Detroit @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 4, 2015 ) Detroit 1, Tampa Bay 0

The Tampa Bay Rays look to get their offense going against one of the most inconsistent pitching staffs in the majors when they host the Detroit Tigers on Monday to begin a three-game set. The Rays have scored four or fewer runs in 13 straight contests – second most in franchise history behind a 17-game streak in 2000 – and are 3-6 since the All-Star break while scoring just 19 times.

Evan Longoria has three doubles and a homer in his last four games and Logan Forsythe is 10-for-26 over the last eight for Tampa Bay, which is 14th in the American League in runs scored. The Tigers, who have surrendered the fourth most runs in the majors, could be the perfect cure for the Rays’ bats. However, Anibal Sanchez goes after his eighth straight victory Monday for the Tigers and All Star David Price is slated for Tuesday. Nick Castellanos has homered in four of the last six games for Detroit, which was hammered 11-1 at Boston on Sunday.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSN Detroit, Sun Sports (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Anibal Sanchez (10-7, 4.59 ERA) vs. Rays RH Nathan Karns (5-5, 3.47)

Sanchez won his seventh straight decision in an eight-start span last time out against Seattle when he allowed four runs and nine hits over 6 2/3 innings. The 31-year-old Venezuelan has permitted at least four runs in four of his last five turns, though, and gave up eight homers in the past six outings. Forsythe is 2-for-5 with a home run versus Sanchez, who is 2-2 with a 5.08 ERA in six career starts against the Rays.

Karns snapped a four-game winless streak last time out with five scoreless innings and a solo home run against Philadelphia in the interleague tilt. The 27-year-old won’t get to hit this time out, but has limited opponents to two or fewer runs in 14 of his 19 starts in 2015. Karns, who faces the Tigers for the first time, has been a little better on the road (3-1, 3.13 ERA, .207 batting average against) than at home (2-4, 3.71, .255).

WALK-OFFS

1. Tampa Bay SS Asdrubal Cabrera is expected to play a rehab game with Class-A Charlotte on Monday and could return to the Rays this week.

2. Detroit rookie C James McCann is 8-for-18 with three RBIs during a five-game hitting streak.

3. Rays INF Tim Beckham is 6-for-18 with four doubles and three walks since being recalled from Triple-A Durham.

PREDICTION: Rays 4, Tigers 3