The Tampa Bay Rays broke a fur game losing streak yesterday on the back of Jeremy Hellickson. Today the Rays will rely on last year's rookie phenom Wade Davis (4.52 ERA, 5.39 FIP - ugh) to tie the series. The Rays have lost 2 of 3 to the Seattle Mariners with one game left to play this afternoon. If Davis's command issues continue, the Rays will lose their fourth of five consecutive series.
The Rays will take on Erik Bedard (3.41 ERA, 4.01 FIP), who has only three wins on the season, but not many decisions, his record is 3-4. Bedard has a k/9 at 8 and could get a lot of swinging strikes.
Casey Kotchman and Evan Longoria will be nursing injuries today and could see the bench, so the Rays will continue to rely on Matt Joyce, Johnny Damon and Ben Zobrist to keep swinging hot.
The Lineup: via Marc Topkin
Damon dh
Zobrist 2b
Joyce rf
Upton cf
Lopez 3b
Rodriguez ss
Kotchman 1b
Shoppach c
Fuld lfTopkin notes: Manager Joe Maddon opted for right-handed hitting catcher Kelly Shoppach (over John Jaso) but lefty swinging leftfielder Sam Fuld (over Justin Ruggiano).