Rays at Tigers
The Tampa Bay Rays' eight-game winning streak might be over, but their surge over the last 1 1/2 weeks has allowed them to remove the stench of their 4-13 start. The Rays hope to continue what has been a successful road trip to this point when they complete the last leg of an eight-game trek with the first of three contests versus the Detroit Tigers on Monday.
"We needed it every bit (of the streak) and then some. A lot of good things kind of came about. We saw our offense take shape a little bit and get hot. Pitchers got into that better rhythm, and defensively kind of as advertised," Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash told reporters after Sunday's 4-3 loss in Boston. The Rays (12-14) didn't function at quite the same level offensively as they had become accustomed, however, after scoring at least eight runs in six of their previous seven games. The Tigers have dropped four of their last five while scoring 15 runs - nine coming in their lone win - since a 13-10 victory over Pittsburgh on Wednesday. Detroit is coming off a 5-3 defeat at Baltimore and may not have 11-time All-Star first baseman Miguel Cabrera available for the opener after he left the game in the fifth inning during Sunday's loss.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), FS Detroit
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Jake Faria (1-1, 6.33 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Jordan Zimmermann (1-0, 7.91)
Faria struggled for the second time in as many road starts Wednesday in Baltimore but came away with a no-decision despite yielding four runs on four hits and three walks in 4 1/3 frames. The outing came after two home turns in which the 24-year-old held Philadelphia and Texas to one run apiece over a combined 11 1/3 innings. Opponents are hitting .346 on the road against Faria, who beat the Tigers in his only start against them last June, allowing one run and striking out nine over seven innings.
Zimmermann remained without a quality start in five tries following Wednesday's no-decision at Pittsburgh, permitting six runs (three earned) - including two homers - on six hits while throwing 66 pitches across three innings. The two-time All-Star has nearly doubled his strikeouts per nine innings from last season (10.24 in 2018, 5.79 in 2017) but is allowing opponents to bat .333. Adeiny Hechavarria is 7-for-33 against Zimmermann, who is 1-1 with a 4.55 ERA in five career starts versus Tampa Bay.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rays OF Denard Span is batting .333 with three doubles, three homers and 13 RBIs over his last 10 games.
2. Cabrera was diagnosed with a left biceps spasm but reported feeling much better after receiving treatment. He is expected to be re-evaluated on Monday.
3. Tampa Bay 1B C.J. Cron has hit safely in 15 of his last 16 games.