TAMPA, Fla. (Interstat) — The Tampa Bay Rays host the Los Angeles Angels on Friday at George Steinbrenner Field, with first pitch scheduled under cloudy skies and 81 degrees. Right-hander Nick Martinez (4-1) is the scheduled starter for the Angels, who enter with a 22-35 record. Tampa Bay, which has not announced its starter, is 34-19, the best mark in the American League. A player to watch for the Angels is right-hander Grayson Rodriguez. In his most recent start Thursday at Detroit, he earned the win after allowing one earned run on two hits over five innings with five strikeouts in a 7-1 victory. Over his previous three outings, Rodriguez totaled a 5.02 ERA across 14¹/³ innings. For the Rays, right-handed reliever Hunter Bigge has been a key arm out of the bullpen. Bigge has allowed one earned run over his past five appearances covering 5²/³ innings, striking out eight. He enters having thrown a scoreless inning in the Rays’ 11-2 loss Wednesday at Baltimore. The Rays are projected to win in a close contest. Interstat’s game simulator forecasts a 6-5 final score, and its ELO system gives Tampa Bay a 66.4 percent probability of victory. The Rays are installed as a -1.5 run-line favorite, with an over/under of 8. Los Angeles took two of three from the Tigers in Detroit, capping the series with Thursday’s 7-1 win. Mike Trout drove in two runs. The Angels have lost seven of their past 10 games. Tampa Bay dropped two of three at Baltimore, including Wednesday’s blowout loss. The Rays have won six of their last 10 but remain atop the AL East. The series continues Saturday and Sunday at Steinbrenner Field. The Angels then return home to face the Colorado Rockies, while the Rays host the Detroit Tigers.