After a slow start out of the All-Star break, the Tampa Bay Rays regrouped to have an outstanding week and will look to start another one Tuesday night when they host the Texas Rangers in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Following a four-game sweep by the Boston Red Sox right after the break, the Rays won six of seven, taking three of four in Toronto before shutting down the Cleveland Guardians in a three-game weekend sweep to start a nine-game homestand.
However, the American League East leaders are the top team in the Junior Circuit for a reason, mainly relying on excellent starting pitching with a punchy top of the order, featuring standout hitter Yandy Diaz leading off and slugger Junior Caminero two batters later.
Pitching loomed large against the Guardians as starters Shane McClanahan, Nick Martinez and Drew Rasmussen completely dominated the visitors.
Over 18 innings, the trio allowed just one run (an ERA of 0.50), seven hits and three walks, totaling 17 strikeouts as the Rays outscored Cleveland 15-3, including shutouts in the final two games.
“Just a well-executed, masterful performance,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said of Rasmussen’s seven scoreless innings of one-hit ball in Sunday’s 1-0 win. “We’re definitely built around our pitching, no doubt. Most of the year, (our starters) have been spot on, quality outing after quality outing, 1 through 5, probably highlighted by Ras and Nick.”
Rays starter Griffin Jax (6-7, 3.89 ERA) has won five of his past seven starts, and holds a 5-5 record and a 3.38 ERA with an opposing batting average of .236 since moving from the bullpen to the rotation.
Like the Rays, manager Skip Schumaker and his Rangers enter the matchup in first place in their division, leading the AL West over the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners, though they will travel to Houston after facing Tampa Bay.
Texas homered its way to victory Monday afternoon to claim the series over Seattle, going deep four times in the first three innings off nemesis George Kirby in a 7-3 bashing.
Leadoff hitter Joc Pederson homered in his first two at-bats off the right-hander. The lefty-swinging Pederson went 2-for-4 with four RBIs and pushed his long-ball total to 19.
“It just shows the mentality we’ve had lately,” Pederson said of beating Kirby, who entered the contest 9-1 with a 1.33 ERA in 12 career starts versus Texas. “We were able to get (to) a really good pitcher. That’s one of the best pitching staffs in baseball.”
Texas did not announce Tuesday’s starter, but its radio network said the options are Jordan Montgomery, who had Tommy John surgery in March 2025, or Nathan Eovaldi on four days’ rest.
Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (back) has taken two live batting practice sessions and looked sharp. The team is expected to announce a rehab assignment for him soon.
Seager hit the 15-day injured list on July 1 and has only appeared in 51 games.
“I would love to tell you ‘Yes,'” Seager said when asked if he understood his back injury, which started with lower back inflammation. “Well, as you know, backs are not … what you want. Honestly, just getting back is kind of the priority.”
He is batting just .182 with 10 homers and 25 RBIs this season.
–Field Level Media
