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Rays-Rangers Friday preview

 
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Matt Andriese (35) throwing in the first inning of the game between the Kansas City Royals and the Tampa Bay Rays in Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016.
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Matt Andriese (35) throwing in the first inning of the game between the Kansas City Royals and the Tampa Bay Rays in Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016.
Published Aug. 19, 2016

Tonight: vs. Rangers

7:10, Tropicana Field

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

Tickets: $15-$275; available at Tropicana Field box office, raysbaseball.com, team Tampa store; surcharge of up to $5 within five hours of game time.

Promotion: $15 lower-level tickets for students, 18 and up

Probable pitchers

RAYS: RH Matt Andriese (6-4, 3.36)

rangerS: LH Cole Hamels (12-4, 2.88)

On Andriese: Coming off rough Saturday start at Yankees, allowing four home runs. Is 5-3, 3.71 in 11 starts, 1-1-1, 2.38 in 10 relief outings. Faced Rangers in May 2015, with a 3⅔ inning no-decision.

On Hamels: First start at Trop since Game 1 of 2008 World Series for Phillies. Is 0-2, 3.15 over past three starts, allowing 14 hits vs. Tigers on Saturday. Is 0-1, 4.22 in two regular-season starts vs. Rays.

Key matchups

RAYS VS. HAMELS

Matt Duffy3-for-6

Logan Forsythe2-for-3

Evan Longoria1-for-6

Logan Morrison11-for-28

rangerS VS. ANDRIESE

Elvis Andrus1-for-2

Adrian Beltre0-for-2

Robinson Chirinos1-for-2

Ian Desmond1-for-1

Familiar faces

Texas backup C Robinson Chirinos was with the Rays in 2011, RHP Matt Bush is a former Rays prospect who was jailed after a spring 2012 car crash, OF Ian Desmond is a Sarasota High product. Former top Rays prospect OF Josh Hamilton is on the DL.

On deck

Saturday: vs. Rangers, 6:10. Rays — RH Jake Odorizzi (7-5, 3.72); Rangers — RH A.J. Griffin (5-2, 4.68)

Sunday: vs. Rangers, 1:10. Rays — LH Drew Smyly (5-11, 4.85); Rangers — LH Martin Perez (8-8, 4.09)

Monday: vs. Red Sox, 7:10. Rays — LH Blake Snell (4-5, 3.06); Red Sox — TBA

Tuesday: vs. Red Sox, 7:10. Rays — RH Chris Archer (7-16, 4.18); Red Sox — TBA

Wednesday: vs. Red Sox, 7:10. Rays — RH Matt Andriese (6-4, 3.36); Red Sox — TBA