Rays at Tigers
The Tampa Bay Rays suffered three straight losses against the major league’s top team over the weekend and hope to take advantage of one of the worst when they open a three-game road series against the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night. The Rays had won six straight games before getting outscored 20-12 to drop three in a row against Minnesota despite recording seven runs late in Sunday's 9-7 loss.
Tampa Bay could get two big cogs to its offense back for the series after outfielders Tommy Pham (right calf cramp) and Avisail Garcia (hamstring) missed the final three contests versus Minnesota. Reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell will start the opener for the Rays in search of his first victory since May 6 and the Tigers counter with Ryan Carpenter, who goes after his first triumph of 2019. Detroit is 4-5 since a nine-game losing streak after giving up 17 runs while dropping the last two at Atlanta over the weekend, and return home where it is 9-17 - second-worst in the majors. JaCoby Jones has hit safely in his last nine contests (15-for-34, two homers) and Niko Goodrum is 10-for-23 with three blasts during a five-game hitting streak for the Tigers, who likely will be without former two-time MVP Miguel Cabrera (knee).
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), FS Detroit
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays LH Blake Snell (3-4, 3.06 ERA) vs. Tigers LH Ryan Carpenter (0-2, 7.58)
Snell is winless in his last four games despite allowing just six runs over 24 1/3 innings with 33 strikeouts and eight walks combined in that stretch. The 26-year-old Washington native has posted four quality starts in his last five outings, but the Rays have supported him with just eight runs in the past four. Jeimer Candelario is 1-for-3 with a double versus Snell, who is 0-1 with a 3.75 ERA in two career starts against the Tigers.
Carpenter has pitched much better in his last two starts, permitting four runs (three earned) on six hits over 10 innings in a pair of no-decisions. The 28-year-old Gonzaga product, who is 1-4 in his career, was pounded for 14 runs (13 earned) on 16 hits across nine innings in his other two starts this season. Carpenter, who was drafted in the seventh round by Tampa Bay in 2011, will face the Rays for the first time in his career.
WALK-OFFS
1. Tampa Bay RF-DH Austin Meadows has multiple hits in seven of his last eight games, going 17-for-35 overall in that stretch.
2. Detroit LF Christin Stewart is 7-for-14 with four RBIs in his last three games to raise his batting average to .241.
3. Rays INF Christian Arroyo is 4-for-15 with two doubles, two homers, five runs scored and five RBIs in four games since being recalled.