Highlights
Preview
TAMPA, Fla. (Interstat) β The Los Angeles Angels, seeking to build on a narrow victory in the series opener, face the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday evening at George Steinbrenner Field, with first pitch scheduled under cloudy skies and 86-degree heat. Left-hander Reid Detmers (1-5, 5.40 ERA) is the probable starting pitcher for the Angels. He will oppose a Rays starter who had not been announced as of Friday night. The Angels (22-35) are coming off a 2-1 win over Tampa Bay on Friday, snapping a two-game losing streak. The Rays (34-19) lost 11-2 at Baltimore on Wednesday and have dropped four of their last five games. The Angels will look to Grayson Rodriguez, a right-handed pitcher who has been a bright spot. Rodriguez earned the win in his last start Thursday at Detroit, allowing one earned run on two hits over five innings with five strikeouts. He also won his previous outing against Texas, but gave up four earned runs in 5 2/3 innings. For the Rays, reliever Hunter Bigge has been effective of late. Bigge has not allowed an earned run in six of his last seven appearances. Over that stretch, spanning 8 1/3 innings, he has surrendered only one earned run while striking out nine. Tampa Bay enters Saturday as a -1.5 run favorite, according to betting lines, but the Interstat game simulator projects a 6-5 victory for Los Angeles. The over/under is set at 7 runs. The Angels offense showed life Friday, with Mike Trout going 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Los Angeles has won four of its last six games overall, but its pitching staff continues to struggle. Detmers, in particular, has not recorded a win since April and has allowed at least four earned runs in four of his last five outings. Tampa Bay, despite its strong overall record, has been inconsistent lately. The Rays were swept in a three-game series at Baltimore before returning home. They have not won a series since taking two of three from the New York Yankees on May 22-24. Saturdayβs game is the second of a three-game set. The series concludes Sunday afternoon.

