Brad Miller scores on Logan Morrison's sac-fly Saturday afternoon. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)
Brad Miller scores on Logan Morrison’s sac-fly Saturday afternoon. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays will try to salvage the last game of a four-game set against the Detroit Tigers, on Sunday. The Rays dropped the first three contests after falling 3-2 to Justin Verlander and the Tigers yesterday. 

After pulling within a game of .500 in June, the Rays have dropped 15-of 17-games, and have been outscored 110-59 (a -51 run differential) during that stretch. Prior to that, Tampa Bay had a positive run differential of plus-four runs for the season.

The New What Next

Chris Archer (4-11, 4.76 ERA) will get the start for the Rays, opposite of Mike Pelfrey (2-7, 5.02 ERA).

Archer will face Detroit for the second time this season. The righty gave up six runs over three innings in his first appearance against the Tigers. In his last start (against Boston) Archer allowed four runs in 6-1/3 innings of work. The ace has completed seven innings or more only twice this season.

Though he was hammered for four runs on 12 hits over 5-1/3 innings, Pelfrey notched a win against Miami in his last turn. The righty wasn’t as bad as he’s been at other points in the season, however, he certainly wasn’t good either. Opponents are hitting .337 against Palfrey (including .417 over the last 14 days) and his 1.74 WHIP is the worst among qualifying starters.

You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.

For the Rays to end the first half of the season six-to-seven games under .500, they will need to win the next seven or eight games against the Tigers, Angels, and Red Sox. Impossible? No. Likely? I’ll let you draw your own conclusion.

Rays 7/3/16 Starting Lineup

Forsythe 2B
Miller SS
Longoria 3B
Morrison 1B
Guyer CF
Souza RF
Dickerson DH
Franklin LF
Casali C
Archer RHP

Noteworthiness

— RHPs Alex Cobb and Chase Whitley (Tommy John) are expected to throw bullpen sessions today. If all goes as planned, Cobb’s next hurdle to overcome could be the start of a rehab assignment.

— Brad Boxberger and Alex Colome (right medial bicep tendinitis) are also scheduled to throw a bullpen today. Colome is expected to be activated in the earlier part of the week.

— DH/1B Steve Pearce (hamstring) hit off a tee Friday, while CF Kevin Kiermaier (left hand fracture) is tentatively scheduled to do the same today.

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