Cincinnati Reds vs. Tampa Bay Rays Pick & Prediction JULY 28th 2024
Preview and Prediction
The Cincinnati Reds and Tampa Bay Rays will wrap up their three-game interleague series on Sunday in St. Petersburg, Fla. Both teams are currently struggling to stay in playoff contention and are expected to be active in the upcoming trade deadline.
On Saturday, the Rays evened the series with a 4-0 victory over the Reds. Alex Jackson and Yandy Diaz hit back-to-back home runs, while Zack Littell pitched seven scoreless innings for Tampa Bay.
Rays manager Kevin Cash has been patient with Jackson, who has been struggling at the plate this season. However, the 28-year-old has shown some improvement in his last seven games, hitting .286 with two home runs and seven RBIs.
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Tampa Bay, currently four games back from the final AL wild-card spot, has already made some moves this week, acquiring prospects in separate deals involving Randy Arozarena and Zach Eflin.
Meanwhile, the Reds had their three-game win streak snapped on Saturday and are now five games behind the final National League wild-card spot. Second baseman Jonathan India, who is one of the players that could be on the move, said he is prepared for whatever happens.
All-Star right-hander Hunter Greene will take the mound for the Reds on Sunday. In his last three starts, he has only allowed one run in 20 innings. In his most recent outing, he threw seven scoreless innings and helped the Reds end a four-game losing streak.
Greene has also had success against the Rays in his career, allowing only one run in nine innings in two starts.
The Rays are expected to use left-hander Tyler Alexander as a bulk reliever after opener Shawn Armstrong. Alexander was recently recalled from Triple-A Durham and earned the win in his last outing, pitching three scoreless innings.
The 30-year-old has a 2.00 ERA in three career appearances against the Reds.
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Cincinnati Reds vs. Tampa Bay Rays Recap JUL 28TH 2024
The Tampa Bay Rays scored two runs on one hit and three walks in the eighth inning to beat the Cincinnati Reds 2-1 in the rubber match of a three-game series on Sunday in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Reds starter Hunter Greene limited the Rays to a pair of singles over seven scoreless innings before Fernando Cruz (3-8) entered in the eighth inning with a 1-0 lead.
After Tampa Bay loaded the bases with one out, Cruz struck out Josh Lowe before Jose Caballero scored the tying run on a wild pitch when the ball bounced away on Amed Rosario's third strike.
Lucas Sims replaced Cruz and walked Richie Palacios on five pitches to score Brandon Lowe and give the Rays the lead.
Garrett Cleavinger (7-2) pitched a scoreless inning for the win. Pete Fairbanks worked around a two-out single in the ninth for his 20th save.
Elly De La Cruz had three hits and had four stolen bases for Cincinnati, which has lost six of its past nine games. De La Cruz leads the majors with 55 stolen bases.
The loss spoiled another impressive outing for Greene, who has allowed a total of two runs over his past five starts covering 31 2/3 innings.
Cincinnati scored its lone run in the second inning against Tampa Bay opener Shawn Armstrong.
Stuart Fairchild reached safely on a throwing error with one out, moved to second on Santiago Espinal's single, and scored on Austin Wynns' two-out single. Espinal was thrown out at home on the play.
Armstrong allowed one unearned run on three hits over two innings. Five Tampa Bay relievers combined for seven scoreless innings.
Greene retired his first 14 batters before Richie Palacios drew a two-out walk in the fifth inning. After Jonny DeLuca was hit by a pitch, Ben Rortvedt flied out.
De La Cruz began the sixth inning by making the defensive play of the game with a sliding, backhanded catch on Taylor Walls' fly ball to shallow left field.
Two batters later, Brandon Lowe recorded the Rays' first hit with a single to right field. Greene then hit Paredes with a pitch before striking out Josh Lowe.