Tampa Bay @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 19, 2008 ) Chi. Cubs 3, Tampa Bay 8

The Tampa Bay Rays’ front office looks wise to have pulled the plug on the season at the trade deadline based on the way the team has played over the past week. The Rays will try to put together back-to-back wins for the first time since the deadline when they visit the Chicago Cubs for the opener of a three-game interleague series on Friday. Tampa Bay was teetering on the brink of wild-card contention toward the end of last month but dropped five of its last seven.

The Cubs never had much hope of postseason contention after the first month of the season but are still finding ways to keep the fans interested with their parade of top prospects. The Rays used a similar wave of top picks to compete in the American League East over the last six years and Chicago is hoping for a run of success even greater than that behind the likes of Javier Baez, Arismendy Alcantara and still-to-come prospects Addison Russell, Kris Bryant and Jorge Soler. Baez hit a pair of home runs among four RBIs in Thursday’s 6-2 series-clinching win at Colorado.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, Sun Sports (Tampa Bay), WGN (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Chris Archer (7-6, 3.42 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Tsuyoshi Wada (1-1, 3.32)

Archer was a member of the Chicago organization until moving over to Tampa Bay as part of the Matt Garza trade in 2011 and will be making his first start against his former franchise. The 25-year-old has put together three straight quality starts and earned a win over the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday, when he allowed three runs in six innings while striking out nine. Archer went seven frames in his last chance against an NL team but suffered the loss while surrendering five runs - four earned - to Pittsburgh on June 24.

Wada has been strong in his last two chances, allowing a total of three runs and 11 hits in 12 2/3 innings against Colorado and Los Angeles. The rookie from Japan struck out six in each of those starts after totaling seven punchouts in his first two turns. Wada recorded 120 strikeouts in 113 2/3 innings in Triple-A before being recalled and issued only 28 walks in that span.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rays OF Wil Myers (broken wrist) is on track to begin a rehab assignment this weekend.

2. Baez has three home runs and five RBIs in his first three major-league games.

3. Tampa Bay 1B James Loney is 11-for-21 over his last five games.

PREDICTION: Rays 5, Cubs 3