Tampa Bay Rays news and notes

The dish

Rays vs. Tigers

When/where: 12:10 today; Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg

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

Probable pitchers:

Rays: LHP David Price (13-5, 2.90)

TIGERS: RHP Rick Porcello (4-8, 5.55)

Tickets: $10-210, available at Tropicana Field box office, Ticketmaster, raysbaseball.com

Promotion: Cheer sticks to all kids 14 and under

Watch for …

Price check: Price has won two of his past three starts, giving up three runs over seven innings against the Indians on Saturday. He is 1-0 with a 0.90 ERA in three career appearances (one start) against the Tigers.

Bounce back: Porcello has lost his last two starts since getting called back up from Triple A but has given up just four runs combined over those two.

Key matchups

Tigers vs. Price

Miguel Cabrera 0-for-4

Johnny Damon 1-for-6

Ryan Raburn 0-for-5

Rays vs. Porcello

Carl Crawford 1-for-2

Evan Longoria 0-for-3

Carlos Peña 0-for-3

Quote of the day

"That's kind of like Dan Marino, Joe Willie Namath … he had a helmet in his throat right there and completed the double play. I was really impressed with that."

Manager Joe Maddon, on 2B Reid Brignac turning the game-ending double play Tuesday with Johnny Damon sliding into him

Number of the day

18-5 Jeff Niemann's record since June 1, 2009, the best in the majors in that span (minimum 30 starts)

Early curfew

LHP David Price acknowledged his routine had to be altered due to today's gametime of 12:10 p.m. Other than waking up earlier, Price planned to go to bed early, too, going home before Wednesday's game, grabbing dinner, "kind of watch the game on the couch and pass out." "It's different to start that early in the morning," Price said. "Your body hasn't really woken up for the most part."