Milwaukee @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 29, 2014 ) Milwaukee 1, Tampa Bay 5

With trade speculation swirling around him, Tampa Bay Rays ace David Price will look to win his seventh consecutive start and complete a three-game sweep of the visiting Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday. Price was thought to be headed out of town when Tampa Bay dropped 18 games below .500 last month, but the Rays can reach the break-even mark for the first time since they were 10-10 on April 22. Tampa Bay has surged back into postseason contention by winning 11 of 12.

With his team sitting 4 1/2 games out of the second wild card in the American League, Rays manager Joe Maddon is not preoccupied with the thought of his best pitcher changing addresses. "We're playing for the World Series," Maddon said. "That's our objective." Milwaukee, which is clinging to a one-game lead over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the National League Central, harbors similar aspirations but has scored only two runs during its three-game losing streak.

TV: 12:10 p.m. ET, FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee), Sun Sports (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Yovani Gallardo (5-5, 3.57 ERA) vs. Rays LH David Price (6-8, 3.97)

Gallardo's winless drought continued despite a stellar effort last time out in which he blanked the New York Mets on four hits over 7 2/3 innings before settling for his fifth no-decision in six starts. Gallardo served up four homers and was knocked around for nine runs over 11 1/3 innings in his previous two turns. Seeking his first win since June 19, Gallardo carries a 3-2 mark and 3.27 in nine road outings into Wednesday's start.

Price extended his winning streak by striking out 10 while permitting three runs and eight hits over eight innings to beat Boston on Friday. The former Vanderbilt standout has pitched at least eight innings in five of his last six victories and has a 12-start streak with at least seven innings pitched. Six of Price's nine double-digit strikeout games have come in the past 10 starts, boosting his major league-best total to 183.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rays 2B Ben Zobrist is 9-for-16 with two homers and four RBIs during a five-game hitting streak.

2. Milwaukee has only 12 hits versus 30 strikeouts during its three-game skid.

3. Rays RF Wil Myers is scheduled to take batting practice Saturday for the first time since suffering a fractured right wrist May 30.

PREDICTION: Rays 4, Brewers 2