Texas @ Tampa Bay preview
Tropicana Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 7, 2012 ) Texas 1, Tampa Bay 3
The Tampa Bay Rays will be asking a great deal of rookie right-hander Chris Archer, who was recalled from Triple-A Durham to replace stud southpaw David Price for Saturday's start against the Texas Rangers. The Rays declared that general soreness in Price's left shoulder is the reason for the absence of the 17-gamer winner. Archer will make his third career start after the Rays rode Ben Zobrist's first career walk-off homer to a 3-1 triumph on Friday.
Tampa Bay won for the fifth time in six contests to remain two games in back of New York in the ultra-competitive American League East while inching to within one of division rival Baltimore in the wild card race. Texas suffered just its fifth loss in 16 games and saw its lead in the AL West dip to 4 1/2 games over Oakland. The Rangers will look to rebound with rookie phenom Yu Darvish, who retired his first 17 hitters in his previous outing.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSH (Texas), SUN (Tampa Bay)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Yu Darvish (14-9, 4.29 ERA) vs. Rays RHP Chris Archer (0-2, 3.86)
Darvish recorded his second straight victory after allowing three runs on as many hits in seven strong innings in an 8-4 triumph over Kansas City on Monday. The Japan native was dominant in his lone career outing versus the Rays, striking out 10 and scattering six hits over seven scoreless innings on Aug. 28.
Archer has struck out seven in a pair of starts this season but taken the loss both times. The 23-year-old permitted four runs on five hits in 5 2/3 innings in an 8-2 setback to Kansas City on June 26. Archer collected an International League-best 139 strikeouts in 128 innings at Triple-A Durham.
WALK-OFFS
1. Evan Longoria homered to continue an impressive five-game streak of recording at least one RBI. He went hitless in three at-bats versus Darvish in their previous encounter.
2. Texas veteran RHP Roy Oswalt will get the start in Sunday's contest - with LHP Matt Harrison getting pushed back to Tuesday's tilt versus Cleveland.
3. Tampa Bay can credit its stingy bullpen for its second-half success. The Rays' relievers own a collective 1.39 ERA - best in the majors.