jose Abreu is just 1-for-16 during the losing streak for Chicago.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays LH Blake Snell (0-1, 5.00 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Carson Fulmer (0-0, 5.40)
Snell could not match his season debut as he was knocked out after 3 1/3 innings by the New York Yankees after giving up five runs on four hits (two homers) and three walks Wednesday. The 25-year-old Washington native did not gain a decision in his first start of the year, limiting Toronto to three hits over 5 2/3 scoreless innings on March 30. Tim Anderson is 1-for-4 with a double versus against Snell, who has not allowed an earned run in 9 1/3 innings of work against the White Sox.
Fulmer did not get a decision in his 2018 debut last Wednesday when he surrendered three runs on five hits and a walk with five strikeouts over five innings at Toronto. The 24-year-old Florida native went 3-1 with a 3.86 ERA over seven appearances (five starts) last year, including a 3-0 mark and 1.64 ERA in September. Fulmer, the eighth overall pick in the 2015 draft, yielded one run on one hit over two innings of relief to earn the victory against Tampa Bay on Sept. 2 in Chicago.
WALK-OFFS
1. Tampa Bay CF Kevin Kiermaier suffered a bone bruise in his right foot when he fouled the ball off it Sunday, but is only expected to miss a few days.
2. Chicago DH Matt Davidson, who has a team-high four homers along with eight RBIs, should be back in the lineup after resting Monday.
3. Rays OF Mallex Smith went 4-for-4 in Monday’s victory after coming into the contest just 3-for-16 on the season.