Tampa Bay @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 17, 2015 ) Tampa Bay 9, Houston 2

The Tampa Bay Rays look to stay hot at the plate when they visit the American League West-leading Houston Astros on Tuesday for the second contest of their four-game set. The Rays, who batted a paltry .227 in July, are hitting .307 this month and averaging 5.3 runs over their last 18 games after recording 15 hits in Monday’s 9-2 series-opening victory.

The Rays rebounded from a three-game sweep at Texas to remain 2 ½ games out in the AL wild-card race and will send Jake Odorizzi to the mound Tuesday. Tampa Bay’s Asdrubal Cabrera knocked in three runs Monday, improving to 31-for-65 over his last 17 contests, and is 4-for-7 lifetime against Tuesday’s starter Scott Feldman. The Astros have dropped all four games this season and six straight overall against the Rays, but they are 16-4 over their last 20 contests at home. Jose Altuve went 2-for-5 on Monday and has recorded multiple hits in six of his last 10 games for Houston.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, MLBN, Sun Sports (Tampa Bay), ROOT (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Jake Odorizzi (6-6, 3.09 ERA) vs. Astros RH Scott Feldman (5-5, 4.17)

Odorizzi has lost only one of his last nine starts, limiting opponents to two or fewer runs on five occasions before giving up six in six innings last time out. The Illinois native has struck out 99 and walked 29 over 116 1/3 frames, registering a 3.97 ERA on the road and 2.20 mark at home. Odorizzi has yet to allow a run in 13 innings over two career starts versus the Astros, including 5 2/3 scoreless innings on July 11 for a win.

Feldman permitted four hits in six scoreless innings to beat San Francisco last time out, improving to 3-1 over his past eight outings. The 32-year-old Hawaiian has been better on the road (3-1, 2.78 ERA) than at home (2-4, 5.56) but is 2-0 against AL East opponents. Daniel Nava is 5-for-10 with a homer versus Feldman, who is 4-3 with a 2.44 ERA in 12 appearances (six starts) against the Rays.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tampa Bay OF Brandon Guyer, who is riding a six-game hitting streak, has been struck by a pitch 17 times – most in the AL and one shy of the club record held by Sean Rodriguez (2011).

2. Houston OF-DH Evan Gattis came into the series tied for second in the majors with nine triples behind Rays CF Kevin Kiermaier (11).

3. The Rays recalled LHP Enny Romero, who pitched a scoreless ninth inning Monday, while sending INF-OF Richie Shaffer (5-for-19, two homers) to Triple-A Durham.

PREDICTION: Rays 6, Astros 2