Tampa Bay @ Texas preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 18, 2018 ) Texas 2, Tampa Bay 4

The Tampa Bay Rays kept alive their slim hopes of an American League wild-card spot over the weekend and hope to make up some more ground when they open a three-game series against the host Texas Rangers on Monday. The Rays are seven games behind Oakland for the second wild card after edging the Athletics each of the last two days to remain unbeaten in their last eight series (7-0-1).

It will take a near-perfect run and some help for Tampa Bay to reach the postseason, but the team has optimism for the future after clinching its first winning season since 2013 with Sunday’s 5-4 win, getting homers from C.J. Cron and rookie Willy Adames (.350 batting average this month). “This organization has been very fortunate over the last decade to play in a lot of playoff games. We want to get back to that,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash told reporters. “We’ve had a little bit of a lull recently, and these guys give you some positive thoughts like (playing in the postseason) is on the horizon.” Texas, which resides in the AL West cellar, returns home after giving up five runs in the bottom of the ninth inning of a 7-3 loss at San Diego on Sunday to finish its 3-6 road trip. Jurickson Profar, who recorded a solo homer and a double in the setback, has gone 7-for-16 with a pair of blasts and four RBIs over his last four contests but is just 4-for-26 lifetime versus the Rays.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), FS Southwest (Texas)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Tyler Glasnow (1-6, 4.48 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Adrian Sampson (0-1, 5.06)

Glasnow matched his career high with seven innings against Cleveland on Tuesday, allowing two runs on solo homers, but still is looking for his first win with Tampa Bay. The 25-year-old Californian, who has registered 43 strikeouts in 38 1/3 frames with the Rays, has limited opponents to fewer than three runs in five of eight starts since being acquired from Pittsburgh. Glasnow, who will face the Rangers for the first time in his career, owns a 6.53 ERA on the road in 2018.

Sampson makes his second start with the Rangers after suffering a tough-luck loss Tuesday against the Los Angeles Angels after permitting one run and two hits over five innings. The 26-year-old, who was claimed off waivers from Seattle in 2016, gave up three runs - two earned - while retiring one batter at Oakland in relief on Sept. 7 in his only other major-league appearance this year. Sampson went 8-4 with a 3.77 ERA in 33 outings (19 starts) for Triple-A Round Rock this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Texas 3B-DH Adrian Beltre has hit 474 career homers, one behind Stan Musial and Willie Stargell for 30th place on the all-time list.

2. Tampa Bay CF Kevin Kiermaier has gone 17-for-40 with three homers, nine RBIs and 10 runs scored this month.

3. The Rays took two of three from the Rangers in April after losing won four of six meetings in 2017.

PREDICTION: Rays 7, Rangers 2