Tampa Bay @ Los Angeles preview
Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Last Meeting ( Sep 3, 2013 ) Tampa Bay 7, LA Angels 1
The Tampa Bay Rays look to put their recent losing ways behind them as they visit the Los Angeles Angels for the third contest of their four-game series Wednesday. Tampa Bay fell to Los Angeles at home in the rubber match of a three-game set before beginning its 10-game West Coast trip with four consecutive losses. The Rays snapped the skid in impressive fashion Tuesday, erupting for 15 hits en route to a 7-1 triumph in Matt Moore's return from an elbow injury.
Desmond Jennings and Yunel Escobar homered as every starter in Tampa Bay's lineup registered a hit, with five players notching two apiece. The victory kept the Rays within 5 1/2 games of the first-place Boston Red Sox in the American League East and 2 1/2 ahead of the New York Yankees for the second wild-card spot. Los Angeles had its five-game win streak snapped as it lost for just the second time in 11 contests.
TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, ESPN, Sun Sports (Tampa Bay), FSN West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Jeremy Hellickson (10-8, 5.21 ERA) vs. Angels RH Jered Weaver (9-7, 3.30)
Hellickson looks to snap a personal five-game losing streak as he returns from a brief demotion. The 26-year-old last pitched Aug. 26, when he surrendered five runs and seven hits over 2 2/3 innings in a loss at Kansas City. Hellickson has fared well against the Angels in his career, going 2-1 with a 2.29 ERA in four games - three starts.
Weaver has bounced back from a pair of rough outings, allowing a total of one run over 14 innings in back-to-back road victories over Seattle and Milwaukee. The 30-year-old scattered three hits over six scoreless frames against the Brewers on Friday. Weaver owns a 4-2 record and 3.93 ERA in eight career starts against Tampa Bay.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rays RHP Roberto Hernandez made a rare relief appearance Tuesday and struck out seven in 3 1/3 perfect innings to notch his first career save.
2. Angels C Chris Iannetta is the only player in the major leagues with at least 100 at-bats this season who has more walks (62) than hits (57).
3. Tampa Bay 3B Evan Longoria has struck out 138 times this season, two shy of his career high set in 2009.
PREDICTION: Angels 6, Rays 3