ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Rays certainly are not any healthier than when they left St. Pete for the Windy City last week. In fact, they are a little worse off on the injury front as Brandon Lowe (back) and Josh Fleming (elbow) were placed on the IL while the team was in Boston.
Yet, in typical Rays fashion, they continue to find a way to get it done.
After dropping two of three games to the Cubs and losing the first of four to the Red Sox, the Rays won the final three games at Fenway to pull out a winning trip. They arrive home at 43-19 (.694) and welcome the two other first-place clubs in the American League to Tropicana Field this week: Minnesota and Texas.
In the news: Rays’ Shane McClanahan Dazzles In MLB-Leading Eighth Win
The Rays begin a three-game series against the Twins on Tuesday night (6:40) with Zach Eflin (7-1, 3.30 ERA) taking the mound against rookie righthander Louie Varland (3-1, 3.51). Eflin’s seven wins are tied for third in the majors and the righty is sporting a nifty 1.00 WHIP thanks in large part to walking only eight batters in 60 innings for a rate of 1.20 walks per nine innings.
Rocco Baldelli’s Twins are 31-29 and the only team above .500 in the American League Central. They have a 3.5-game lead over Cleveland. Though Minnesota is hitting all of .233, the pitching staff has compiled a 3.42 ERA that is second in the majors.
The Rangers are in town for a three-game weekend series that should be very entertaining. Not only do they lead the AL West with a 39-20 (.661) mark that is second to the Rays, but they lead MLB with a batting average of .278 and runs per game at 6.4. Tampa Bay, which leads the majors with 103 homers, is second in both categories at .266 and 5.8.
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