Tampa Bay @ Texas preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 31, 2011 ) Tampa Bay 4, Texas 1

THE STORY: Every time the Tampa Bay Rays appear to be fading away, they bounce back - thanks in large part to some fantastic pitching. The Rays, who received another strong outing from James Shields on Wednesday, will send another hot pitcher to the mound in Thursday’s finale of a three-game series at the Texas Rangers. Jeff Niemann, who has lost just once since May 4, will face Rangers’ ace C.J. Wilson in the rubber match. The Rays, who moved within 7 1/2 games of the Yankees in the wild-card race, are 4-2 on their current road trip with one game left. The Rangers still lead the American League West by 3 1/2 games after the Angels lost Wednesday.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET; SunSports (Tampa Bay), FS-SW (Texas).

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Jeff Niemann (9-5, 3.46 ERA) vs. Rangers LH C.J. Wilson (13-6, 3.29 ERA).

Niemann has won eight of his last nine decisions after allowing three runs over 6 1/3 innings to beat Toronto on Saturday. He will make his first start against Texas. Niemann gave up three runs in three innings in relief against the Rangers in 2009 and pitched three scoreless innings in the 2010 playoffs. Mike Napoli is 5-for-10 with a homer and six RBIs against Niemann.

Wilson gave up six runs in five innings his last start against the Angels after winning his previous three outings. He did not get a decision against the Rays on May 31, allowing three hits and three runs in 6 2/3 innings. Wilson is 2-0 lifetime against Tampa Bay with a 2.88 ERA in 25 innings – not including the playoff victory last fall. Casey Kotchman is 0-for-11 against Wilson.

ABOUT THE RAYS (74-61): It's not quite a power surge, but Johnny Damon has hit three homers in the last three games to give him 14. Damon had 49 extra-base hits in 2010 with Detroit and already has 46 with a month to go in 2011. He is also just two stolen bases short of 400 for his career. Matt Joyce had his seven-game hit streak snapped Tuesday, but came back with an RBI single the next night and improved to 13-for-39 the last 10 games. Closer Kyle Farnsworth missed eight days with a tender elbow before pitching the ninth Wednesday. He allowed his first run in 10 August outings.

ABOUT THE RANGERS (77-60): Elvis Andrus has rebounded quite nicely after a stretch of seven games when he went 1-for-23 at the plate. The Rangers’ shortstop has eight hits in his last 21 at-bats, including two triples. Andrus has good range defensively, but he has made 25 errors. Texas has committed the third most errors in the majors (104). The Rangers’ defense will improve with Adrian Beltre back at third base. He is expected to rejoin the club Thursday after missing more than a month with a hamstring injury.

FINAL PITCH: The Rangers acquired left-handed reliever Mike Gonzalez from the Baltimore Orioles and catcher Matt Treanor from the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday. Treanor was with the Rangers last season. Gonzalez was 2-2 with a 4.27 ERA with Baltimore.