The Tampa Bay Rays continue their series on the road Tuesday against the Houston Astros.
On Sunday, the Rays beat the New York Yankees 3-1 to avoid a sweep and snap a three-game losing streak. Wilmer Font kept the hot bats of the Yankees in check Sunday as the Rays once again started the game with a reliever on the mound.
Houston won its 11th straight game on Sunday beating the Kansas City Royals 7-4 and extending its lead in the American League West to 1 ½ games over second place Seattle. The Astros returned home after Sunday’s win with a 10-0 record on their road trip. Carlos Correa homered in the eighth to tie the score 4-4, then Evan Gattis’ RBI put the Astros ahead for good.
Matt Duffy leads Tampa Bay with a .318 batting average and a team high 71 hits. C.J. Cron leads the Rays in home runs with 15 and RBIs with 36. Tampa Bay has a team batting average of .253 while opposing hitters are averaging .229 at the plate against Rays pitching. On Tuesday, the Rays will send Blake Snell to the mound. The left-hander this season is 8-4 with an ERA of 2.58, 97 Ks and 29 BBs.
Jose Altuve has a .337 batting average to lead the Astros along with a team high 99 hits. George Springer leads with 14 home runs while Evan Gattis leads in RBIs with 47. Houston has a team batting average of .267, while opposing hitters are averaging just .209 at the plate against Astros pitching. On Tuesday, the Astros will send ace Justin Verlander to the mound. The right-hander this season is 9-2 with an ERA of 1.61, 120 Ks and 20 BBs
