DET Tigers[Rick Porcello] TB Rays[Matt Moore] match preview

The Rays' starting rotation has already gotten some press from the national media this year, but Tampa's offense carried them to a sweep of the New York Yankees last weekend. The Rays scored 18 runs in the three game series on the backs of Carlos Pena (2 home runs, 7 RBI) and Evan Longoria (.600 average, 11 total bases). Leadoff hitter Desmond Jennings -- playing center field while B.J. Upton recovers from a back injury -- has gotten off to a slow start, but guys like Matt Joyce and noted Tiger-killer Luke Scott have picked up the slack. If the Rays can continue to put runs on the board, this team will be very hard to beat this season.

This is Tampa's first foray outside the comforts of their dome, and Mother Nature isn't looking to be too forgiving (though, being Michigan, this could change in an instant). A power arm like Matt Moore can thrive in this type of environment, but he might struggle to find his breaking pitches early on. The Rays offense has been a pleasant surprise thus far, but some of the key bats in the Rays' lineup have historically underperformed at Comerica Park. Longoria, in particular, has an OPS of just .718 in 59 career plate appearances in Detroit. Scott, who absolutely destroys the Tigers at a .358/.488/.896(!) clip, will likely miss the series with hamstring tightness. The Tigers' offense was firing on all cylinders against Boston, but Tampa's pitching staff is several grades above the injury-riddled group that the Red Sox brought to town.