In the second of a three-game series between the Arizona Diamondbacks (25-35) and the Tampa Bay Rays (26-30) at Chase Field, Zack Greinke (7-3, 4.29 ERA) and Matt Moore (2-3, 5.46 ERA) get the start. The Rays won the last game 6-4, and Tampa Bay leads the series 1-0. The game starts at 9:40 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Jun. 7 and will air on FSAZ and SUN.
In his most recent outing, Greinke pitched 7.0 innings, allowing zero runs and striking out 11 in a 3-0 victory over the Astros. Paul Goldschmidt (.262, 29 Rs, 10 HRs, 35 RBIs, 7 SBs) went 1 for 3 yesterday with one RBI. The Rays were unsuccessful against the Twins 6-4 the last time Moore pitched. He went 5.0 innings, allowing four runs, striking out four and walking two. Steve Pearce (.316, 20 Rs, 8 HRs, 20 RBIs) has been doing well offensively for the Rays, going 3 for 4 yesterday.
Oddsmakers have deemed this game an even matchup and the Over/Under (O/U) is presently unavailable. The Diamondbacks have a 23-26 record SU against the American League. Over their past 10 games, Arizona’s offense has been playing lights out, averaging 0.0 runs per game, well over their season average of 0.0. The Diamondbacks rank fourth in the majors in extra base hits with 194. Arizona’s pitching staff has put it all together in the past 10 games. Its average runs allowed per game dropped to 0.0 during that span, compared to its 0.0 season average.
When playing Teams in the National League, the Rays have a 22-30 record SU. They sport the fifth-ranked offense in the AL, averaging five runs per game. The Rays are known for their bats, hitting 193 extra base hits. Opposing pitchers have routinely struggled to strike out the Tampa Bay batters, who rank third in the AL with 9.4 strikeouts per game. Tampa Bay’s pitching staff has allowed an average of 0.0 runs per game during the last 10 games, lower than their season average of 0.0.
The only other game between the two teams went Tampa Bay’s way.
Predictions: SU Winner – TB
Notes
The Diamondbacks managed to give up seven walks in their last game. They’ll have to pick it up against the Rays who are coming in with a 2-1 record against opponents who give up that many walks or more.
When they are outhit, the Diamondbacks are 2-26. The Rays have a 4-22 record when opponents outhit them.
Tampa Bay tops the league in home runs this season with 85. Arizona ranks in the top half with 66.
Ranking 21st, Tampa Bay is near the bottom of the league in hits, notching 8.15 per game. Arizona ranks in the top 10 at sixth with 9.17.
Arizona and Tampa Bay both rank in the top 10 of the league for their on-base plus slugging percentage. Arizona sits at ninth with an OPS of .755, and Tampa Bay ranks 10th with an OPS of .751.
The Rays are 12-27 when they allow at least one home run. The Diamondbacks perform similarly when they allow one or more homers with a 10-29 record.
