By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Monday, May 23, 2011
Rays at Tigers
When/where: 7:05 tonight; Comerica Park, Detroit
TV/radio: Sun Sports; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)
Starting pitchers
RAYS: RH Wade Davis (4-4, 3.47)
TIGERS: RH Justin Verlander (4-3, 2.96)
Watch for …
Wadin' in: Davis looked better in his last start (a 3-2 loss at Toronto) but still seeks better command of his fastball. His only start vs. the Tigers was his big-league debut Sept. 6, 2009.
V is for Verlander: The Tigers ace has been dazzling all season, including a no-hitter at Toronto on May 7, but the Tigers are 4-6 in his games. Verlander is 5-1, 3.29 in eight starts vs. the Rays.
Key matchups
Rays vs. Verlander
Johnny Damon 5-for-16, HR
Casey Kotchman 6-for-18, HR
B.J. Upton 6-for-12, HR
Tigers vs. Davis
Miguel Cabrera 0-for-3
Victor Martinez 1-for-3
Jhonny Peralta 0-for-3
On deck
Wednesday: at Tigers, 1:05, Sun Sports. Rays — Andy Sonnanstine (0-2, 4.21); Tigers — Brad Penny (4-4, 4.45)
Thursday: Off
Friday: vs. Indians, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — David Price (5-4, 3.89); Indians — Josh Tomlin (6-1, 2.41)
Saturday: vs. Indians, 4:10, Sun Sports. Rays — James Shields (5-2, 2.00); Indians — Carlos Carrasco (3-2, 5.16)
Father knows, um, best?
Given that he was leading the majors in hitting, Matt Joyce joked that he was worried about his father, Matt, who is his biggest fan. "I'm pretty sure he's stuck in his room, just looking up any and every stat he can find and going crazy over all of it," Joyce said. "The fact that he's not texting me as much as he usually does is worrying me. I'm pretty sure he hasn't slept in a couple weeks. … I should probably call the doctor."
Happy anniversary
It was four years ago today that the Rays last used a starting pitcher who was 30 or older, as RHP Jae Seo took the mound May 24, 2007, vs. Seattle on his 30th birthday. Since then the Rays have gone 650 games, the third longest such streak in modern play — and used a major league-low 14 starters along the way.