Tampa Bay Rays Fighting to Hold On To Wild Card Spot
Tampa Bay missed out on a shot to sweep the Orioles as they were flat
in the series finale Sunday. The Rays entered Monday with a slim half-game lead over
the Twins and Royals for the second AL wild card slot.
Tampa Bay was five games behind Boston in the AL East.
The Rays finished with only five hits Sunday with no player having more than one.
Jesus Sucre hit a solo homer, his fourth of the year,
in the eighth inning to avoid a shutout while Steven Souza Jr. had the other extra base hit
for Tampa Bay, a double. Alex Cobb (6-6) was tagged for seven runs (six earned)
on six hits with a walk and three strikeouts over 6.1 innings.
Chris Archer takes the mound for his 18th start of the year for the Rays in this contest.
He is 6-5 with a 3.92 ERA, a 1.205 WHIP, 33 walks and
131 strikeouts over 110.1 innings of work this season. Archer took the loss in his last start,
which came Thursday on the road against the Pirates.
He allowed three runs on eight hits with no walks and
five strikeouts over six innings in an eventual 4-0 Tampa Bay loss.
Archer is 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA, a 1.33 WHIP,
three walks and 17 strikeouts over 18 innings in his last three starts.
He recorded a no-decision in his lone career start against the Cubs,
which came on the road on August 8, 2014. Archer allowed two runs (one earned)
on five hits with one walk and six strikeouts over six innings in a 4-3 Rays victory in 10 innings.
With that start coming at Wrigley Field, he has a little familiarity with the park.
Chicago Cubs Hope Homestand Leading to
All Star Break Gets Them Going
Chicago struggled at times through their road trip
but had a solid showing in the finale against Cincinnati.
The Cubs hope a return home before the break gets things started:
they entered Monday two games behind the Brewers in the NL Central.
Ian Happ (two runs, four RBI) and Javier Baez (RBI) each had three hits for Chicago
while Addison Russell (run) banged out a pair.
Happ homered twice, giving him 12 on the year,
while Anthony Rizzo tagged his team leading 19th blast of the season.
Jake Arrieta (8-6) turned in his best start of the year, throwing seven scoreless frames,
allowing one hit with two walks and six strikeouts, to pick up the win.
Jon Lester takes the mound and makes his 18th start of the year for the Cubs in this contest.
He is 5-4 with a 3.69 ERA, a 1.231 WHIP, 33 walks and 104 strikeouts over 102.1 innings of work.
Lester took a no-decision in his last start, which came Thursday on the road against the Nationals.
He threw six innings, allowing one run on three hits with three walks and
seven strikeouts in a game the Cubs went on to win 5-4.
Lester is 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA, a 0.89 WHIP, five walks and 18 strikeouts over 19 innings
in his last three starts. He makes his 29th career start against the Rays in this contest:
he is 13-9 with a 4.08 ERA and a 1.288 WHIP over 170 innings.
Lester is 21-12 with a 2.77 ERA and a 1.062 WHIP over 277 innings in his 45 career starts
at Wrigley Field.
The Cubs have struggled most of the season but for the most part,
the rotation has done its part in the last few weeks.
They get a look at a guy they once had and dealt to Tampa Bay in an ill-fated deal that
brought Matt Garza to the Windy City.
Chicago would love to get their hands on Archer again to add some meat to the rotation
but it will be a tough get, if it’s possible at all.
The Rays are right in the thick of the AL wild card picture but the Cubs, with Lester,
are tough, especially at home after an off-day. Look for Chicago to win a tight one here.
Pick: Chicago Cubs -141*
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