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Rays aim to even series with Tigers on Friday
By: Freddy Wander - StatFox
Published: 7/4/2014  at  4:59:00 AM
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TAMPA BAY RAYS (38-50)

at DETROIT TIGERS (48-34)

First pitch: Friday, 7:05 p.m. ET
Line: Detroit -125, Tampa Bay +115, Total: 8

A pair of surging AL teams continue a four-game set on Friday night when the Rays visit the Tigers.

Tampa Bay has been having a dreadful season, but has turned it on lately by going 7-2 over its past nine games. Six of those victories came against division rivals, and in the Rays' most recent series, they swept the Yankees in three games; allowing just seven runs in the set. But their offense was able to muster only two hits in their 8-1 defeat at the hands of the Tigers on Thursday, but OF Desmond Jennings (.241 BA) had one of those hits and is 5-for-13 with two doubles and two runs in his past three contests. Detroit has once again taken a strong five-game lead in the AL Central after coming away with victories in 12 of the past 14 contests. Max Scherzer gave his club eight innings of two-hit, one-run baseball in the series-opening rout, and was backed by home runs from 2B Ian Kinsler, DH Victor Martinez and OF Torii Hunter. Kinsler has been on fire over his past 10 games, going 16-for-40 (.400) with two doubles, three homers, 10 RBI and nine runs. Friday's matchup will peg Rays RHP Alex Cobb (3-6, 4.20 ERA) against LHP Drew Smyly (4-7, 3.57 ERA) for the host Tigers. The road has not been easy for Tampa Bay, as it has gone just 19-25 in away games, but Detroit is a pedestrian 23-19 in front of its hometown fans this season. Over the past three years, the Tigers hold a 9-5 edge in this series, which includes a 5-2 record at home in that time. Detroit is a woeful 2-10 as a favorite of -125 to -175 when Drew Smyly is starting over the past three seasons, but Tampa Bay is just 9-16 against left-handed starters on the year. As far as injuries are concerned, the Rays still have OF Wil Myers (wrist), SS Yunel Escobar (shoulder) and OF David DeJesus (hand) on the 15-day DL while Detroit has no new major injuries to its offense.

Alex Cobb has been another tremendous arm out of the Rays farm system, and he already has posted a solid 3.52 ERA over 396.2 career innings. This season, the groundball pitcher has induced grounders 55% of the time while striking out a solid 7.8 batters per nine innings. Unfortunately, Cobb has averaged less than six innings per start on the year and has pitched at least six frames just twice in his past five outings. In his last start, Cobb lasted only five innings while allowing four runs (3 ER) on eight hits with three strikeouts (0 walks). He has faced Detroit three times in his young career, going 0-1 (1-2 team record) with a 2.41 ERA, but subpar 1.50 WHIP. But Cobb performed very well in a winning effort last season with a pitching line of 7.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 3 BB and 7 K’s. OF Torii Hunter (6-for-13, 2 RBI) and C Alex Avila (4-for-7, 1 RBI) have been very solid in the matchup against Cobb, while DH Victor Martinez is just 1-for-6 with a strikeout against the 26-year-old. The Rays’ relievers have gone 14-14 with a 3.80 ERA and are 17-for-25 (68%) in save chances. With Grant Balfour removed from the closer's role, Joel Peralta (4.00 ERA, 1 save), Jake McGee (1.21 ERA, 3 saves) and Juan Oviedo (2.48 ERA, 1 save) are all getting chances to earn ninth-inning appearances.

Drew Smyly was tremendous out of the bullpen in 63 appearances last year, but Detroit decided it wanted him in the rotation, and he is striking out 7.8 batters per nine innings, but also allowing a career-high 3.1 BB/9 this year. He has been amazing with men on base, leaving 80% of runners on so far, leading most to believe he is due to regress. Smyly struggled in his most recent outing, lasting only 2.1 frames while allowing four runs on eight hits and two walks with three strikeouts, as he suffered a loss against the Astros. Prior to that game, he had put together four consecutive quality starts where he gave up two or fewer runs. Smyly has faced the Rays twice in his career, going 1-0 (2-0 team record) with a 4.00 ERA and 1.22 WHIP while failing to pitch more than five innings in either start. The players on Tampa Bay’s roster who have faced Smyly in their career are a combined 4-for-23 (.174) with four extra-base hits, 2 RBI and nine strikeouts. OF Desmond Jennings (1-for-6, 4 K’s) and 2B Sean Rodriguez (0-for-6, 3 K’s) have had particular trouble in the matchup. Detroit’s bullpen has gone 11-10 with a 4.61 ERA and is 22-for-30 (73%) in save opportunities. Joe Nathan (6.16 ERA, 17 saves) is only 17-for-22 in his save chances, and has already allowed five home runs in 30.2 innings on the mound.


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