Sonny Gray has fanned 22 batters in his three August starts covering 19 innings. This is a great matchup for Gray. Over the past 30 days, the Rays are striking out at the second-highest rate vs. right-handed pitching. Tampa Bay has averaged 10.3 strikeouts over its last three games. Look for Gray to fan at least six.
The Rays are coming off two games against the Yankees in which New York tied an MLB record with 14 homers over two games. A big reason for that was the hitter-friendly conditions at Steinbrenner Field. Alec Burleson is having a solid season with a .786 OPS and 15 HRs, including 12 of those against right-handed pitchers. Rays' SP Joe Boyle has allowed 4 HRs in his last two starts, with opponents batting .333 and posting a 1.401 OPS over those outings. While Boyle has been nearly unhittable at home, the sample size is small, and we're not reading too much into it. We set Burleson's line around +500, but factoring in the hitter-friendly conditions, there's likely even more value.
Rays manager Kevin Cash said Wednesday that Wells (forearm) "looked really good" in a throwing session Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said Monday that Walker was playing through some hip pain and other discomfort late in the season, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said Monday that Fitts (lat) is on track to be ready at the start of spring training but will have his workload monitored, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Bernal went 1-for-2 with a three-run home run and two walks in Sunday's 6-4 loss to the Brewers.
Pallante (12-9) allowed six runs on 10 hits and a walk while striking out four over five innings to take the loss versus the Brewers on Sunday.
DeLuca went 2-for-4 with a pair of solo home runs in Sunday's 7-3 loss to the Phillies.
Martinez (15-6) took the loss Sunday against the Phillies, allowing four runs on seven hits and a walk across 2.2 innings. He struck out one.
Diaz is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
The Rays recalled Scholtens from Triple-A Durham on Sunday.
Torres is absent from the lineup for Sunday's contest in Milwaukee.
