After a 6-4 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday, the Tampa Bay Rays are in salvage mode in this, the last game of their three-game series. Tampa Bay is now 2-7 on the current eight-game road trip, and 1-5 against the Twins, who has the best record in the American League (52-27).
After winning the first game of seven total games against Minnesota, Tampa Bay has dropped the last five contests, allowing five runs or more in each. Wednesday’s loss clinched a sub-.500 June, snapping a franchise-record-tying stretch of five consecutive winning months.
The Rays will receive an offensive boost, as Yandy Diaz (hamstring) has been activated from the 10-day IL. Hunter Wood, who worked in each of the last two games, was optioned back to Triple-A Durham to make room for Diaz.
The New What Next
Ryne Stanek (0-1, 2.47 ERA) will open the game for Tampa Bay and will be followed by bulk guy Jalen Beeks (5-0, 2.95 ERA). They’ll be opposed by Martín Pérez (6-3, 3.91 ERA).
Ryne Stanek allowed an unearned run in the series finale against the Athletics — the Rays last win. Stanek allowed an earned run in two innings against the Twins on May 31st.
Jalen Beeks struck out one and allowed two runs on three hits and no walks over two innings against the Athletics on Friday. The southpaw struggled as the primary pitcher in his second straight appearance, this time giving up a solo home run in both of his two innings after giving up just one homer all season. After allowing four runs in five innings over his last two appearances, Beeks’ ERA has risen to 2.95, although he still boasts a respectable 2.63 K/BB in 58 innings this season. He is 0-0 with a 5.40 ERA across one career outing (3-1/3) against the Twins.
Martín Pérez gave up six runs (four earned) on five hits and three walks over five innings while striking out two in his last start on Friday. A late rally by the Twins took the southpaw off the hook for his fourth loss, but this was still the fifth straight start in which Perez was tagged for at least four runs — a stretch in which he has a 7.50 ERA and 1.82 K/BB over 24 innings. Pérez allowed six runs on six hits across 2-2/3 innings in his last start against the Rays and is 0-4 with a 7.49 ERA in seven career starts against Tampa Bay. Key Matchups: Willy Adames (1-3), Travis d’Arnaud (1-4, RBI), Yandy Diaz (2-6, RBI0, Avisail Garcia (3-6, RBI, BB), Guillermo Heredia (10-23, 3 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB), Brandon Lowe (1-3, 2 RBI), Austin Meadows (1-2, 2B, 3 RBI), Tommy Pham (2-4, BB), Mike Zunino (6-15, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 2 BB)
You can read about the series in our preview, while the starting lineup is below.
Rays 6/27/19 Starting Lineup
- d’Arnaud 1B
- Pham LF
- Garcia DH
- Diaz 3B
- Adames SS
- Zunino C
- Kiermaier CF
- Brosseau 2B
- Heredia RF