Tampa Bay @ Philadelphia preview
Citizens Bank Park
Last Meeting ( Jun 22, 2012 ) Tampa Bay 0, Philadelphia 0
Despite a rainout Friday, both the Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays gained ground on their respective division leaders. They'll try to keep the momentum going when their interleague series finally gets under way at Citizens Bank Park.
The series opener was postponed by rain and will be made up as part of a day-night doubleheader Sunday. The Rays bumped James Shields, Friday's scheduled starter, to Saturday and will use David Price and Alex Cobb on Sunday. The Phillies will stick with scheduled starter Kyle Kendrick on Saturday but did not announce Sunday's pitching plans after Friday's rainout.
The Rays have lost two straight and six of nine, but they're only three games back of the New York Yankees in the American League East. The Phillies are in last place in the National League East, 8 1/2 games behind Washington. They have won two of three to begin a 10-game homestand after winning just three of their previous 15 games.going 3-12 in their previous 15 games.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, Sun Sports (Tampa), CSN (Philadelphia)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH James Shields (7-4, 3.72 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Kyle Kendrick (2-7, 5.29)
Shields has just one win in his last six outings despite having posted three quality starts during that stretch. He settled for a no-decision in a 4-3 loss to Miami on Saturday but pitched well, allowing three unearned runs on nine hits in 7 2/3 innings. Shields beat the Phillies in his only start against them back in 2006.
Kendrick takes his regularly-scheduled turn in hopes of snapping a three-start losing streak. He last won on June 1 and has allowed five or more runs in each of his last three outings. Kendrick gave up six runs (five earned) on eight hits over 6 1/3 innings against Toronto six days ago, his longest outing this month. Kendrick has never faced the Rays.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rays reliever Joel Peralta dropped his appeal of an eight-game suspension for having excessive pine tar on his glove during Tuesday's game against the Nationals. He will begin serving the suspension immediately.
2. The Phillies are 4-11 at Citizens Bank Park since winning a season-best four straight at home from May 13-18.
3. The Rays placed outfielder Matt Joyce on the disabled list Friday with an oblique injury and activated infielder Jeff Keppinger from the DL. They also recalled right-hander Brandon Gomes from Triple-A Durham, added infielder Brooks Conrad to the roster, optioned outfielder Rich Thompson to Durham and designated infielder Drew Sutton for assignment.