Series Preview: Rays vs Tigers

ninety games down, seventy-two to go.

Things are not going great for the Tampa Bay Rays. After dominating the competition over a six week period, the Rays have suddenly dropped three consecutive series. They just narrowly avoided being swept by the Minnesota Twins and fell victim to back-to-back walk-off losses.

The Rays newfound losing ways have allowed the Toronto Blue Jays (who are currently on an eight game winning streak) to take a three game lead in the American League East. The Rays still control the top Wild Card spot but are tied with the New York Yankees but face a strong test in the Tigers as they’ll head to Detroit for a three game series.

The Tigers are 57-34, which gives them the best record in all of baseball. They are 100% playoff bound with a 13.5 game lead in the American League Central.

Detroit has the best starting pitcher in baseball, Tarik Skubal, who the Rays will fortunately miss out facing once again. However, the rest of the rotation has not had to be stellar for this team to win as the starting lineup is a potent force. They are led by Riley Greene, who enters play with a 146 wRC+ & 2.9 fWAR. Zach McKinstry, Spencer Torkelson, Kerry Carpenter and Javier Baez are also names in the lineup that can make things very difficult very quickly.

Frivolities

• The top players by career bWAR to have played for the Rays and Tigers:

1. David Price
2. Johnny Damon
3. Carlos Pena
4. Damion Easley
5. Aubrey Huff

• The Rays best player offensively against the Tigers all-time (min. 25 PA):
  Brett Phillips: .304/.370/.870 with 4 HR over 27 PA
  The next four are Wander Franco, C.J. Cron, Steve Cox, & Steven Souza Jr
• The Rays most previous transacation with the Tigers:
  — 3/25/25: Rays sell contract of Haden Erbe to the Tigers
• The Rays first transaction with the Tigers:
  — 12/10/08: Rays trade Edwin Jackson to the Tigers for Matt Joyce

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Probable pitchers are projected by MLB.com

GAME ONE

Monday, July 7th
6:40 pm EDT

RHP Shane Baz vs RHP Keider Montero

GAME TWO

Tuesday, July 8th
6:40 pm EDT

RHP Ryan Pepiot vs RHP Jack Flaherty

GAME THREE

Wednesday, July 9th
1:10 pm EDT

RHP Zack Littell vs RHP Reese Olson