Seattle @ Tampa Bay preview
Tropicana Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 31, 2011 ) Tampa Bay 8, Seattle 1
THE STORY: The Tampa Bay Rays have won seven of nine games, but they can't afford a letdown if they are to get back in the playoff race. It won’t be easy, starting with a seven-game homestand against Felix Hernandez and the Seattle Mariners on Friday night. The Rays are also scheduled to face impressive rookie Michael Pineda Sunday and Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander on Monday with their .244 team batting average. Tampa Bay allowed two or less runs in six of their last seven victories and gave up just nine hits in the three-game series at the Boston Red Sox. The Mariners have beaten the Rays four of their seven meetings in 2011 – all in Seattle.
TV: 7:10 p.m. EST; ROOT (Seattle), SunSports (Tampa Bay).
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Felix Hernandez (11-10, 3.38 ERA) vs. Rays RH Wade Davis (8-7, 4.60 ERA).
Hernandez has won three of his last four starts, allowing four runs over seven innings in his last outing Saturday against Boston. He defeated Tampa Bay on June 2, giving up one run in seven innings. Hernandez is 3-1 lifetime against the Rays with a 2.29 ERA over 59 innings. Johnny Damon is 10-for-18 against Hernandez with a homer and four RBIs.
Davis is just 1-2 in his last six starts. He allowed four runs over 6 1/3 innings in his last start Aug. 10 against the Kansas City Royals without getting a decision. Davis did not record a decision June 5 against Seattle, giving up five runs in seven innings. He is 0-1 against Seattle in his career with a 4.82 ERA over 18 2/3 innings.
ABOUT THE MARINERS (53-69): Seattle is last in the majors in many offensive categories. But the Mariners are optimistic going forward, especially with Mike Carp in the lineup. Carp has a 17-game hitting streak, going 26-for-69 (.377), and has hit safely in 24 of his last 26. Casper Wells has also been solid since being acquired from Detroit, going 15-for-46 with five homers and 12 RBIs. Wells was hit on the tip of his nose by Toronto's Brandon Morrow on Sunday, but X-rays showed no broken bones and he is day-to-day. Franklin Gutierrez is batting .309 in August, raising his average to .219.
ABOUT THE RAYS (66-56): When the Rays have been on hot streaks, Ben Zobrist has often been in the middle of things. Zobrist was 6-for-12 in the Boston series with three doubles and two RBIs to reach 70 RBIs for the third straight season. Zobrist leads the majors with 40 doubles, seven away from the club record (Aubrey Huff, 2003). Damon has warmed up after a tough stretch, going 10-for-32 the last eight games. Damon is two RBIs short of 1,100 for his career. Evan Longoria has hit in 12 of 13 games with five homers and 14 RBIs. Matt Joyce struggled on the road trip, going 0-for-10.
FINAL PITCH: The Rays sent catcher Robinson Chirinos to Triple-A Durham and brought back catcher John Jaso to take his place. Jaso was rehabbing at Durham, after being on the 15-day disabled list with a strained oblique.