Tampa Bay Rays news and notes

Chart of the day

Top road records, 2000s

(Through 48 games)

YearTeamW-L

2001Mariners36-12

2006Tigers33-15

2005White Sox32-16

2003Mariners32-16

2002Mariners32-16

2002Red Sox32-16

2004Cardinals32-16

2010Rays31-17

2009Phillies31-17

2003Yankees31-17

2000White Sox31-17

2005Cardinals31-17

2007Tigers31-17

Source: Rays

The dish

Rays at Indians

When/where: 7:05 tonight; Progressive Field, Cleveland

TV/radio: Sun Sports; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)

Probable pitchers

Rays: RH Jeff Niemann (8-2, 2.92)

Indians: RH Fausto Carmona (9-7, 3.65)

Watch for

Standing tall: Niemann is the Rays' most consistent starter, and their best on the road, going 5-0 with a 3.15 ERA as Rays are 9-0 in his starts. He is 0-1, 4.50 vs. the Indians, leaving his July 11 start against them with back stiffness after five innings.

Feast or Fausto: The Indians' All-Star has won five of his past seven starts, with a 3.91 ERA in that stretch. He is 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA in two starts vs. the Rays this year, 3-1, 5.52 overall.

Key matchups

Indians vs. Niemann

Trever Crowe2-for-5

Austin Kearns3-for-5

Jhonny Peralta4-for-5

Rays vs. Carmona

Jason Bartlett0-for-15

Carl Crawford4-for-12

Matt Joyce2-for-12

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 — TBA

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 (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)

Get a date

The Rays released details about the Aug. 18 Senior Prom for Senior Citizens, including pregame crowning of a king and queen, entertainment by Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley impersonators (maybe like this one on right), boutonnieres/corsages for groups of 10 or more, and a postgame "dance" on the field.

Statistic of the day

0 Teams besides the Rays to use only five starting pitchers this season.

Quote of the day

"It's readily available."

Derek Shelton, Rays hitting coach, on the downtown Cleveland condo he has been trying to sell since being let go by the Indians last season