Rays at Red Sox
The Tampa Bay Rays can tie the second-longest winning streak in franchise history and return to .500 when they go for a three-game sweep of the host Boston Red Sox on Sunday afternoon. The Rays (12-13) have outscored opponents 63-34 during an eight-game winning streak after pounding out a season-high 18 hits, including four home runs, in a 12-6 victory Saturday.
Catcher Wilson Ramos went deep in his third straight game for Tampa Bay, but left in the seventh inning with a groin injury and is considered day-to-day, while Matt Duffy had a double and three singles to extend his hitting streak to six contests. Matt Andriese will get the start in a “bullpen day” for the Rays on Sunday and fellow right-hander Rick Porcello tries to win for the third time in the season series and remain unbeaten overall for the Red Sox. Boston has dropped five of seven after a historic 17-2 start to the season, but finished with 12 hits and Hanley Ramirez registered a pair for his fourth multi-hit game in his last seven outings. Xander Bogaerts had a hit and knocked in a pair of runs for the Red Sox, improving to 16-for-35 with 11 RBIs on the season against Tampa Bay.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), NESN (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Matt Andriese (0-0, 5.40 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Rick Porcello (4-0, 1.93)
Andriese makes his first start of the season after coming out of the bullpen seven times, including 4 2/3 innings of scoreless ball over his last two trips to the mound. The 28-year-old California native made 17 starts in 2017 and is 14-14 with a 4.55 ERA overall with 189 strikeouts across 223 1/3 innings in that role during his career. Mitch Moreland is 4-for-11 with two homers versus Andriese, who is 2-2 with a 5.95 ERA in 11 appearances (seven starts) against the Red Sox after giving up four runs in two-thirds of an inning April 8.
Porcello posted his fourth straight quality start last time out by limiting Toronto to three runs on three hits over seven innings but settled for a no-decision after winning his first four outings of 2018. The 29-year-old New Jersey native gave up four runs on 20 hits across 25 2/3 innings with 23 strikeouts and one walk in his first four starts, including two wins against the Rays. Brad Miller is 12-for-43 with five doubles and five homers versus Porcello, who is 14-8 with a 3.22 ERA in 25 games against Tampa Bay.
WALK-OFFS
1. Boston 3B Rafael Devers snapped out of a 3-for-22 slump with three hits Saturday, including his fourth homer of the season.
2. Tampa Bay 1B C.J. Cron has hit safely in 14 of his last 15 games, improving his batting average from .156 to .271 in that span.
3.The Red Sox bullpen had allowed two runs over a stretch of 32 1/3 innings before permitting six in 3 1/3 on Saturday.