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Rays Vs. Rangers Game Preview: Tampa Turns To James Shields As Wild Card Race Heats Up

Sunday's Rays starter, James Shields, has posted seven consecutive quality starts (six innings, three or fewer runs allowed) as Tampa looks to keep pace with New York and Baltimore in the AL Wild Card race.

Shields (13-8, 3.88 ERA) appears to be back on track after his struggles in May, June and July raised his ERA above 4.50. Shields' next outing in Oakland July 31 began the right-hander's return to form: nine innings, three hits, no runs and 11 strikeouts.

Rangers starter Roy Oswalt (4-2, 5.85 ERA) has not started since Aug. 23, when he allowed seven hits and three runs over 5 2/3 innings. The veteran righty did make a relief appearance Sept. 4 in Kansas City and went 2 1/3 innings, allowing just one run with four strikeouts.

Game Time: 1:40 p.m. ET

TV: Sun Sports

Radio: WFLA 970, WAMA 1550

Photographs by cstreet.us, thelastminute, turtlemom nancy , fesek, kthypryn, justinwright, sue_elias, pointnshoot, and scrapstothefuture used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.