Tampa Bay @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 13, 2019 ) Tampa Bay 11, LA Angels 4

After a disappointing series in Texas, the Tampa Bay Rays got back on track in the opener of their three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels. Tampa Bay looks to keep the wins coming when it visits Los Angeles on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game set.

The Rays lost the final two contests of their series against the Rangers to fall out of the top wild-card spot in the American League but remained just one-half game behind Oakland after rolling to an 11-4 victory over the Angels on Friday. Avisail Garcia drove in three runs while Tampa Bay belted four homers - three in the third inning - as it moved one game ahead of Cleveland for the second wild card. Austin Meadows is riding a 12-game hitting streak - a stretch during which he has gone 20-for-45 - after finishing 2-for-4 with his 30th homer of the season on Friday. Kole Calhoun went deep twice and plated three runs in the series opener for the Angels, who were without superstar Mike Trout for a fifth straight game due to a nerve issue in his right foot.

TV: 9:07 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), FS West (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Tyler Glasnow (6-1, 2.15 ERA) vs. Angels RH Jaime Barria (4-8, 6.14)

Glasnow returned from a four-month layoff due to a strained forearm to start against Toronto on Sunday, when he permitted two runs on one hit - a homer - and two walks in two innings. The 26-year-old Californian hadn't pitched since yielding four runs - three earned - over 5 1/3 frames in a loss to the New York Yankees on May 10. Glasnow allowed a solo homer among two hits over three innings in a no-decision against Los Angeles on Aug. 1, 2018 in his lone career start versus the club.

Barria followed an "opener" against the White Sox in Chicago on Sunday after making seven consecutive starts and gave up two runs and four hits over 4 1/3 innings in a hard-luck loss. The setback was the fifth during a seven-game winless streak for the 23-year-old Panamanian, who hasn't pitched at home since losing to Detroit on July 29. Barria, who will be facing Tampa Bay for the first time in his career, owns a 2.38 ERA at home as opposed to a 7.93 mark on the road.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Angels announced that OF Justin Upton will miss the remainder of the season due to patellar tendinitis.

2. Tampa Bay is expected to summon RHP Jose De Leon from Triple-A Durham on Saturday and make him the 37th player on the active roster, which would tie the franchise high set in 2013.

3. Los Angeles DH Shohei Ohtani underwent successful season-ending surgery on his left knee.

PREDICTION: Rays 7, Angels 4