Tampa Bay @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 30, 2013 ) Detroit 3, Tampa Bay 3

The Tampa Bay Rays continue to show off their vastly improved offense, scoring 53 runs en route to winning seven of their last eight contests. The Rays look to build on that when they send eight-game winner Matt Moore to the mound on Tuesday to start a three-game series at the struggling Detroit Tigers. Miguel Cabrera, who has a league-best 65 RBIs, didn’t cool off while the Tigers dropped five of the last six games.

Kelly Johnson has recorded 35 RBIs and Evan Longoria 34 to lead Tampa Bay’s balanced offense, which is averaging 5.04 runs after finishing at 4.30 last year. The Tigers dropped a pair of 1-0 results and have suffered three two-run losses in the last six contests. Prince Fielder homered twice over the weekend for the Tigers after going 20 games without a blast.

TV: 7:08 p.m. ET, SunSports (Tampa), Fox Sports Detroit

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays LH Matt Moore (8-0, 2.18 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Anibal Sanchez (5-5, 2.79)

Moore only finished one scoreless inning before a long rain delay ended his last start Friday at Cleveland. So the left-hander attempts to become the fifth youngest pitcher since 1916 to start 9-0 again after allowing two or fewer runs in nine of 11 starts. Moore made the start against Detroit in his season opener last season, yielding two runs in 6 2/3 innings.

Sanchez gave up five runs over 6 2/3 innings in his last start after pitching a near no-hitter in his previous outing. The right-hander, who is 2-4 in his last six outings, is near the league lead with 89 strikeouts and has walked only 18 in 71 innings. Sanchez is 1-1 in four career starts with a 4.78 ERA against the Rays. Tampa Bay catcher Jose Molina is 2-for-2 with a homer against him.

WALK-OFFS

1. Detroit RF Torii Hunter returned to the lineup Sunday after missing three games with an elbow injury. He extended his hitting streak to 11 games.

2. Johnson is 5-for-26 with a home run in his career versus Sanchez.

3. The Tigers have 10 of 13 meetings against the Rays the last two seasons.

PREDICTION: Rays 4, Tigers 3