Both four games under .500, the Tampa Bay Rays and Houston Astros meet at Tropicana Field for a three-game weekend series starting Friday.
The Rays, who lost four straight to open a 10-game road trip, closed the trek by winning five of six games. They hope to improve their play at home, with 20 of the next 27 games being played at the Trop.
The team is a disappointing 13-16 at Tropicana Field, the third-worst home mark in the American League.
We need to find a way to win at home, Cash told Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times). We’re totally capable of winning at home, but … we’ve got to find a way to make that happen and create some homefield advantage because I don’t think we have this year.
Prior to the road-trip, Tampa Bay had lost eight of nine outings — dropping to eight games under .500 — before taking advantage of struggling Twins and Diamondbacks, collecting 30 runs in its last five wins.
The guys have kind of rallied around each other, Rays manager Kevin Cash told the media following the series finale in Arizona on Wednesday. You see the at-bats we’re having right now. We’re grinding through some at-bats. It’s been really fun to watch.
Evan Longoria, in the midst of an 11-game hitting streak, has led the way for the Rays. Longoria has hammered six homers and driven in 15 RBI over the life of his hitting streak. To that end, many of the team’s slumping bats returned to form, including Desmond Jennings, who went 5-11 in the Arizona series with two homers — this, after being in the throes of a massive 4-31 slump.
He broke out — he carried us in a lot of ways this series for sure, said Cash of Jennings’ play. We saw that electric player we know is there.
Both he and Mikie Mahtook’s recent spade of excellent offensive and defensive play have helped offset the losses of Kevin Kiermaier and Brandon Guyer to the injury bug.
Houston has scored exactly three runs in each of its last three games (averaging 3.5 runs per game over the four game set against Texas), losing two. Not only that, shortstop Carlos Correa left the game in the fifth inning of Thursday’s ballgame after landing awkwardly going into first base. He is officially listed as day-to-day with a left ankle sprain, while the team is optimistic that he can avoid a trip to the disabled list.
There’s also uncertainty in Houston’s bullpen after late-inning struggles in the Rangers series. This despite having a group of relievers who have been dominant otherwise.
It’s been thought that Will Harris could be step into the full-time closer’s role. The right-handed reliever has posted a 0.33 ERA in 27 games this season, collecting the team’s last two saves.
Whether he’s titled the closer or a set-up guy, he’s Will Harris. He’s got really good pitches and he can get anybody out in the league, AJ Hinch told the Houston Chronicle on Thursday. I’m sorry to disappoint those that want titles next to people’s names. But I just want to get the 27 outs and have more runs than these guys.
Kevin Cash will run-out Matt Andriese (4-0, 2.52 ERA), Chris Archer (4-7, 4.73 ERA), and Matt Moore (2-4, 5.56 ERA) over the next three days. Hinch will lean upon Tampa product Lance McCullers (3-1, 4.23 ERA), Mike Fiers (3-3, 5.00 ERA), and Dallas Keuchel (3-8, 5.44 ERA).
Rays series starters
Andriese allowed three runs (two earned) over five innings, earning the victory against Minnesota in his shortest outing of the season. The righty has limited five of six opponents to three runs or fewer in 2016, while allowing just one home run in 39-1/3 innings.
Archer struck out 12 while allowing three runs on five hits and three walks over six innings on Monday. It was Archer’s first quality start in his past four outings, although the start wasn’t blemish free. He was touched for a pair of homers, including one by the Twins’ starter. Archer is still whiffy, his 10.3 K/9 speaks to that, however, he’s given up 12 long balls in just 66-1/3 innings — the same number he allowed in all of 2014. The sooner he can figure out his ballooning HR/9 problem, the better.
Moore allowed five runs on seven hits and a walk with three strikeouts on Tuesday. The start was pretty good considering the line, however, the lefty can’t figure out how to keep the ball in the yard. He has now given up 14 homers on the season, and only Max Scherzer (16) has given up more. Moore hasn’t allowed more than 18 home runs in a season, and rediscovering the ability to keep the ball in the park will help him bring down his lofty 5.56 ERA.
Astros series starters
McCullers has won three straight starts in impressive fashion. The 22-year-old righty permitted six runs and 15 hits while striking out 26 in 17 innings of work, allowing McCullers to lower his ERA to 4.23, which is supported by an excellent 12.04 K/9. The Tampa product allowed four runs on four hits in six innings with 10 strikeouts in a loss at the Trop last season, but the current Rays lineup is just 1-18 against him. Key matchups: LOL
Fiers allowed four runs on eight hits and a walk with two strikeouts over 5-1/3 innings on Monday. He has now allowed 78 hits and 11 home runs in just 66-2/3 innings this season. When at his best, Fiers is able to coax whiffs on his offspeed stuff — he whiffed 180 batters in 180-1/3 innings last season, but has just 47 strikeouts in 2016. This season Fiers has relied primarily on his 90 mph four-seam fastball with good “rising action,” and his 84 mph ground ball inducing changeup. He’s also mixed in a 75 mph worm-killer of a curveball, an 87 mph cutter, and a whiffy 82 mph slider. Key matchups: Logan Forsythe (1-3, RBI), Logan Morrison (3-5, RBI)
Keuchel fell to 3-8 Tuesday against Texas, after he allowed four runs on 10 hits over 7-1/3 innings. He fanned eight. Despite his line, Keuchel actually pitched well, tying a season-high in strikeouts and going into the eighth inning for just the second time this season. But, he gave a two-run homer to Ian Desmond that ultimately decided the game. This season, the reigning Cy Young Award winner has relied primarily upon his 89 mph ground-ball inducing sinker, and a 79 mph sweeping slider. Keuchel’s also mixed in an 86 mph cutter with strong sweeping action, and an 80 mph whiffy changeup. Key matchups: Tim Beckham (1-3, 3B, RBI), Curt Casali (1-3), Hank Conger (1-1), Logan Forsythe (6-13), Evan Longoria (4-12, RBI), Brad Miller (4-13, RBI, 2 BB)
Noteworthiness
— Rays manager Kevin Cash announced on Power Alley on with Jim Bowden and Mike Ferrin (MLB Network Radio) that Logan Fosythe should be in Friday night’s starting lineup. With Forsythe’s return imminent, the Rays will have to make a decision on who to option back to Triple-A Durham with Tim Beckham, Taylor Motter, and Nick Franklin all being candidates — all of whom have options remaining.
— Per Topkin, Steve Pearce is hopeful of returning to second base tonight, having been limited to bench duty the past eight games due to a sore right elbow.
— Desmond Jennings went 5-11 with a pair of homers and three RBI against the Diamondbacks, pushing his average to a robust .194.
— Jose Altuve has hit safely in 14 of his last 15 games, going 25-60 with nine RBI in that span.
— Luis Valbuena has eight hits in 20 at-bats during a six-game hitting streak.