Houston @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 20, 2018 ) Tampa Bay 1, Houston 5

The Tampa Bay Rays closed their last road trip by losing two of three in Houston, but they are perfect on their nine-game homestand as they prepare for a rematch with the Astros on Thursday night. Tampa Bay followed up a three-game sweep of the New York Yankees by taking both matchups of an interleague series versus Washington.

The Rays have registered three shutouts during the five-game winning streak and will open the four-game series by sending out right-hander Ryne Stanek as the "opener." Since adopting the strategy in mid-May of leading off a game with a reliever, Tampa Bay has posted a major league-leading 2.87 ERA. Despite their prowess at home, the Rays will receive a stern test from Houston, which improved to 17-3 over its last 20 games by rallying for a 7-6 win over Toronto on Wednesday. Alex Bregman has homered in three straight games, including a walk-off blast Wednesday, for the Astros, who take a majors-best 29-11 road record into Tampa Bay.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston), FS Sun (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Lance McCullers Jr. (8-3, 3.82 ERA) vs. Rays RH Ryne Stanek (1-1, 1.99)

McCullers notched his fifth consecutive quality start but had to settle for his second straight no-decision after striking out nine and giving up three runs on four hits over six innings versus Kansas City. He owns a 5-2 record in nine starts away from Minute Maid Park, although his road ERA (4.83) is more than two runs higher than at home. McCullers has a 6.00 ERA in losing both starts at Tropicana Park.

Stanek is one of the prime reasons for the success of the "openers" strategy, not allowing a run in 10 consecutive appearances, which includes five lead-off outings. The 26-year-old has allowed only four hits in that span, striking out 14 and walking five over 13 innings. Stanek faced Houston twice in that stretch, pitching 1 2/3 hitless innings as the opener on June 18 and one inning in relief one day later.

WALK-OFFS

1. Bregman was 9-for-14 with three homers, five doubles, six RBIs and five runs scored versus Toronto.

2. Rays 3B Matt Duffy is riding a six-game hitting streak.

3. Astros SS Carlos Correa missed the past two games due to a sore back.

PREDICTION: Astros 4, Rays 3