Tampa Bay @ Philadelphia preview
Citizens Bank Park
Last Meeting ( Jun 24, 2012 ) Tampa Bay 3, Philadelphia 2
A suspension and a rainout have the Tampa Bay Rays' pitching plans in flux for a day-night doubleheader at Citizens Bank Park, but the Philadelphia Phillies have things set up just they way they want. The Phillies will throw left-handers Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee at the Rays when they wrap up the three-game interleague series. Tampa Bay is 9-14 against left-handed starters this season, compared with 29-18 against right-handers. The Rays will throw ace left-hander David Price in the opener.
The Rays were undecided Saturday on a starter for the nightcap. Alex Cobb, Saturday's original scheduled starter, could be bumped to Monday, in which case Tampa Bay would call up a starter from Triple-A Durham or bring up a reliever to bolster the overtaxed bullpen. Tampa Bay has lost three straight and seven of 10 to slip four behind the New York Yankees in the American League East. Philadelphia has won three of four to begin a 10-game homestand and climb out of the National League East cellar. They are 8 1/2 games back of division leader Washington.
TV: 6:35 p.m. ET, Sun Sports (Tampa), CSN (Philadelphia)
PITCHING MATCHUP: TBA vs. Phillies LH Cliff Lee (0-3, 3.48 ERA)
The Rays are expected to add a pitcher from Triple-A Durham to bolster a strained staff while reliever Joel Peralta serves his eight-game suspension for having excessive pine tar on his glove last week against Washington. Whether it's a spot starter or an extra reliever might help determine whether Cobb is pushed back another day.
Lee is still looking for his first win after having his scheduled start rained out Friday, but he hasn't pitched as badly as his win total indicates. His start June 16 at Toronto was only the second time in 11 outings this season that he has allowed more than four earned runs - he gave up five runs on 12 hits in seven innings. Lee is 6-5 with a 2.87 ERA in 13 starts against the Rays, but he has not beaten them since 2008.
WALK-OFFS
1. Jim Thome's game-winning home run in the series opener was his 13th walkoff homer, the most in the modern era (since 1900). it was Thome's 609th career homer, tying him with Sammy Sosa for seventh all-time.
2. Rays infielder Jeff Keppinger, who matched a career high with five hits Saturday, is 6-for-12 with three RBIs against Hamels but 2-for-9 against Lee.
3. Phillies manager Charlie Manuel earned his 900th career win Saturday.