Highlights
Preview
SEATTLE (Interstat) — The Tampa Bay Rays will look to extend their winning streak Saturday when they continue a four-game series against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. First pitch is scheduled under clear skies with temperatures around 83 degrees. Tampa Bay entered the series with the best record in the American League at 68-46 and won Friday’s opener 2-0. The Mariners, who began the series at 56-60, saw their struggles continue after falling behind in the series. Tampa Bay has won four straight overall and four of the past five meetings with Seattle, including two of three against the Mariners in July. Rays right-hander Nick Martinez is a key player to watch. In his most recent start Wednesday at Colorado, Martinez earned the win after throwing 5 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing six hits and striking out four in a 4-0 Tampa Bay victory. He is 3-1 over his last four starts, with his lone loss coming July 31 against the Chicago White Sox when he allowed six earned runs in six innings. Against Cleveland on July 25, he threw six scoreless innings with five strikeouts. Seattle will counter with right-hander Bryce Miller, who has struggled in recent outings. Miller took the loss Thursday against Detroit, allowing four earned runs on five hits over five innings with five strikeouts in an 11-0 Mariners loss. He is 0-4 over his last four starts, a span that includes a July 24 loss at Texas in which he allowed five earned runs in 5 1/3 innings. Miller has shown flashes, striking out six over 5 2/3 innings in a July 17 loss to San Francisco, but run support has been difficult to find. The Mariners are coming off an 11-0 loss to Detroit on Thursday and have lost three of their last four games. Tampa Bay, meanwhile, swept a three-game series at Colorado before Friday’s win. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 7-4 Tampa Bay victory and gives the Rays a 51.4 percent chance to win via its ELO system. Tampa Bay is a 1.5-run favorite, and the over/under is set at 7.5 runs. The teams close the series Sunday before Tampa Bay travels to face the Athletics on Monday. Seattle opens a road trip Tuesday at the New York Yankees.

