Rays vs. Red Sox
When/where: 1:10 today; Tropicana Field
TV/radio: Sun Sports; 620-AM
Tickets: $21-$300, available at Tropicana Field box office, Ticketmaster, raysbaseball.com, team Tampa store; $3 surcharge within 5 hours of game time.
Probable pitchers
Rays: LH Drew Smyly (9-10, 3.31)
RED SOX: RH Rubby De La Rosa (4-5, 3.81)
On Smyly: Coming off back-to-back two-hit starts, is 3-1, 1.50 in five since being acquired from Tigers. Has worked at least seven innings in past four starts. Is 2-0, 2.70 in four games vs. Sox.
On De La Rosa: First name pronounced "Ruby." Struggling in most extensive major-league action, going 1-3, 5.17 in past seven starts. Threw seven shutout innings vs. Rays on May 31.
Key matchups
Rays VS. DE LA ROSA
Desmond Jennings 1-for-4
Evan Longoria 1-for-4
Ben Zobrist 1-for-3
RED SOX VS. SMYLY
Yeonis Cespedes 1-for-3, HR
Mike Napoli 0-for-8
David Ortiz 4-for-9, HR
(Includes playoffs)
On deck
Tuesday: vs. Blue Jays, 7:10. Rays — RH Jeremy Hellickson (1-2, 2.98); Blue Jays — RH R.A. Dickey (10-12, 4.00)
Wednesday: vs. Blue Jays, 7:10. Rays — RH Chris Archer (8-7, 3.46); Blue Jays — RH Marcus Stroman (8-5, 3.88)
Thursday: vs. Blue Jays, 7:10. Rays — RH Jake Odorizzi (10-11, 4.03); Blue Jays — LH Mark Buehrle (11-9, 3.50)
Friday: vs. Orioles, 7:10. Rays — RH Alex Cobb (9-7, 2.98); Orioles — TBA
Rays disabled list
• OF David DeJesus, 15-day, left hand fracture, eligible July 3 (will be activated today)
• LHP Matt Moore, 60-day, left elbow surgery (April 22), out for season
• INF Jerry Sands, 60-day, left wrist surgery (July 22) out for season
Marc Topkin, Times staff writer
Numbers of the day
18, 16
Major-league-most-matching shutouts by Rays pitchers and offense, prompting manager Joe Maddon to say, "We're plus-two."
A matter of perspective
In July 2013, Curt Casali was playing for Class-A Charlotte before getting promoted to Double-A Montgomery. Last week he was back with the Stone Crabs for a brief stint after spending 5½ weeks with the Rays and returning today. "I was the sage old guy," Casali said. "(The players) had a lot of questions, and I was excited to answer them and say, Hey, it's possible. You never know what can happen a year from now.' "
Like sand through an hourglass
The Rays' monthly record this season:
March: 1-0
April: 10-16
May: 12-17
June: 13-16
July: 17-6
August: 13-16
AL wild-card race
Team W-L Pct. GB
A's 78-58 .574—
Tigers 74-62 .544—
Mariners 73-62 .5411/2
Indians* 70-64 .522 3
Yankees 70-65 .519 31/2
Blue Jays 69-67 .507 5
Rays 66-71 .482 81/2
* Late game not included