Tigers at Rays
After just coming up short of completing a perfect road trip to maintain their hold on the second wild card, the schedule sets up quite nicely for the Tampa Bay Rays, who will play 10 in a row against three last-place clubs. The Rays kick off a six-game homestand with the first of three against the sputtering Detroit Tigers on Friday night.
Tampa Bay became the first team in the majors to record 40 road wins after finishing 5-1 on its six-game trek, the only blemish coming in Wednesday's series finale at San Diego. "If you go 5-1 on the road you have to be happy with that," outfielder Tommy Pham said. "Now we have to take that same effort home and play some great baseball." Although the Rays are barely above .500 at home, it certainly doesn't hurt to have back-to-back series against Detroit and Seattle before heading to Baltimore -- three opponents sitting in the cellar of their respective divisions. The Tigers, owners of the worst record in the majors and losers of 25 of 33 since the All-Star break, have dropped six consecutive games at Tropicana Park and will try to end the slide against 13-game winner Charlie Morton.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, FS Sun (Tampa Bay)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers LH Daniel Norris (3-10, 4.94 ERA) vs. Rays RH Charlie Morton (13-4, 2.90)
Norris has been victimized by the long ball while giving up four runs in losing each of his last two turns, surrendering three homers in three innings to Kansas City last time out after yielding two homers in 5 2/3 innings versus the Chicago White Sox. He is 1-9 dating to May 17, including a home loss to the Rays in which he was charged with three runs and 11 hits over 5 2/3 innings. Guillermo Heredia (5-for-8) and Kevin Kiermaier (3-for-5) have given Norris problems.
Morton has had a few bumpy spots in the second half, giving up at least four runs for the third time in five starts last time out, but he struck out 10 over six innings to earn the win in Seattle. He was much better in his previous turn against Toronto but was saddled with the loss despite fanning nine while permitting two runs and seven hits over seven innings. Morton, who blanked Detroit over seven innings on June 5, owns a 6-2 mark and 2.75 ERA in 11 starts at Tropicana.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rays SS Willy Adames was 7-for-11 in the three-game set in San Diego, but is batting only .182 at home.
2. Tigers DH Miguel Cabrera belted his 474th homer Thursday and is one behind Stan Musial and Willie Stargell for 31st on the all-time list.
3. Rays C Travis d'Arnaud was 0-for-18 on the road trip before collecting a pair of hits Wednesday.