Houston @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 12, 2013 ) Houston 2, Tampa Bay 1

The Houston Astros have struggled for much of the season, but they have given the red-hot Tampa Bay Rays a tough time in their last three meetings. The visiting Astros will attempt to beat the Rays for the third time in four games Saturday afternoon in the second contest of a three-game series. Houston beat Tampa Bay on July 3 and lost in extra innings the next day before recording a 2-1 triumph on Friday behind an outstanding effort from pitcher Jarred Cosart in his major-league debut.

The Astros activated outfielder Justin Maxwell from the seven-day concussion list and Cosart was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City after Friday’s game. The Rays have won 12 of 14 and received a club-record 13 straight quality starts. Luke Scott is 12-for-28 with two home runs and five RBIs while hitting safely in all eight games on Tampa Bay’s current homestand.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, CSN (Houston), Sun Sports (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros LH Dallas Keuchel (4-5, 4.59 ERA) vs. Rays RH Roberto Hernandez (4-10, 4.93)

Keuchel took the loss on July 1, allowing five runs and eight hits over 4 2/3 innings in his first career appearance against Tampa Bay. The 25-year-old is 0-2 over his last four starts, including a five-inning performance at Texas on July 6 in which he gave up two runs and six hits. Keuchel has surrendered more than three runs just once in his last eight outings.

Hernandez is 0-4 in his last five starts but has allowed only three runs in each of his last five outings. The 32-year-old Dominican settled for a no-decision against the Astros on July 3 despite yielding three runs over six frames. Hernandez, trying to hold on to the fifth spot in the rotation as Alex Cobb readies to return from the disabled list, has struck out 78 and walked 24 in 102 1/3 innings in 2013.

WALK-OFFS

1. Astros 1B Carlos Pena, who played five seasons with the Rays, has hit 86 of his 285 career homers at Tampa Bay.

2. Rays 2B Ben Zobrist has recorded two hits in three of seven games since being named to the All-Star team last Saturday.

3. Houston OF J.D. Martinez is 9-for-21 with four RBIs in his last five contests.

PREDICTION: Rays 6, Astros 5