Rays at Indians
The Tampa Bay Rays left home with a good feeling after routing the top team in the National League and look to build on that momentum when they visit the Cleveland Indians for the opener of a four-game set on Thursday night. Avisail Garcia and Kevin Kiermaier each belted three-run homers as the Rays scored seven times in the seventh inning to pull away from the red-hot Los Angeles Dodgers for an 8-1 victory on Wednesday.
“All the wins help,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash told reporters after the victory. “I know we’re a confident team. When you play other good teams that can be challenged at times. But this team comes in every day ready to compete and they hold themselves very accountable at a high level.” The Rays (28-18) will likely open the game with a reliever for the third straight game Thursday while right-hander Cleveland’s Adam Plutko looks to match his performance from last time out. The Indians were gaining steam coming into the week with four wins in five contests before getting swept by Oakland in three games after falling 7-2 on Wednesday afternoon while going 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Francisco Lindor had a pair of singles in the loss to extend his hitting streak to seven games for Cleveland (25-23) and teammate Jason Kipnis has reached base safely in 17 consecutive contests - raising his batting average from .173 to .218 during that stretch.
TV: 6:10 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), STO (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays TBA vs. Indians RH Adam Plutko (1-0, 1.50)
The Rays did not announce a starter for Thursday, but right-hander Hunter Wood could take the role for the second time in three days after allowing one unearned run in two innings of a loss Tuesday against the Dodgers. The 25-year-old Arkansas native pitched two scoreless innings in his other start versus Baltimore. Ryan Yarbrough could be called up to follow Wood after allowing two runs over 11 innings with 18 strikeouts in his last two appearances with Triple-A Durham.
Plutko was outstanding in his first major league start of 2019 last Saturday against Baltimore, permitting one run on one hit and two walks over six innings with four strikeouts. The 27-year-old UCLA product made 12 starts in 17 appearances for the Indians last year and yielded 21 homers in 76 2/3 innings overall. Garcia (walk) is the only Tampa Bay player to face Plutko, who is 4-2 with a 4.24 ERA at home in his career as opposed to 1-3 and 6.83 on the road.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cleveland designated OF Carlos Gonzalez for assignment and recalled Eric Hasse, with fellow C Roberto Perez (concussion) day to day.
2. Tampa Bay 1B-3B Yandy Diaz (left hand contusion) missed both games against the Dodgers, but could be back for the series against his former team.
3. Indians 1B-DH Carlos Santana is 7-for-15 with three homers the last five games and has walked at least one time in eight straight contests.