Rays at Tigers
The Tampa Bay Rays' winning formula includes strong pitching and success on the road, and they'll try to put those elements to good use again when they visit the Detroit Tigers on Thursday in the rubber match of their three-game series. Tampa Bay snapped its season-high four-game losing streak with a 4-0 victory Tuesday, improving to 19-9 on the road while the Rays' Charlie Morton extended his unbeaten string to 21 starts - playoffs included.
Tampa Bay (36-23), which has yielded the fewest runs in the majors (198), saw its starters allow at least six earned runs in back-to-back games for the first time since 2017 in the previous two contests. Rays outfielder Austin Meadows (AL-best .354 batting average) has reached base in 12 straight games and is batting .423 with three home runs and 13 RBIs during that stretch. Detroit (23-35) had won four of its previous six games, including 9-6 over the Rays on Monday, and has scored the second-fewest runs in baseball (210) after getting shut out for the sixth time this season. Ryan Stanek on Thursday tries to improve Tampa Bay's 1.50 ERA in 18 games recorded by openers this season and opposes Daniel Norris, who is 0-3 with a 6.05 ERA in his last four starts.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa), FS Detroit
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Ryne Stanek (0-1, 2.78 ERA) vs. Tigers LH Daniel Norris (2-4, 4.58)
Stanek has served as the opener in his last three outings, allowing one run, seven hits and one walk against six strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. The 27-year-old Kansas native boasts a 1.76 ERA in 16 starts compared to a 7.11 ERA in eight relief appearances. Jalen Beeks (4-0, 3.02 ERA in 14 games - all in relief) is expected to relieve Stanek.
Norris permitted six runs (five earned) and six hits (two home runs) in 5 1/3 innings of a 10-5 loss at Atlanta on Saturday. The 26-year-old Tennessee native has pitched six or more innings only twice this season while saddled with a .284 batting average against. Tampa Bay's Guillermo Heredia is 5-for-8 with a home run and three RBIs against Norris, who is 1-1 with a 3.97 ERA in four starts against the Rays.
WALK-OFFS
1. Tampa Bay OF Tommy Pham (.300) said he'll be ready to play Thursday after missing the previous five games with a calf injury.
2. Detroit CF JaCoby Jones on Wednesday extended his career-high hitting streak to 11 games and is 17-for-41 with two home runs, eight RBIs and five runs scored during that span.
3. Tampa Bay has lost seven of its last eight series in Detroit dating to 2011.