Brandon Lowe (pictured) and Randy Arozarena paired up to collect seven hits on Thursday. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

After handing Le Tigre a 6-2 loss in the series opener, the Tampa Bay Rays look for their third consecutive win tonight, in Detroit.

At 56-49 on the season, the Rays enter play seven games over .500, still maintaining the last AL Wildcard spot with 57 left to play.

Tampa Bay collected 12 hits on Thursday including four from Randy Arozarena and three from Brandon Lowe, who also hit a homer in the contest.

Jeffrey Springs allowed two runs (both unearned) on four hits across six innings. He struck out six. Springs had to work around a pair of errors from Yandy Díaz in the third inning, which ultimately allowed two runs to cross the plate. However, Springs was sharp in his longest start since June 24, throwing 60 of 85 pitches for strikes (71% strike rate). On the season, Springs owns a 2.50 ERA and 3.43 FIP, with a 1.08 WHIP, and a 5.19 K/BB across 22 outings (14 starts), though he’s allowed 10 runs (seven earned) across 19.1 innings in his last four turns.

Tampa Bay made multiple roster moves this afternoon. Catcher Francisco Mejía (right shoulder impingement) was activated from the 15-day Injured List, while RHP Jimmy Yacabonis, who was claimed off waivers on Thursday, joined the club. To make room for Mejía and Yacabonis, the Rays optioned RHP Ralph Garza Jr. and C Rene Pinto to Triple-A Durham, although Pinto will stick around on the taxi squad.

While Yacabonis struggles with command at times, owning a 4.82 BB/9 overall, he owns a 33% K% on the season in both the big leagues and Triple-A. He relies primarily on a 94 mph sinker that has an obvious tail and sinking action, and an 82 mph UFO slider that sweeps dramatically across the zone — much like former Ray, Chaz Roe — and he rarely throws a firm 87 mph changeup that has obvious arm-side fade.

The New What Next

Corey Kluber (7-6, 4.03 ERA) will get the start tonight, pitching opposite Bryan Garcia (0-0, 4.91 ERA) who will be added to the Tigers’ roster.

Corey Kluber allowed four earned runs on eight hits and a hit by pitch while striking out 10 across six innings on Saturday against his former team. Kluber allowed only one earned run through five innings of work, although he served up a three-run homer to Andres Gimenez to partially spoil his outing. Despite the long ball, Kluber racked up a season-high 10 punchouts — primarily on the strength of 23 called strikes — against a team that doesn’t often strike out and leads the league in contact rate. Kluber has allowed four earned runs in three consecutive starts spanning 17 frames, although Saturday’s outing was encouraging, given that one errant pitch did him in. Overall, he owns a 4.03 ERA but a 3.38 FIP, with a 5.53 K/BB, and a 1.15 WHIP across 105 innings on the season. Kluber allowed two runs on four hits (including a homer) across six innings against the Tigers earlier in the season.

Bryan Garcia will be joining the Tigers for his second Friday start in a row, as he previously took the hill last weekend in Toronto when he allowed up two earned runs on three hits and two walks while striking out three across 3.2 innings. Overall, he owns a 4.91 ERA and a 6.66 FIP, with a 1.5 K/BB, and a 1.36 WHIP. He relies primarily on a 94 mph four-seam fastball that has slight arm-side run, a whiffy 86 mph slider, and a firm 86 mph changeup that obvious arm-side fade. Key Matchup: Yu Chang (1-3)

You can read about the series in our preview, while the starting lineup is below.

TNWN: Rays vs Tigers — a series preview, part deux

Rays 8/5/22 Starting Lineup

  1. Lowe 2B
  2. Choi 1B
  3. Díaz 3B
  4. Peralta DH
  5. Raley LF
  6. Arozarena RF
  7. Mejía C
  8. Quinn CF
  9. Walls SS