Tampa Bay Rays news and notes

The dish

Today: Off

Next game: Friday, at Indians, 7:05 p.m., Sun Sports. Rays — Jeff Niemann (8-2, 2.92); Indians — Fausto Carmona (9-7, 3.65)

On deck

Saturday: at Indians, 7:05, Sun Sports. Rays — David Price (12-5, 2.84); Indians — Mitch Talbot (8-8, 3.89)

Sunday: at Indians, 1:05, Sun Sports. Rays — Wade Davis (7-9, 4.41); Indians — Aaron Laffey (2-3, 4.62)

Monday: vs. Tigers, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — Matt Garza (10-5, 4.36); Tigers — Max Scherzer (7-7, 4.43)

Tuesday: vs. Tigers, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — James Shields (8-9, 4.90); Tigers — Justin Verlander, above (11-5, 3.86)

Wednesday: vs. Tigers, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — Jeff Niemann (8-2, 2.92); Tigers — Rick Porcello (4-7, 5.63)

Thursday: vs. Tigers, 12:10, Sun Sports. Rays — David Price (12-5, 2.84); Tigers — Jeremy Bonderman (5-6, 4.98)

First with the first lady?

LHP David Price was still grinning Wednesday morning about getting a hug from first lady Michelle Obama when all others in the Rays dugout got a handshake during her pregame visit Tuesday. "Everybody was a little envious. I went for the handshake and got the hug, so that was cool," Price said, figuring he must have made a good impression when giving her pitching tips during the Tuesday morning youth clinic. "We had a good time."

Records of the day

25-13 Rays vs. AL East teams, best of the five in the division.

31-17 Rays on the road, best in the majors

Quote of the day

"I'm gonna hydrate now, I know that."

RHP James Shields, after pitching in what he said felt like 120 degrees, though the official reading was 89.