Houston @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 13, 2013 ) Houston 3, Tampa Bay 4

The Tampa Bay Rays stood two games over .500 on June 28 and were in danger of fading out of the playoff chase as the All-Star break approached. The Rays responded by winning 13 of the next 15 and look to take their sixth straight series on Sunday when they host the Houston Astros in the rubber match of a three-game set. Chris Archer will try and give Tampa Bay its 15th straight quality start while Houston attempts to win its first series since June 18-20 against Milwaukee.

Luke Scott has hit safely in all nine games on the homestand for the Rays, including a two-run blast in the 4-3 victory Saturday. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay’s Evan Longoria is overdue while recording only four hits in 33 at-bats. Three of Brett Wallace’s four homers have come against the Rays this season and he has recorded eight RBIs in his last eight games.

TV: 1:40 p.m. ET, CSN Houston, SunSports (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros LH Erik Bedard (3-5, 4.67 ERA) vs. Rays RH Chris Archer (3-3, 3.59)

Bedard lost his two starts in July, allowing nine runs (eight earned) in 11 2/3 innings after going 3-1 in five June outings. The veteran left-hander yielded four runs over 5 1/3 innings to suffer the loss against Tampa Bay on July 2 and is 11-6 lifetime against the Rays with a 3.46 ERA. Desmond Jennings is 4-for-7 with a homer in his career against Bedard, who has given up 86 hits in 86 2/3 innings in 2013.

Archer is making a strong case to stay in the rotation permanently, going 2-0 in his last four starts while surrendering seven runs (six earned) over 23 innings. The 24-year-old allowed two runs and two hits in six innings of his first appearance against Houston on July 4 without getting a decision. Wallace homered against Archer, who has walked 21 in 42 2/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tampa Bay SS Yunel Escobar has gone 51 games without an error, one shy of tying the club record of Chris Gomez at the position.

2. Houston CF Justin Maxwell was 1-for-3 with a double Saturday in his return from the seven-day concussion disabled list.

3. The Rays have won eight of the last 10 meetings with the Astros – including four of six this season.

PREDICTION: Rays 5, Astros 1