It seems like EVERY Rays game has gone like this of late. Jake Elmore dives for but cannot come up with an RBI-single by JJ Hardy during the first inning on Sunday. (Photo Credit: AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
It seems like EVERY Rays game has gone like this of late. Jake Elmore dives for but cannot come up with an RBI-single by JJ Hardy during the first inning on Sunday. (Photo Credit: AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
The Tampa Bay Rays capped off a miserable 2-5 week with a hard to watch 5-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. I can scarcely remember all of the good feelings at the end of the first half, when the Rays swept the then first place Houston Astros. They’ll welcome David Price and the Detroit Tigers into the Trop for a three-game series, starting Monday.

If you’re a fan of irony, you’ll love this. Tampa Bay’s former ace finds himself in a déjà vu like scenario ― as with last season, Price will be on hand at the Trop when a decision regarding his future with the Tigers could be made. If he isn’t dealt before Tuesday, he’ll take the mound opposite of Jake Odorizzi in the second game of the set.

Tampa Bay has dropped six of nine since the All-Star Break (and a Major League worst 7-17 since June 28) while averaging just 2.1 runs per game. John Jaso is the only Ray hitting over .244 in that span, while six others are batting below .235.

Sadly Tampa Bay’s 3-1/2 runs per game would be its fewest ever for a season — even the 100-plus loss teams of 2001, ’02 and ’06 all averaged 4.2 or better.

At 48-50, Detroit has lost nine of 13. And like the Rays, the Tigers are another fringe contender who are seemingly hanging on by a thread. Also like Tampa Bay, Detroit has been hobbled of late by the injury bug ― Miguel Cabrera sustained a grade three calf strain on the Fourth of July. However, if you think the Rays pitching staff is in for an easy go of things without Cabrera in the lineup, you’d be wrong. Le Tigre still ranks third in baseball in run scoring per game, scoring 5.45 runs per game since June 21.The rest of the offense has stepped up in his absence.

The Tigers relievers are both good and bad, if that makes any sense. Joakim Soria has racked up 22 saves, yet he’s given up 13 homers in 40 innings of work, and that home run rate is climbing. Bruce Rondon has been intermittently good, although those stretches are peppered with wildness and a lack of command. Similarly, Al Alburquerque sprinkles his quality outings with lapses in command and walks.

As Rob Rogacki (Bless You Boys) put it:

Brad Ausmus has a terrible knack for using his worst relievers in the highest leverage situations possible. Joba Chamberlain, Ian Krol, and Angel Nesbitt all have a higher leverage index than Wilson, who has a 1.88 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 52 2/3 innings.

Nathan Karns, Jake Odorizzi, and Chris Archer will take the hill opposite of Anibal Sanchez, David Price, and Justin Verlander. Karns (5-5, 3.47 ERA) has has posted a 2.83 ERA in his last seven starts, yet he’s received six runs of support in 41-1/3 innings. The righty bounced back from an 8-3 loss at Kansas City before the All-Star break by scattering three hits over five scoreless innings and homered in a 1-0 win at Philadelphia on Tuesday. Odorizzi (5-6, 2.85 ERA) allowed just two runs on five hits and a pair of walks while striking out five in five innings Wednesday in Philadelphia. Archer (9-7, 2.67 ERA) allowed one run on five hits, walking two and fanning nine over six innings in the Rays’ 3-1 win over Baltimore on Friday night.

Tampa Bay won last season’s series, 4-3.

Rays and Tigers series starters over the last 30 days.
Rays and Tigers series starters over the last 30 days.
Rays and Tigers offensive production over the last 30 days.
Rays and Tigers offensive production over the last 30 days.
Rays and Tigers by the numbers.
Rays and Tigers by the numbers.
Anibal Sanchez: Sanchez (10-7, 4.59) is 7-0 with a 3.16 ERA in his last eight starts. He also won seven straight decisions in 2013 although he’s never taken eight in a row. The Rays bombarded the righty to the tune of seven runs over 5-2/3 innings of a 7-2 the last time they faced him (July 5, 2014). That defeat moved him to 2-2 with a 5.08 ERA in six career meetings. Key matchups: David DeJesus (2-3, 2B, BB), Logan Forsythe (2-5, HR, 2 RBI), Kevin Kiermaier (1-2, 3B, BB), James Loney (4-12, 3B, BB), Evan Longoria (3-11, 3B, BB).

David Price: Detroit is 21-10 when Price (9-3, 2.31 ERA) takes the mound, including a 15-5 record this season. The Tigers offense, however, disappears on days that he starts ― the team has scored two runs in his past two starts. Price is 0-1 with a 0.00 ERA against his former team after he posted an excellent one hit/one run (unearned) outing last season. Key matchups: David DeJesus (4-10, 2B, RBI, BB), Jake Elmore (2-7), Brandon Guyer (1-3, 3B, RBI).

Justin Verlander: Per Rotowire, Verlander (0-3, 5.57 ERA) allowed just one run on seven hits without walking a batter and striking out three over eight innings of a no-decision against the Red Sox on Friday night. He, however, has been hammered for six plus runs in three of his seven total starts. The Tigers’ righty is 0-2 with a 4.03 ERA in his last three starts against the Rays. He’s allowed 11 runs (10 earned) on 19 hits including four homers over his last 22-1/3 innings of work versus Tampa Bay. Key matchups: Asdrubal Cabrera (16-63, 5 2B, 7 RBI, 6 BB), David DeJesus (14-49, 4 2B, 6 RBI, 5 BB), James Loney (2-4, RBI), Evan Longoria (7-25, 2B, 3B, HR, 7 RBI, 9 BB).

Noteworthiness

― Asdrubal Cabrera’s first (and maybe only) rehab game with the Charlotte Stone Crabs was rained out Monday. The Rays shortstop worked out at the Trop instead.

His rehabilitation stint is expected to be short, and Cabrera should return to the big league roster during this series (pending and evaluation after his first rehab game…whenever that may be).

Interestingly enough, Tim Beckham got in some work at first base on Monday with bench coach Tom Foley, and third base coach Charlie Montoyo. Rays manager Kevin Cash told the media that Beckham, who was called up when Cabrera went on the DL, was working to increase his versatility. It’s thought that  he may stay when Cabrera returns, while utility man Jake Elmore would be optioned back to Triple-A Durham.

― Drew Smyly’s final line following his first rehab start with Durham Sunday night: 2.1 IP/3 H/4 ER/2 BB/1 HR/3 K/51 pitches (29 strikes). Smyly had a follow up evaluation at the Trop on Monday, and per Cash, the lefty will make another rehab start on Friday. 

And while there is a tear in his left labrum, Smyly noted that the issue may have been a bruised rotator cuff. He told the media that he’s very encouraged by his first rehab start. Smyly’s velocity sat in 90s, and he mentioned that his arm felt great. Now, it’s just a matter of building up innings.

― The Rays announced a multi-year extension to keep airing games on 620 WDAE. Team officials said that ratings are up 27% from 2014 (listeners 18 and older).

― The Rays have gone 13 straight games by scoring four runs or fewer, matching the Mariners for the longest stretch in the majors in 2015. The previous longest stretch came from the Royals in 2013.

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