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Rays-Astros Saturday preview

 
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL - FEBRUARY 25:  Blake Snell #50 of the Tampa Bay Rays poses for a photo during the Rays' photo day on February 25, 2016 at Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte, Florida.  (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL - FEBRUARY 25: Blake Snell #50 of the Tampa Bay Rays poses for a photo during the Rays' photo day on February 25, 2016 at Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
Published Aug. 27, 2016

Tonight: at Astros

7:10, Minute Maid Park, Houston

TV/radio: Fox Sports Sun; 620-AM

Probable pitchers

rays: LH Blake Snell (4-6, 3.17)

astros: LH Dallas Keuchel (8-12, 4.64)

On Snell: Rookie is in a rough rut, failing to get through five innings in two of past three starts, walking 13. Has gone eight straight starts allowing no more than two earned runs. First start vs. Astros.

On Keuchel: 2015 Cy Young Award winner has been trending better after rough start, going 5-3, 3.56 with nine quality starts in past 11. In six tries against Rays, he is 0-4, 5.11.

Key matchups

rays vs. keuchel

Logan Forsythe 6-for-16

Evan Longoria 5-for-15

Brad Miller 4-for-13

Logan Morrison 3-for-9

Bobby Wilson 4-for-8 HR

astros vs. snell

None have faced

On deck

Sunday: at Astros, 2:10. Rays — RH Chris Archer (7-17, 4.11); Astros — RH Doug Fister (12-8, 3.59)

Monday: at Red Sox, 7:10. Rays — RH Matt Andriese (6-5, 3.71); Red Sox — TBA

Tuesday: at Red Sox, 7:10. Rays — RH Jake Odorizzi (9-5, 3.53); Red Sox — TBA

0-for over

Mikie Mahtook made a stronger bid than he would have liked for a piece of dubious Rays history, going 34 at-bats without a hit before doubling in the seventh inning Thursday against the Red Sox. Only three players in Rays history went longer without:

0-for-41 Luke Scott, 2012

0-for-37 Jose Cruz Jr., 2004

0-for-35 Josh Wilson, 2007

0-for-34 Mikie Mahtook, 2016

0-for-34 Greg Vaughn, 2002

0-for-30 John Flaherty, 1998