Tampa Bay @ Los Angeles preview
Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Last Meeting ( Sep 4, 2013 ) Tampa Bay 3, LA Angels 1
The Tampa Bay Rays try to make it three wins in a row when they visit the Los Angeles Angels for the finale of their four-game series Thursday. Tampa Bay used a 15-hit attack to halt its five-game losing streak Tuesday and posted its second straight victory a day later behind the bat of rookie Wil Myers, who posted his second career two-homer performance. Jeremy Hellickson returned from a brief demotion to toss 5 1/3 scoreless innings as the Rays improved to 2-4 on their 10-game West Coast road trip.
Tampa Bay failed to gain ground on Boston in the American League East, remaining 5 1/2 games behind the first-place Red Sox. It may have to give up its hopes for a division title, however, as Boston begins a four-game series Thursday against the New York Yankees, who trail the Rays by 2 1/2 games for the second wild-card spot. The Angels have lost two straight following a five-game winning streak.
TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, Sun Sports (Tampa Bay), FSN West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays LH David Price (8-6, 3.30 ERA) vs. Angels RH Jerome Williams (5-10, 4.68)
Price looks to bounce back from his first loss in nine starts. The 28-year-old went 5-0 over eight outings before yielding four runs - three earned - in seven innings of a setback at Oakland on Friday. Price is 4-2 with one shutout and a 3.00 ERA in eight career starts against the Angels.
Williams has allowed three or fewer runs in each of his last three starts but remains winless since June 12. The 31-year-old Hawaii native settled for a no-decision at Milwaukee on Saturday after yielding three runs and eight hits in six innings. Williams has pitched well against Tampa Bay over his career, going 1-0 with a 1.85 ERA in seven games (two starts).
WALK-OFFS
1. Los Angeles is 9-3 in its last 12 overall contests but has lost 11 of 13 at home.
2. Angels CF Mike Trout drew his 85th walk of the season Wednesday. He received only 67 free passes last year.
3. Tampa Bay concludes its road trip with three games in Seattle before heading home for a potentially crucial three-game set against Boston.
PREDICTION: Rays 11, Angels 4