Rays at Astros
While the Houston Astros are cementing their status as one of the teams to beat in the upcoming playoffs, the Tampa Bay Rays are hurting their chances of even being in the picture. The Rays will try to end a four-game losing streak when they finish a three-game series with the host Astros on Thursday afternoon.
After it was outscored 30-5 in the first three games of the slide - including an embarrassing 15-1 clunker in the series opener in Houston on Tuesday - Tampa Bay built a three-run lead in Wednesday's meeting before striking out 19 times in an 8-6 loss to stay one game out of a wild card spot in the American League. Yuri Gurriel slugged a two-run homer and scored twice while Alex Bregman was 3-for-4 with an RBI for the Astros, who have won six in a row and hold a 10-game lead over Oakland in the AL West. Zack Greinke will attempt to remain unbeaten since being traded to the Astros last month when he gets the nod in the finale. The Rays will utilize an opener followed by Trevor Richards as they look to head into a 10-game homestand on a good note.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Trevor Richards (4-12, 4.30 ERA) vs. Astros RH Zack Greinke (14-4, 2.83)
Richards tossed six scoreless innings while striking out five Friday in Baltimore to pick up his first win as a member of the Rays. The 26-year-old, who has never faced the Astros, will eat up multiple innings after Andrew Kittredge is finished as the opener. Kittredge will be starting a game for the fifth time this year and appearing in the series for the second time after giving up three runs in an inning of relief in Tuesday's loss.
Greinke is 4-0 with a 2.45 ERA in his four starts as an Astro after limiting the Los Angeles Angels to two earned runs Friday at home. The outing left him 6-3 with a 3.00 ERA in 10 career starts at Minute Maid Park. Jesus Aguilar has a home run and a double in eight at-bats versus the 35-year-old Greinke, who is 4-6 with a 3.08 ERA lifetime against the Rays.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rays CF Kevin Kiermaier (ribs) missed his second straight game but could return Thursday.
2. Tampa Bay optioned INF Michael Brosseau to Triple-A Durham and recalled RHP Jose De Leon from Durham.
3. The Astros placed RHP Brad Peacock (shoulder) on the 10-day injured list and recalled RHP Cy Sneed from Triple-A Round Rock.