Tampa Bay @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( May 31, 2013 ) Tampa Bay 9, Cleveland 2

The Tampa Bay Rays appeared to be fading out of the American League East race a week ago, but six straight wins later, they are two games out of first place. The Rays look to get even closer when they visit the Cleveland Indians in the second of a three-game set on Saturday. James Loney belted two homers to help Tampa Bay win the series opener, which took almost eight hours to complete because of three rain delays, 9-2 early Saturday morning.

Matt Joyce also went deep to tie Kelly Johnson for the team lead in homers with 10 and Evan Longoria has nine for the Rays. The Indians have dropped eight of their last 11, but are only one-half game behind Detroit in the AL Central. Cleveland’s Jason Kipnis has cooled off after a torrid stretch, going 5-for-37 his last 10 games, and was not in the lineup Friday.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, Sun Sports (Tampa), SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Chris Archer (NR) vs. Indians RH Ubaldo Jimenez (3-3, 5.57)

Archer will be recalled to make the start in place of Alex Cobb, who has a cut on a finger of his pitching hand and has been pushed back a few days. The 24-year-old Archer made six appearances for the Rays last season, including four starts, with a 1-3 mark, a 4.60 ERA and 36 strikeouts over 29 1/3 innings. Archer is 5-3 with a 3.96 ERA in 10 starts with Triple-A Durham in 2013.

Jimenez got back on track in his last start after being pounded by Detroit, allowing two runs on four hits over seven innings without getting a decision against Cincinnati. The right-hander has allowed two runs or fewer in five of his last six outings. Jimenez is 2-1 in three career starts against the Rays with a 3.93 ERA and Tampa Bay designated hitter Luke Scott is 3-for-5 with two homers against him.

WALK-OFFS

1. Loney has seven homers, one more than his 2012 total while playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Boston Red Sox.

2. Cleveland OF Michael Brantley, who also got Friday off, is 10-for-25 with two outs and runners in scoring position.

3. The Rays have won eight of their last 10 games on the road, improving to 13-14 overall.

PREDICTION: Rays 5, Indians 3