Tampa Bay @ Los Angeles preview
Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Last Meeting ( Sep 2, 2013 ) Tampa Bay 2, LA Angels 11
Matt Moore’s troublesome left elbow has healed and the Tampa Bay starter returns to the mound Tuesday when the Rays visit the Los Angeles Angels in the second contest of a four-game set. Moore hasn’t pitched in a major-league game since July 28 and looks to snap Tampa Bay’s five-game losing skid and halt its troubles out West. The Rays have lost nine straight games in California or Arizona since Aug. 6.
Angels starter Jason Vargas beat the Rays on Thursday with seven innings of two-hit shutout ball. Los Angeles has won five consecutive games and nine of its last 10, while Tampa Bay’s loss in the opener was its eighth in nine games. The Rays have fallen 5 1/2 games behind the Boston Red Sox in the American League East and have seen their lead over Baltimore for the second AL wild card slip to two games.
TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, Sun Sports (Tampa Bay), FSN West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays LH Matt Moore (14-3, 3.41 ERA) vs. Angels LH Jason Vargas (8-5, 3.54)
Moore allowed four runs and eight hits in four innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Durham on Thursday. He had won six consecutive decisions before suffering the injury that led to a stint on the disabled list. Moore is 2-0 with a 1.96 ERA in three career starts against the Angels.
Vargas has allowed one run in 13 1/3 innings while winning back-to-back starts. He gave up one run and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings while beating Seattle before handcuffing the Rays in his ensuing outing. Vargas is 3-3 with a 2.74 ERA in eight career appearances (seven starts) against Tampa Bay.
WALK-OFFS
1. Tampa Bay 1B James Loney leads the majors with a .363 road average.
2. Angels SS Erick Aybar had his second four-RBI outing in seven days against the Rays on Monday when he hit a two-run homer and a two-run triple.
3. Rays 2B Ben Zobrist drove in both Tampa Bay runs in Monday’s loss and is batting .400 with three doubles in 20 career at-bats against Vargas.
PREDICTION: Angels 7, Rays 4