Preview: Rays hoping bats come alive in Game 2 against Astros

Published Aug. 28, 2019 10:50 p.m. ET

TV: FOX Sports Sun

TIME: Pregame coverage begins at 7:30 p.m.

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Tampa Bay Rays (76-57, second in the AL East) vs. Houston Astros (86-47, first in the AL West)

PITCHING PROBABLES

Rays: Ryan Yarbrough (11-3, 3.29 ERA)

Astros: Gerrit Cole (15-5, 2.75 ERA)

BOTTOM LINE

Houston enters the game as winners of their last five games.

The Astros are 50-16 on their home turf. Houston has slugged .490, good for second in the American League. Alex Bregman leads the club with a .566 slugging percentage, including 62 extra-base hits and 32 home runs.

The Rays are 42-26 on the road. Tampa Bay has hit 174 home runs as a team this season. Austin Meadows leads them with 23, averaging one every 18.3 at-bats.

TOP PERFORMERS

Michael Brantley leads the Astros with 163 hits and is batting .337. Alvarez is 8-for-30 with four doubles, four home runs and 10 RBIs over the last 10 games for Houston.

Tommy Pham leads the Rays with 126 hits and is batting .273. Meadows is 10-for-41 with four doubles, three home runs and nine RBIs over the last 10 games for Tampa Bay.

LAST 10 GAMES

Astros: 8-2, .299 batting average, 2.93 ERA, outscored opponents by 32 runs

Rays: 5-5, .227 batting average, 4.95 ERA, outscored by 22 runs

Astros Injuries: Aaron Sanchez: (pectoral), Ryan Pressly: (knee), Lance McCullers Jr.: (elbow), Josh James: (shoulder), Carlos Correa: (back).

Rays Injuries: Blake Snell: (elbow), Tyler Glasnow: (forearm), Yonny Chirinos: (finger), Jose Alvarado: (elbow), Kevin Kiermaier: (undisclosed), Brandon Lowe: (leg), Yandy Diaz: (foot).