Tampa Bay @ Atlanta preview
Turner Field
Last Meeting ( Mar 15, 2008 ) Tampa Bay 11, Atlanta 10
Something has to give this week at Turner Field.
Either the Atlanta Braves' nine-game home winning streak or the Tampa Bay Rays' league-best road record is bound to take a hit - and one team could see its division lead slip away in the process.
The division leaders begin a three-game series in Atlanta on Tuesday, and both teams need wins to hold off their hard-charging challengers.
The Rays have lost three of four to drop into a tie with the New York Yankees in the AL East, but they still hold a share of the best record in baseball at 40-23.
They're counting on 24-year-old left-hander David Price to make sure they don't surrender the division lead for the first time since April 21.
Price (9-2, 2.23 ERA) has put together quality starts in eight of his last nine outings and has picked up wins in six of his last seven outings to match New York's Phil Hughes for the American League lead in wins. Price has won his last four road starts, contributing to the Rays' 22-8 mark away from Tropicana Field.
The former No. 1 overall pick held Toronto to one run on four hits over six innings Wednesday, lowering his league-best ERA to 2.23. He has allowed more than three runs in only one of 12 starts this season.
Braves starter Kenshin Kawakami has been nearly as good as Price over the past month, but he's still looking for his first victory.
Kawakami (0-8, 4.48 ERA) has a 2.90 ERA over his last five outings - four of them quality starts - but still no wins to show for it. He racked up a season-high eight strikeouts and allowed four hits and four walks in six scoreless innings Wednesday at the Arizona Diamondbacks, but the Braves dropped a 2-1 decision.
The 34-year-old right-hander has been better at home - the Braves have won his past three starts at Turner Field - and that has contributed to Atlanta's 19-6 home record.
The Braves have won nine straight and 14 of 16 at home, which has helped them surge into the NL East lead. They are 1 1/2 games ahead of the New York Mets and have sat atop the standings since May 31.
Atlanta is still riding the hot bats of Martin Prado and Troy Glaus.
The National League leader with 90 hits, Prado has multiple hits in 11 of his last 19 games, including a trio of three-hit games in his last four.
Glaus has been on a tear since hitting .194 in April. In 41 games since, he is hitting .336 with 11 homers and 40 RBIs.
The Rays hope their slugging first baseman can continue his upward trend, as well. Carlos Pena is 10-for-29 with seven homers and 10 RBIs in his last seven games. He has raised his average from .169 to .193 during that span.