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Tampa Bay broke a three game slide with a 7-2 win over the Angels Tuesday to give them a one game lead over rained out New York. Winning in Los Angeles has been a rare sight over the years for the Rays so taking a series has been unheard of. Tampa has a chance to buck history and do just that with a win tonight. The slumping Tampa bats put up their highest output in nearly a week to back seven shutout innings from Jeff Niemann as the offense finally gave their staff something to work with. The pitching has been a constant that has carried Tampa Bay recently as they patiently wait for the bats to get back on track and even though they did so for one game, they need to string together similar performances before we can say the slump is history. David Price looks to give Tampa their first series win at Los Angeles in recent memory and continue his hot streak at the same time. He has not allowed an earned run in two of his last three starts, giving him a 0.79 ERA in that span. He has faced the Angels just two times, going 0-1 with a 5.23 ERA so his name is mixed in the LAA dominant track record versus TB.
The Angels dominance over Tampa Bay ended if just for a day but the bigger picture isn't their history versus the Rays, rather can they just win the series tonight regardless of the opponent. Los Angeles simply wants to avoid another prolonged losing streak and get back in to the AL West race. They have the good fortune of remaining in contention largely because nobody has yet to distinguish themselves early on but history says they are a team that should be there at year's end. Of course, Oakland and Texas have yet to make a long term move but look fully capable of strangling the division away from them. Jered Weaver looks like the one arm on the Angels staff that should keep them competitive if he gets help but first he'll have to deal with a dangerous Rays lineup that is time bomb waiting to explode. Weaver has the stuff to shutdown anybody and nearly put his name in the history books when he lost a no hitter in the 8th inning of his last outing versus Seattle. Weaver is 3-0 with a 2.77 ERA in four career starts versus Tampa but hasn't faced them since 2008.
Tampa is 4-1 in Price's last 5 road starts, 5-1 in his last 6 as a road favorite and 8-2 in his last 10 starts. LAA are 3-7 in their past 10 as an underdog.
TAKE TAMPA BAY HERE.
*** Unload on Pittsburgh tonight ***
It would be a disaster for the league to have a MTL - BOS finals especially after the low NBC ratings from the Pitts - MTL game 2 weeks ago.
All calls will go Pittsburgh's way tonight as they will move on.
No Pitts , Wash , or Det in the Stanley cup would kill the NBC ratings
Both of tonight's starters are on their game: David Price has been brilliant emerging as TB's ace; Weaver is the Angels most reliable starter. Both of the lineups should have trouble vs their respective pitching opponent. TB is batting just .209 vs righties this month while the Angels are struggling to manufacturer runs. The Angels are 5-13-1 O/U at home vs lefty starters. Weaver is 1-7-2 O/U after a quality start. Price, on the other hand, is 1-7-1 O/U after the Rays score 5+ runs. Price is on an 0-4 O/U run. And the TB bullpen is getting it done (1.64 ERA
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