Tigers at Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays have only scored one run in the last 30 innings, but their pitching staff has given them a chance to win a series when the Detroit Tigers visit Sunday afternoon for the finale of a three-game set. The Rays, who hold the second wild card in the American League by a half-game, limited the Tigers to just three hits in 13 innings Saturday before Eric Sogard belted a two-out double and scored on Mike Brosseau’s RBI single for a 1-0 victory.
Sogard was the only player with two hits Saturday for Tampa Bay, which was blanked in the final eight innings at San Diego on Wednesday in a 7-2 loss before being shut out 2-0 in the series opener against the major league-worst Tigers on Friday. Right-hander Trevor Richards, who was acquired from Miami at the trade deadline, will be recalled Sunday to make his debut on the mound for the Rays in a starting role and Detroit counters with lefty Matthew Boyd - the Tigers’ leader in wins with six. Detroit lost for the fifth time in seven games Saturday and future Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera is having a rough series, going 0-for-9 with seven strikeouts, as he sits on 474 career homers - one behind Willie Stargell and Stan Musial for 31st on baseball’s all-time list. Niko Goodrum belted his 27th double of the season Saturday for the Tigers, two away from matching his total from 2018.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, FS Sun (Tampa Bay)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers LH Matthew Boyd (6-9, 4.38 ERA) vs. Rays RH Trevor Richards (3-12, 4.50)
Boyd is winless in his last seven trips to the mound after giving up seven runs (six earned) on seven hits, including four homers, over 5 1/3 innings of a 11-6 loss to Seattle on Tuesday. The 28-year-old Oregon State product needs eight strikeouts to reach 200 for the first time in his career, but has given up 30 homers - the most in his five big league seasons. Guillermo Heredia is 3-for-4 versus Boyd, who is 1-1 with a 4.76 ERA in three career games against the Rays.
Richards was shipped to the bullpen for his last three appearances at the end of last month with the Marlins before coming over to the Rays along with reliever Nick Anderson on July 31. The 26-year-old Illinois native lost his last seven decisions with Miami after getting off to a solid start while going 3-5 with a 3.53 ERA through 12 games. Richards, who went 4-9 in 25 starts last season with the Marlins, gave up one run over 5 1/3 innings in the minors with Triple-A Durham.
WALK-OFFS
1. Detroit OF Travis Demeritte was 0-for-4 on Saturday, but is batting .333 over his last 11 contests.
2. Tampa Bay pitchers struck out a franchise-record 24 batters Saturday and six Tigers fanned at least three times.
3. The Tigers optioned LHP Tyler Alexander to Triple-A Toledo on Saturday to make room for RHP Jordan Zimmermann’s return.