Athletics at Rays
Brandon Lowe hardly cuts an imposing figure at 6 feet and 185 pounds, but that hasn't stopped the 24-year-old from flexing his muscles at the plate throughout much of the season. After belting his third homer in his last two contests, Lowe looks to lower the boom once again on Tuesday when the Tampa Bay Rays vie for a series victory over the visiting Oakland Athletics.
Lowe, who launched his team-leading 14th homer in the sixth inning of Monday's 6-2 win, is 8-for-17 with seven RBIs and five runs scored in his last four games. Kevin Kiermaier and Ji-Man Choi joined Lowe by belting a two-run homer for American League East-leading Tampa Bay (41-24), which has won six of its last seven to move to a season-high 17 games over .500. Marcus Semien recorded two of Oakland's four hits in the series opener to improve to 15-for-35 with two homers, nine RBIs and seven runs scored during his eight-game hitting streak. The 28-year-old became the second member of the Athletics to be named as American League Player of the Week this season, with Tuesday's starter Mike Fiers receiving the honor last month.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), FS Sun (Tampa Bay)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Mike Fiers (5-3, 4.76 ERA) vs. Rays RH Ryne Stanek (0-1, 2.78)
Fiers improved to 3-0 in his last six starts on Thursday after allowing three runs on seven hits over six innings of a 7-4 victory at the Los Angeles Angels. The 33-year-old is sporting a 3.02 ERA in his last eight trips to the mound, although he has been victimized by the long ball this season to the tune of 14 in as many outings. Fiers, who owns a 1-2 mark with a 5.34 ERA in five career starts versus Tampa Bay, has struggled away from Oakland as his 6.06 ERA is nearly 2 1/2 runs more than it is at home (3.60).
Stanek will occupy the "opener" role after walking three batters in 1 1/3 scoreless innings at Boston on Saturday. The 27-year-old split a pair of decisions against Oakland in four appearances last season, limiting the club to two runs on three hits and a .176 batting average. Left-hander Jalen Beeks (5-0, 2.76 ERA), who is expected to relieve Stanek, recorded his fifth scoreless performance in his last eight outings after scattering four hits in 4 1/3 innings at Detroit on Thursday.
WALK-OFFS
1. Oakland RF Stephen Piscotty has three hits in his last two contests after going 2-for-25 in his previous six.
2. Tampa Bay OF Tommy Pham is 1-for-17 with five strikeouts in his last five games.
3. Athletics DH Khris Davis fanned three times in the series opener to push his total for the month to 16.