(My Sportsbook) - The Tampa Bay Rays try and salvage the finale of their four- game series with the
Detroit Tigers this afternoon when they wrap up their regular season at Comerica Park.
The Rays, who, of course, have already won a franchise-high 96 games this season, in addition to their first AL East title, lost their third straight game on Saturday, as Miguel Cabrera went 2-for-4 with a home run, and Aquilino Lopez tossed 2 2/3 perfect innings of relief to lead Detroit to a 4-3 win.
Lopez (4-1) earned the win in relief of Dontrelle Willis, who gave up three runs on four hits in 5 1/3 frames.
Willis, who was acquired from Florida this past winter along with Cabrera in a blockbuster deal, wrapped up a less-than-thrilling first season with the Tigers. In eight games -- seven starts -- he finished without a win at 0-2, with a 9.38 earned run average.
Magglio Ordonez also went 2-for-4 and drove in a run for the Tigers, who will go for the sweep on Sunday and try to avoid a last-place finish in the AL Central. They currently sit a half-game behind Kansas City, which plays at Minnesota.
Tampa Bay starter Matt Garza went five innings and allowed three runs on four hits, but Jeff Niemann (2-2) took the loss after allowing the deciding run in the final three frames.
Ben Zobrist went 3-for-4 with a home run and a double for the Rays, who are playoff-bound for the first time in franchise history.
Getting the call for the Rays this afternoon will be right-hander James Shields, who is 14-8 with a 3.57 ERA. Shields won his third straight decision on Tuesday in Baltimore, as he allowed two runs and eight hits in seven innings.
Shields is 2-0 in his three starts against the Tigers, while pitching to a 2.42 ERA in those outings.
Detroit will counter with lefty Zach Miner, who is 8-5 with a 4.26 ERA. Miner was charged with the loss on Monday against Kansas City, surrendering four runs and six hits in six innings.
Miner is 2-1 lifetime against the Rays with a 3.18 ERA in seven games, three of which have been starts.
Tampa swept a three-game set from the Tigers at Tropicana Field back in early August. Last year, these teams split their four matchups in Motown.