Angels at Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays were quite generous on the mound over the weekend, and the end result saw the team outscored 37-12 during a three-game losing skid. After a day off, the Rays (53-53) look to tighten up defensively on Tuesday when they host the opener of a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels (54-53).
"It's one series, we'll bounce back. ... Feels good to have an off-day. Kind of get these butt whuppins out of our head. Be ready to put it on the next team we go against," Tampa Bay's Mallex Smith told reporters after Sunday's 11-5 setback to Baltimore. C.J. Cron belted a pair of solo homers in that contest, but is just 3-for-17 this season against an Angels team with which he spent his first four seasons in the majors. Los Angeles' offense was clicking to the tune of 38 runs during the team's four-game winning streak before allowing seven in the first inning en route to dropping an 8-5 setback to Seattle on Sunday. Justin Upton launched a two-run homer in that contest and is 10-for-18 with five RBIs and as many runs scored in his last four games.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), FS Sun (Tampa Bay)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels LH Tyler Skaggs (8-6, 2.62 ERA) vs. Rays RH Ryne Stanek (1-3, 2.43)
Skaggs improved to 5-2 with a 1.44 ERA in his last eight outings on Wednesday after allowing one earned run on four hits over six innings of an 11-3 triumph versus the Chicago White Sox. The 27-year-old struck out a season-high nine batters in that encounter and fanned seven while permitting one run over six frames of a hard-luck loss to the Rays on May 17. Cron belted a solo homer versus Skaggs, who owns an 0-1 mark with a 4.50 ERA in two career outings versus Tampa Bay.
Stanek surrendered a pair of homers to Baltimore on Saturday to fall to 0-2 with a 2.38 ERA in 15 starts this season. The 27-year-old is expected to work just two innings at most before giving way to the bullpen, with left-hander Ryan Yarbrough and right-hander Austin Pruitt likely long-relief options. Stanek struggled in his lone appearance versus the Angels in 2018, permitting a two-run homer to Mike Trout on May 19 before exiting without retiring a batter.
WALK-OFFS
1. Trout is 9-for-29 with four homers, nine RBIs and 14 walks in 10 contests since the All-Star break.
2. Tampa Bay CF Kevin Kiermaier is 6-for-16 with two homers, three RBIs and four runs scored during his four-game hitting streak.
3. Los Angeles INF David Fletcher is 15-for-35 with eight runs scored in his last nine contests.