Tampa Bay @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 1, 2018 ) Tampa Bay 5, Cleveland 3

Joey Wendle looked as though he was merely a depth addition to the Tampa Bay Rays in the offseason, but the versatile 28-year-old is enjoying a breakout year while playing five different positions. Wendle looks to extend his hitting streak to eight games when the Rays visit the American League Central-leading Cleveland Indians on Sunday for the rubber match of a three-game set.

Wendle is batting .296 in 115 games playing the infield and outfield after recording multiple hits in five of his last six contests, including a 2-for-5 performance Saturday in Tampa Bay’s come-from-behind 5-3 victory to even the series. The Rays will go with a bullpen day in the finale while facing Cy Young candidate Carlos Carrasco, who goes for his 17th victory of the season and 35th in the last two campaigns. Cleveland coughed up an early 2-0 lead Saturday to open September after going 19-9 last month, but Michael Brantley recorded multiple hits for the eighth time in his last dozen contests. Jason Kipnis, who could lose some playing time after the acquisition of former MVP Josh Donaldson late Friday night, homered for the third time in six games Saturday - a stretch in which he is 10-for-19 with six extra-base hits and eight RBIs.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Diego Castillo (3-2, 3.73 ERA) vs. Indians RH Carlos Carrasco (16-7, 3.38)

Castillo gave up three runs on three hits over two innings Wednesday at Atlanta in his third start before the Rays went on to earn an 8-5 victory. The 24-year-old Dominican did not give up a run in his previous seven appearances, including two starts against Boston in which he allowed three hits and struck out four across 3 1/3 innings combined. Castillo faces Cleveland for the first time and is 1-0 with a 3.71 ERA on the road.

Carrasco is 8-2 since the beginning of July, including 4-2 last month with a 1.85 ERA after registering 7 2/3 scoreless frames to beat Minnesota on Tuesday. The 31-year-old Venezuelan recorded 50 strikeouts over 39 innings in August to push his total to 178 in 154 2/3 frames overall. Kevin Kiermaier is 1-for-11 with a homer against Carrasco, who is 4-3 with a 2.77 ERA in nine career appearances (eight starts) versus Tampa Bay.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Indians activated OF Rajai Davis (illness) from the 10-day disabled list, but he did not play Saturday.

2. Tampa Bay OF Tommy Pham is 13-for-31 with six RBIs during his current seven-game hitting streak.

3. Kiermaier left Saturday’s contest with back spasms but told reporters he could be able to play Sunday.

PREDICTION: Indians 6, Rays 2