Tampa Bay @ Detroit preview
Comerica Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 29, 2010 ) Detroit 2, Tampa Bay 4
Just when it looked as if the Tampa Bay Rays could start printing playoff tickets, they've hit upon some rough times.
They'll look to ace David Price to turn things around in the start of a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers on Monday.
Losers of five straight games, the Rays were atop the AL East by themselves just last Tuesday. Since then, they've fallen 2 1/2 games behind the New York Yankees.
While the Rays still own a 4 1/2-game lead over the Boston Red Sox in the wild-card race, they may have some serious issues in their rotation.
Both Jeff Niemann and Wade Davis were sent back to Florida on Sunday to have their shoulders examined. Niemann was scratched from Sunday's start, but the Rays still hope that Davis will be able to make Tuesday's start.
Sunday was another forgettable day for the Tampa Bay offense. The Rays have been no-hit twice this year and nearly made it three times when Toronto Blue Jays hurler Brandon Morrow took a no-hitter into the ninth inning.
With two outs in the frame, Evan Longoria's grounder eluded second baseman Aaron Hill for the Rays' lone hit of the game. Toronto went on to a 1-0 win and capped a three-game sweep.
The Rays have been incredibly lucky in the health department of their pitchers. Heading into Sunday's game, Tampa Bay starters had missed just one start in 14 months.
Davis topped out at 89 mph in his last start after throwing around 93 mph much of the year.
Morrow was brilliant in the game, striking out a season-high 17 batters. He is among the league's leaders in that department. He said the Rays got themselves in trouble because they are so aggressive at the plate.
So Morrow kept throwing strikes and the Rays kept flailing away.
The Rays are already playing without Carlos Pena, who went on the disabled list with an ankle injury on Saturday.
Price (14-5, 2.82 ERA) was victimized by his team's struggling offense in his last start as the Rays dropped a 2-1 decision to the Minnesota Twins. He allowed just one run in seven innings in the 13-inning setback.
Price will be looking to become the American League's first 15-game winner. He is 2-0 with a 1.65 ERA in four games against Detroit.
Armando Galarraga, who can also boast a near-no-hitter story of his own, will get the start for Detroit. Galarraga (3-4) has struggled lately, winning just one of his last eight starts with an ERA near 6.00 over that time.
The Tigers have fallen apart since the All-Star break. Detroit once led the AL Central, but is just 6-20 since early July. The Tigers defeated the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 9-4, on Sunday to end a four-game skid.