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The Tampa Bay Rays are hoping to stay in contention of the wild card bid in the American League. Currently they trail the wild card spot by one game. The Rays have a good opportunity to get some ground back in that race in a three game series with the Seattle Mariners, starting Friday.
The Rays will send pitcher James Shields (8-6, 4.44 ERA) to the hill. Shields is coming off a start against the Boston Red Sox on July 15 where he pitched five innings, allowing six runs on 11 hits in a 7-3 loss.
The Mariners counter with Hisashi Iwakuma (1-2, 5.13). In his last start on July 15 against the Texas Rangers, Iwakuma went five innings, allowing four runs on seven hits in a 4-0 loss.
The game is set for a 7:10 p.m. first pitch. Television coverage will be provided by Sunshine Sports with radio coverage provided by WDAE 620 AM and WGES 680 AM.
Read more on the Rays at DRaysBay and SB Nation Tampa Bay. Head over to Lookout Landing and SB Nation Seattle for more on the Mariners. Baseball Nation is your source for news and analysis around Major League Baseball.