Rays at Athletics
Nathan Eovaldi steps on a major-league mound for the first time in 21 1/2 months when the Tampa Bay Rays visit the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday in the third contest of a four-game set. Eovaldi underwent the second Tommy John surgery of his career in August 2016 and missed all of last season while recovering from the elbow reconstruction.
Eovaldi's comeback attempt hit an obstacle in the spring when he underwent another procedure to clean out loose fragments in his elbow and he is looking forward to his first outing since August 10, 2016. "I'm just trying to think of it as another game," Eovaldi told reporters. "The fact (is) that it's been a long time since I've been out there in the actual game. I think once I get out there and start throwing the ball, batter's in the box, take everything as it is, I'll be good to go." Tampa Bay's C.J. Cron, Joey Wendle and Wilson Ramos hit consecutive homers in the third inning of Tuesday's 4-3 victory and Daniel Robertson also went deep as the Rays won their fourth straight game and fifth in their past sixth. Oakland has scored just 15 runs while losing five of its past eight contests.
TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), NBCS California (Oakland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Nathan Eovaldi (2016: 9-8, 4.76 ERA) vs. Athletics LH Sean Manaea (5-5, 3.34)
Eovaldi has a 38-46 record and 4.21 ERA in parts of six big league seasons and he was a solid 14-3 for the Yankees in 2015. The 28-year-old said his goal is to pitch six innings against Oakland as he makes his Rays' debut. Eovaldi is 0-2 with a 4.97 ERA in five career starts versus the Athletics and has struggled with Jonathan Lucroy (5-for-7, one homer), Matt Joyce (3-for-5) and Marcus Semien (3-for-7).
Manaea is just 1-3 with a 7.18 ERA over his past five starts after compiling a sensational 1.03 ERA over his first six turns. The 26-year-old was torched for six runs and eight hits in 3 2/3 innings while losing to the Arizona Diamondbacks in his last outing. Manaea is 1-0 with a 1.20 ERA in two career starts against the Rays and has shut down Carlos Gomez (1-for-9).
WALK-OFFS
1. The Rays have won nine of their past 11 road games.
2. Oakland DH Khris Davis (groin) is expected to be activated from the disabled list on Thursday.
3. Tampa Bay 3B Matt Duffy had three hits on Tuesday for his fourth multi-hit outing in his past eight appearances.