Tampa Bay Rays look to continue their winning ways after an impressive run, fueled by red-hot bats and dominant pitching.
TAMPA, Fla. – At 28, the Rays have played the fewest road games in the majors, a total they will add to this week. Following what was a much-needed day off Monday after playing 18 games in 19 days, they visit the Royals for three games followed by a three-game weekend series in Baltimore.
Kevin Cash’s team left Steinbrenner Field on Sunday having lost to the Tigers, 9-3, though taking two of three from the club with MLB’s best record. That enabled the Rays to salvage a winning homestand (4-3) that included a split with the Orioles.
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The Rays (43-35), who sent Kameron Misner to Triple-A Durham on Monday with the expectation Chandler Simpson would be recalled and meet the team in Kansas City, have won 22 of their last 31 to come within 2.5 games of the Yankees in the American League East. Here a few highlights that underscore how hot they have been.
Hitting Streaks
Yandy Diaz holds the club record for longest hitting streak at 20 games, set last year. He heads into Tuesday evening against the Royals on a 13-game streak during which he is hitting .464 (26-for-56) and with multiple hits in 10 of the games, including the last five.
Brandon Lowe is hitting .344 (17-for-44) during an 11-game streak and, combined with his 13-gamer in May, has hit safely in 32 of his last 36 to raise his average 74 points to .264. Jake Mangum begins the trip on a 10-game streak (.375, 15-for-40) while Jonathan Aranda has has put together an eight-game run (.387, 12-for-31).
Among MLB’s Best
Speaking of Aranda, the first baseman’s .325 average is fourth in the American League and fifth in the majors. He is getting on base at a .411 clip that is good for third in MLB behind the Yankees’ Aaron Judge (.468) and the Dodgers’ Will Smith (.425).
READ: The Greatest Comebacks In Tampa Bay Rays History
No Freebies
Zack Littell was pulled after five sparkling innings (4H, 1R) Sunday when he recorded a season-high 15 swings/misses on a season-low 69 pitches. The outing marked his fourth straight without walking a batter, something the righthander has done only once in his last 49 2/3 innings over the course of eight starts and beginning in the second inning at Toronto on May 15. The lone base on balls? The Astros’ Cam Smith in the ninth inning of Littell’s complete game victory in Houston on May 31.
BMOC
Paul Gervase made his MLB debut Saturday and provided company for former Rays pitcher Aaron Slegers (2019-20) in the team’s record book as the tallest player. Gervase, like Slegers, is 6-foot-10. The two righthanders are among nine players in MLB history to stand at least 6-foot-10.
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