Milwaukee @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 28, 2014 ) Milwaukee 1, Tampa Bay 2

Matt Garza enjoyed his greatest success in the major leagues with Tampa Bay and will square off against his former team when the Milwaukee Brewers visit the red-hot Rays on Tuesday for the middle contest of their three-game interleague series. Garza won 34 games over three seasons with Tampa Bay, including a career-high 15 in 2010 before he was sent to the Chicago Cubs in a blockbuster trade. Alex Cobb, one of the young arms that made Garza expendable, will make the start for the Rays.

Outstanding pitching has carried Tampa Bay to 10 wins in its last 11 games, with only one opponent scoring more than three runs in that span. While the Rays are 4 1/2 games out of the second wild-card spot in the American League, the Brewers have dropped three of four to see their lead over St. Louis in the National League Central dwindle to 1 1/2 games. One day after getting shut out by the New York Mets, Milwaukee managed only three hits in Monday's series-opening loss.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee), Sun Sports (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Matt Garza (7-7, 3.87 ERA) vs. Rays RH Alex Cobb (6-8, 3.76)

Garza rebounded from a wretching performance with an outstanding effort in his last turn, holding the Mets to one run on two hits over eight innings. He retired only one batter in his previous start and was knocked out after allowing five runs and five hits against Washington. Garza was pounded for six runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings last September in his only career start against the Rays.

Cobb also is coming off a sensational outing in which he fanned 10 and permitted five hits over seven scoreless innings against St. Louis. The 26-year-old is 4-0 over his last five turns and has surrendered more than three earned runs only once in his last eight starts. Cobb, who never has faced Milwaukee, is seeking his first home win of the season after logging an 0-4 mark with a 4.10 ERA in seven outings at Tropicana Field.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rays RHP Jake McGee has converted 11 straight save chances, tying Baltimore's Zach Britton for the most consecutive saves.

2. Brewers 1B Mark Reynolds has homered four times in his last five games.

3. Tampa Bay RHP Brad Boxberger struck out the side Monday for his 13th straight scoreless appearance.

PREDICTION: Rays 3, Brewers 2