Tampa Bay Rays news and notes

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: LH David Price (12-5, 2.84)

Indians: RH Mitch Talbot (8-8, 3.89)

Watch for

Looking to rebound: Price is coming off a rough outing, in which he gave up seven runs over five innings in Sunday's loss to the Yankees. He has made one start in Cleveland, May 25, 2009, allowing two runs and five walks over 31/3 innings.

Familiar face: Talbot, traded by the Rays for Kelly Shoppach during this past offseason, has pitched well but is winless in his past three starts. He's tough on lefties (.222 average), but his ERA is much higher at home (5.07) than on the road (2.78).

Key matchups

Indians vs. Price

Matt LaPorta 1-for-3

Austin Kearns 0-for-3

Jhonny Peralta 0-for-4

Rays vs. Talbot

Have never faced

On deck

Sunday: at Indians, 1:05, Sun Sports. Rays — Wade Davis (7-9, 4.41); Indians — Justin Masterson (3-8, 5.25)

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 (8-3, 2.95); 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)

Kelly Shoppach quote of the day II

"It's just like coming to a new stadium. I didn't know how to get on the field or where I could find the coffee."

Shoppach, an ex-Indians catcher, on being in the visitors clubhouse at Progressive Field for the first time



Kelly Shoppach quote of the day

"Every time we'd sweep them, we'd be like, 'Are you kidding me? We did it again.' It was pretty amazing."

Shoppach, who spent the past four seasons with the Indians, on how Cleveland beat the Rays 17 straight times at Progressive Field entering Friday's game