Mariners at Rays
The Seattle Mariners have a chance to clinch their third straight series victory on a nine-game road trip when they visit the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday for the second of three contests. The Mariners, who reside in the American League West cellar, took two of three at Detroit and Toronto before launching three homers - two from catcher Tom Murphy - en route to a 9-3 triumph in Monday’s series opener.
Murphy is 7-for-11 with five homers and eight RBIs in his last three contests and 12-for-25 during a seven-game hitting streak while teammate Kyle Seager has hit safely in 12 straight outings (17-for-49) with seven homers and 14 RBIs in that stretch. Both teams are expected to go with openers in the middle contest of the series and the Rays will need length from their first two pitchers, especially after Monday starter Brendan McKay managed only two innings and six relievers were used - including infielder Mike Brosseau. Tampa Bay, which won all three games at Seattle earlier this month, owns the second wild card spot in the AL after winning seven of its last 10 games and is 10-5 during a stretch of 21 straight contests against teams under .500. Tommy Pham homered in the first inning Monday for the Rays and is 6-for-18 with three blasts, five runs scored and five RBIs in his last five games while teammate Kevin Kiermaier is mired in a 0-for-19 slump after going hitless in four at-bats in the series opener.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), FS Sun (Tampa Bay)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners TBD vs. Rays RH Diego Castillo (2-6, 3.14 ERA)
The Mariners are expected to go with a reliever to start Tuesday and the likely choice is right-hander Matt Wisler, who gave up two hits in five scoreless innings over four games in the role this month. Left-hander Tommy Milone (2-7, 4.69 ERA) is slated to follow the opener and gave up two runs over four innings after Wisler pitched one frame Thursday in a win at Detroit. Milone was not as sharp in his previous outing against Tampa Bay on Aug. 10, giving up five runs over four innings.
Castillo, who pitched a scoreless inning in relief Monday, is expected to get his fourth try as an opener after giving up one unearned run on three hits over three frames in the first three. Jalen Beeks (5-2, 4.13 ERA) is slated to follow Castillo and the left-hander hopes to end a 10-game winless stretch after registering a 7.61 ERA in his last six outings. The 26-year-old Arkansas product gave up two runs on six hits over 3 2/3 innings of a no-decision at Seattle on Aug. 9.
WALK-OFFS
1. Tampa Bay 1B-C Travis d’Arnaud needs two RBIs to reach 50 for the second time in his career. He had 57 in 2017 with the New York Mets.
2. Seattle INF Austin Nola homered Monday and is 11-for-25 during his six-game hitting streak.
3. The Rays recalled LHP Hoby Milner after Monday's game and optioned McKay to Triple-A Durham.