Los Angeles @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 28, 2013 ) LA Angels 1, Tampa Bay 4

The Tampa Bay Rays have taken advantage of teams with sub-.500 records this season, posting 38 wins in 52 games, and continuing that success could propel them to the postseason. The Rays look to add another victory in that category before a 10-game West Coast trip when they host the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday in rubber match of their three-game series. Ben Zobrist is 11-for-32 with five RBIs over the last eight games for Tampa Bay, which trails first-place Boston by 2 1/2 games in the American League East.

Mike Trout has posted a .386 batting average over the last month for the Angels, who saw their four-game winning streak end with a 4-1 loss on Wednesday. Los Angeles has been one of the biggest disappointments of 2013, but the middle of its lineup still is dangerous with Trout, Josh Hamilton and Mark Trumbo. However, Trumbo is 0-for-8 in the series.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, FSN West (Los Angeles), Sun Sports (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels LH Jason Vargas (7-5, 3.77 ERA) vs. Rays RH Jake Odorizzi (0-0, 6.00)

Vargas allowed one run over 6 1/3 innings to earn a victory last Saturday in his second start since returning from the disabled list. The veteran, who missed two months with a blood clot in his armpit, is only 2-4 on the road this season with a 4.37 ERA. Zobrist is 7-for-19 against Vargas, who is 2-3 with a 3.23 ERA in seven career appearances (six starts) versus Tampa Bay.

Odorizzi was recalled from Triple-A Durham to make his first major-league start since June 18, when he limited Boston to one run over 5 2/3 innings. The 23-year-old, who has allowed 10 runs over 14 2/3 frames in three starts this season, never has faced the Angels. Odorizzi, acquired from Kansas City last offseason, was 9-6 with a 3.33 ERA at Durham and yielded one run over 20 innings in his last three starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tampa Bay 3B Evan Longoria is 0-for-11 in his last three games after hitting six homers and batting .375 in his previous 10.

2. Los Angeles OF J.B. Shuck leads all AL rookies with 100 hits after registering a pair on Wednesday.

3. Rays Cs Jose Lobaton and Jose Molina are 17-for-50 with 10 RBIs over their last 14 games.

PREDICTION: Rays 6, Angels 4