Texas @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 5, 2014 ) Texas 4, Tampa Bay 5

The Tampa Bay Rays will try to continue their hot streak when they host the Texas Rangers on Sunday afternoon. The Rays rallied from a pair of three-run deficits Saturday night before beating the Rangers on a two-run double by James Loney in the bottom of the eighth, their third straight victory. Matt Joyce is off to a sizzling start for Tampa Bay, collecting seven hits in his first 13 at-bats as he looks to show the club he deserves to be an everyday player.

The Rangers have been involved in three one-run games so far and they won the first two before coming up on the short end Saturday. Texas is hoping its offense will prevent such close games, but newly acquired first baseman Prince Fielder is still feeling his way around the lineup, evident by his 4-for-20 start with one extra-base hit. The most productive batter for the Rangers has been in the No. 9 slot, as Josh Wilson has two three-hit games this season and is hitting .625 in a part-time role.

TV: 1:40 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest (Texas), Sun Sports (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Yu Darvish (2013: 13-9, 2.83 ERA) vs. Rays RH Alex Cobb (0-1, 7.20)

Darvish will make his season debut after a short delay caused by stiffness in his neck. He didn’t bother with a rehab assignment and hasn’t faced live hitting since March 16 but sounded confident while speaking with reporters Friday. “There have been times when I’ve had to throw with 45 days in between and I didn’t have problems. I don’t know what people are concerned about,” he said.

Cobb was burned by a three-run homer in the first inning of his season debut Tuesday against the Toronto Blue Jays but was otherwise solid, allowing one run over the next four innings. Unfortunately, the Rays couldn’t make up the deficit and they lost 4-2. Cobb handled the Rangers back in September in a game with wild-card playoff-berth implications, allowing two runs and six hits in eight innings of a 6-2 victory.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tampa Bay pitchers have not allowed a walk in the last 12 innings.

2. Texas 3B Adrian Beltre has not homered in the first five games, his longest homer-less streak to start the season since going the first 22 without a homer in 2010.

3. Elvis Andrus and Alex Rios have hit safely in every game for the Rangers this season.

PREDICTION: Rangers 3, Rays 1