A pair of teams in the American League playoff field if the season ended today open up a series on the diamond in the Lone Star State. The Tampa Bay Rays are on the road as they kick off a three-game series with the Houston Astros Friday night. Tampa Bay split a two-game interleague set with the Marlins as they were dropped 7-1 in the series finale Wednesday afternoon. Houston missed a chance to sweep a three-game series with Texas in an AL West battle as they were drubbed 13-5 in the series finale Wednesday night at home. In the first series between the teams this season, the Astros took two of three games on the road April 24-26.
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Tampa Bay lost for the eighth time in 10 games as they were drubbed in the finale of their two-game interleague set with the Marlins Wednesday. The Rays entered Thursday 62-43 on the season and stood second in the AL East, 1.5 games behind the Orioles for the top spot. They owned the top wild card spot in the American League standings. On Wednesday, Tampa Bay finished with only five hits with no player having more than one in the game. The Rays were one of three with runners in scoring position and left four runners on base. Zach Eflin (11-6) took the loss on the mound as he threw four innings, allowing five runs on seven hits with one walk and three strikeouts, before departing.
Shane McClanahan gets the ball for the series finale here as he makes his 20th start of the season for the Rays. He comes in 11-1 with a 2.89 ERA, a 1.16 WHIP, 41 walks and 112 strikeouts over 106 innings of work on the year. McClanahan didn’t factor in the decision in his last start, which came Saturday against the Orioles at home. He threw four innings, allowing five runs on five hits with three walks and five strikeouts in a game the Rays eventually won 6-5. In his last three starts, McClanahan has no record with a 7.62 ERA, a 1.46 WHIP, six walks and 12 strikeouts over 13 innings of work. McClanahan makes his third career start against the Astros in this contest. He is 0-2 with a 7.00 ERA, a 1.667 WHIP, five walks and five strikeouts over nine innings of work against them. McClanahan took the loss in his lone start at Minute Maid Park, which came on October 1, 2022. He threw five innings, allowing two runs on five hits with one walk and two strikeouts in a 2-1 Rays defeat.