Detroit @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 10, 2018 ) Detroit 2, Tampa Bay 5

On the day the Tampa Bay Rays looked ahead to a more promising future, their current club continued a hot stretch. The Rays seek a three-game sweep of the visiting Detroit Tigers when the teams wrap up their set Wednesday afternoon at Tropicana Field.

Hours after unveiling designs for a new stadium in Ybor City - a roughly $900 million proposal - Tampa Bay topped the Tigers 5-2 for its 13th win in the last 14 home games. The Rays have won four consecutive contests overall and they are a season-high three games over .500 at 47-44. Niko Goodrum had two hits and an RBI for Detroit, which is 4-17 in the last 21 games and at a low-water mark of 14 games below .500. Tampa Bay successfully navigated a bullpen day in Tuesday's victory and will try to win another when Hunter Wood starts things off in the series finale opposite veteran Jordan Zimmermann for Detroit.

TV: 12:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Detroit, FS Sun (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Jordan Zimmermann (4-0, 3.51 ERA) vs. Rays RH Hunter Wood (0-0, 2.00)

Zimmermann has been one of the best pitchers in the American League since returning from a shoulder injury last month, going 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA in four starts. The best of the bunch came at home against Texas on Friday, when the the 32-year-old held the Rangers to one run and four hits with 11 strikeouts in eight innings. He tossed seven scoreless frames against the Rays earlier in the year in Detroit but has a 5.29 ERA in three career starts at Tampa Bay.

Wood will be making his first career start after five relief appearances over the last two years. He made 73 starts in the minor leagues, including two this year for Triple-A Durham. The 24-year-old tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings while striking out two in the series opener Monday night.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Rays are 11-3 against AL Central opponents.

2. Goodrum is 18-for-42 in July.

3. Tampa Bay optioned OF Johnny Field to Triple-A Durham and recalled 1B/DH Ji-Man Choi.

PREDICTION: Tigers 5, Rays 4