Tampa Bay Rays news and notes

The dish

Rays vs. Rangers

When/where: 7:10 tonight; Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg

TV/radio: Sun Sports, Bay News 9 Espanol; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)

Probable pitchers:

Rays: RHP Matt Garza (11-7, 3.92)

RANGERS: RHP Tommy Hunter (9-1, 3.38)

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

Watch for

To the Matt: Garza hasn't won since his July 26 no-hitter, though he has a 3.05 ERA in three starts since. He is 4-3, 4.53 in eight starts vs. Texas, including a June 6 win in Arlington.

In the hunt: Hunter replaces injured Rich Harden and will pitch on three days' rest, though he threw only 50 pitches Friday due to a stomach virus. He is 2-0, 2.33 vs. the Rays, including a June 5 complete game.

Key matchups

Rangers vs. Garza

Josh Hamilton2-for-12

David Murphy5-for-20, HR

Michael Young5-for-19, HR

Rays vs. Hunter

Carl Crawford2-for-9

Evan Longoria1-for-9

Carlos Peña2-for-8, 2 HRs

On deck

Wednesday: vs. Rangers, 1:10, Sun Sports. Rays — James Shields (10-11, 4.98); Rangers — Derek Holland (2-1, 4.19)

Thursday: at A's, 10:07, Sun Sports. Rays — Andy Sonnanstine (3-1, 4.10); A's — Trevor Cahill (12-5, 2.50)

Fashion statement of the day

Manager Joe Maddon boasted Monday about the team's custom-designed BRayser (that's Rays and blazer, get it?) that will be mandatory dress on the upcoming West Coast road trip. "They're fabulous," he said. "They met with everybody's approval." Local fashion designer Julia Alarcon did the creative work, with Rays TV man Todd Kalas coordinating the months-long project.

Pitching lines of the day

IPHRBBK#

Lee72/39611098

Price65258109

Stat of the day

26-13

Rays record in games started by left-handers, best in the AL.