Tampa Bay @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( May 5, 2010 ) Tampa Bay 8, Seattle 3

Ask the casual baseball fan which team strikes fear in their opponents and you’re likely to get the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox or Philadelphia Phillies.

But ask those in the know, and they’ll tell you right now little old Tampa Bay is the most fearsome team in the majors.

With a young starting rotation as good as any and an offense that has scored more runs than anyone else in baseball, the Rays are living up to expectations that they can represent the American League in the 2010 World Series.

The Rays can become the first team since the 1984 Detroit Tigers (17-0) to start at least 12-1 on the road when they try to sweep the Seattle Mariners on Thursday night.

The Rays are fond of saying they don’t have a No. 1 pitcher, rather five No. 1 pitchers. That statement is hard to dispute. Matt Garza picked up an AL-best fifth win and allowed five hits in eight innings of Wednesday’s 8-3 win. Garza outdueled Cliff Lee, who kept the Rays to two runs until a three-run eighth.

Tampa Bay tries to close out the Mariners with right-hander Jeff Niemann (1-0, 2.76), who is allowing opponents to hit just .206, a stat in which the Mariners can relate considering they hit just .233.

Seattle will try to avoid being swept - again - after losing five consecutive games. Left-hander Ryan Rowland-Smith (0-1, 5.28) will go opposite Niemann.

The Mariners continue a free fall on-and-off the field. In addition to mustering three runs or fewer in eight of their last nine games, they are running into depth problems.

Outfielder Milton Bradley left the game and ballpark after the sixth inning Tuesday night when he was pulled after back-to-back strikeouts. Bradley, who has had a history of testing fans and management, left Safeco Field outraged. He returned Wednesday morning to meet with manager Don Wakamatsu and GM Jack Zduriencik, seeking professional help for stress and unspecified personal problems.

The Mariners have not decided if Bradley will go on the bereavement list or another restricted list. He was on the lineup card, but the team said he is day-to-day. Keeping him off the 15-day disabled list will be a key because the M’s only have three healthy outfielders and would likely bring one up from Triple-A Tacoma.

Shortstop Jack Wilson left Wednesday’s game with tightness in his right knee and also could be out of the lineup for a while. The club’s only other shortstop, Josh Wilson, replaced him. Reliever Mark Lowe was placed on the 15-day DL with an inflamed disc in his back.

The Rays have had no such worries as they continue towards a historic road run.