Rays at Rangers
When/where: 7:05 tonight; Rangers Ballpark, Arlington, Texas
TV/radio: Sun Sports; 970-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)
Probable pitchers
Rays: RH Alex Cobb (8-8, 4.32)
Rangers: LH Matt Harrison (15-7, 3.04)
On Cobb: Coming off 4-hit shutout of Oakland, and is 4-0, 3.03 in five August starts (including the one ugly one in Anaheim). Got no decision in only previous start vs. Texas, allowing 3 runs in 61/3 IP on May 31, 2011.
On Harrison: On a pretty good roll, with back-to-back starts of eight-plus innings and two or fewer hits. Got knocked around by Rays April 27 (14 hits), is 1-1, 3.79 in five games, plus a 2011 ALDS Game 4 clincher win.
Rays vs. Harrison
Desmond Jennings 3-for-6
Evan Longoria6-for-10, 2 HRs
Ben Zobrist 3-for-13
Rangers vs. Cobb
Elvis Andrus 1-for-3
Nelson Cruz 0-for-3
Josh Hamilton 0-for-2
All stats include postseason
On deck
Thursday: at Blue Jays, 7:07, Sun Sports. Rays — Matt Moore (10-7, 3.60); Jays — Carlos Villanueva (6-4, 3-30)
Friday: at Blue Jays, 7:07, Sun Sports. Rays — Jeremy Hellickson (8-9, 3.42); Jays — Brandon Morrow (7-5, 3.06)
Saturday: at Blue Jays, 1:07, no TV. Rays — Jeff Niemann (2-3, 3.38); Jays — Henderson Alvarez (7-11, 4.97)
Sunday: at Blue Jays, 1:07, Sun Sports. Rays — David Price (16-5, 2.53); Jays — Ricky Romero (8-12, 5.50)
Rays disabled list
(with eligible-to-return date)
C Robinson Chirinos, concussion, 60-day, June 5
*OF Brandon Guyer, left shoulder surgery, 60-day, July 13
RHP Jeff Niemann, right leg fracture, 60-day, July 14
* out for season
Marc Topkin, Times staff writer
Number of the day
2 First-round draft picks suspended for drug issues this season; Josh Sale (2010) on Tuesday, Tim Beckham (2008) earlier.
AL East
Team W L Pct. GB
New York 75 54 .581—
Baltimore 71 57 .555 31/2
Tampa Bay 70 59 .543 5
Boston 62 67 .481 13*
Toronto 57 71 .445 171/2
AL race for wild cards
Team W L Pct. GB
Baltimore 71 57 .555—
Oakland 71 57 .555—
Tampa Bay 70 59 .543 11/2
Detroit 69 59 .539 2
Los Angeles 66 62 .516 5*
* Late game not included. Top two wild cards make postseason; GB is games behind second wild card
Introduction of the day
The Rays have a pitcher named Matt Moore and the Dolphins have a quarterback named Matt Moore. And if the stars — or at least the elevators — align, there is a chance they could meet today, as the Dolphins, who play the Cowboys tonight, are staying at the same Fort Worth hotel as the Rays. "Maybe I can run into him in the lobby," the pitching Moore said.
Coincidence of the day
A few months ago, the Rangers scheduled Tuesday as Japan America Friendship Night, with several hundred participants from the ongoing Japan-America Grassroots Summit, including a youth baseball team, participating. And, lo and behold, their high-profile Japanese pitcher, Yu Darvish, made the start.