Preview: Delayed a day by rain, Rays and Red Sox get shortened series underway

TV: FOX Sports Sun


TIME: Pregame coverage begins at 3:30 p.m.


WATCH IT LIVE ON FOX SPORTS GO

Tampa Bay Rays (16-9, first in the AL East) vs. Boston Red Sox (11-15, fourth in the AL East)



PITCHING PROBABLES


Rays: Charlie Morton (2-0, 3.38 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 34 strikeouts)

Red Sox: David Price (2-1, 3.75 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 30 strikeouts)







BOTTOM LINE


The Red Sox are 6-5 against the rest of their division. The Boston pitching staff has a team ERA of 5.48, Eduardo Rodriguez paces the staff with a mark of 5.89.

The Rays are 4-5 against division opponents. The Tampa Bay offense has compiled a .262 batting average as a team this season, good for sixth in the American League. Tommy Pham leads the team with an average of .304. The Red Sox won the last meeting 4-3. Marcus Walden secured his third victory and Mitch Moreland went 1-for-2 with a home run and an RBI for Boston. Jose Alvarado took his second loss for Tampa Bay.



TOP PERFORMERS


Moreland leads the Red Sox with 12 extra base hits and is slugging .564. Christian Vazquez is 8-for-32 with a double, three home runs and 11 RBIs over the last 10 games for Boston.

Pham leads the Rays with 28 hits and has 10 RBIs. Austin Meadows is 18-for-40 with three doubles, a triple, four home runs and 13 RBIs over the last 10 games for Tampa Bay.



LAST 10 GAMES


Red Sox: 5-5, .235 batting average, 4.90 ERA, outscored by seven runs

Rays: 5-5, .255 batting average, 4.12 ERA, outscored opponents by six runs

Red Sox Injuries: Brian Johnson: 10-day IL (elbow), Nathan Eovaldi: 10-day IL (elbow), Dustin Pedroia: 10-day IL (knee), Eduardo Nunez: 10-day IL (back), Brock Holt: 10-day IL (eye).

Rays Injuries: Jose De Leon: 60-day IL (elbow), Anthony Banda: 60-day IL (elbow), Austin Meadows: 10-day IL (thumb), Joey Wendle: 10-day IL (wrist), Matt Duffy: 10-day IL (back).