Rays at Red Sox
Take your pick as to what rates as the bigger surprise -- that Boston Red Sox ace Chris Sale would be winless in his first five starts or that Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Tyler Glasnow would emerge as one of the best pitchers in the majors in the first month. Sale seeks his first victory when he squares off against Glasnow and the visiting Rays on Sunday afternoon.
After Friday's series opener was wiped out by rain, Tampa Bay got enough mileage out of four hits, including a solo homer by Yandy Diaz, to scratch out a 2-1 victory Saturday and gain a measure of revenge for last weekend's three-game sweep by Boston. Catcher Mike Zunino added a run-scoring single -- his 10th RBI in his last seven games -- as the Rays won for the third time in eight contests. The Red Sox scored 18 runs in back-to-back wins over Detroit but mustered five hits and scored their only run Saturday on a solo homer by Mookie Betts. Sale could be missing the most productive bat in Boston's lineup as slugger J.D. Martinez had to be scratched from Saturday's game due to back spasms.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), NESN (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Tyler Glasnow (4-0, 1.53 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Chris Sale (0-4, 7.43)
Glasnow already has matched his victory total from parts of his first four seasons with Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh, winning his first four starts before settling for a no-decision with 5 1/3 innings of two-run ball against the Red Sox last weekend. That ended a string of three straight quality starts for the 25-year-old, who permitted a combined three runs and 18 hits over 24 innings in his first four outings. Glasnow has been overpowering in his two road starts, yielding only five hits in 12 scoreless innings.
Although he did not factor in the decision, Sale finally showed a pulse last time out by striking out a season-high 10 while giving up two runs and five hits over five innings against Detroit. Riding a streak of seven straight seasons with double-digit victories, Sale was shelled in losing his previous two turns against division rivals New York and Toronto, getting tagged for nine runs and 14 hits in nine innings. Sale was 1-0 with an 0.66 ERA in two starts against the Rays last year, striking out 18 in 13 2/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rays OF/DH Tommy Pham is 13-for-30 over the last eight games, including 5-for-16 versus Boston.
2. Betts has two hits in six of his last eight games, including all four against Tampa Bay.
3. Rays OF Avisail Garcia is 1-for-19 over the last five games.