July 30, 2024; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Josh Lowe (15) runs and scores on a home run in the sixth inning against the Miami Marlins at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports If the Tampa Bay Rays want to make a playoff push, they’re going to need Josh Lowe’s contributions.
This season has been marred by injuries and inconsistency, and the outfielder is finding his groove. Lowe had his first career four-hit game and second career multi-homer game in the Rays’ 6-1 road win over the Houston Astros on Saturday, and when the team finished Sunday With three games to go, he’ll be trying to keep that momentum going.
Manager Kevin Cash knows what kind of boost Lowe can bring to the Rays.
“We’re going to need him to be hot for the rest of the season,” Cash said after Saturday’s game, according to MLB.com. “He’s a big part of our offense.” “We really saw today what he’s capable of. ”
Tampa Bay tied the series at three games over the weekend as Lowe went 4-for-5 with two runs and three RBIs. Lowe found the Rays with a 2-1 lead they wouldn’t give up on a two-run shot in the fifth, then went the other way with a single to left field in the seventh. The two home runs were his sixth and seventh of the season, both with two outs.
The Rays have struggled offensively this season, but if Lowe — who “figured something out” during a two-game series with the Miami Marlins earlier this week — moves forward, he’ll Has the potential to lead the Rays forward if they hang around.
On Sunday, Tampa Bay will trail the Kansas City Royals by five games for the American League’s third wild-card spot.
Rookie right-hander Hunter Bigge (0-0, 1.69 ERA) is expected to be the Rays’ opener in the series finale. Following his major league debut on July 9, he made four relief appearances with the Chicago Cubs and was traded to the Rays on July 28, along with infielder Christopher Morrell and pitching prospect Ty Johnson. , in exchange for third baseman Isaac Paredes.
Biggar pitched two scoreless innings in two games with the Rays, allowing just one hit. Bigger pitched a scoreless inning against the Astros in Friday’s series opener and struck out two in Tampa Bay’s 3-2 loss to the Astros.
Rookie right-hander Spencer Arrigetti (4-9, 5.58 ERA) will start for the Astros — his first career appearance against the Rays. Arrigetti was winless in five starts last month, finishing 0-3 with a 5.33 ERA. He struck out 29 in 27 innings in July.
After recording 12 strikeouts against the Rays on Saturday, the Astros set a franchise record by striking out 10 or more for the ninth straight game. Houston averaged 12.67 strikeouts over those nine games, but fell to 5-4 after losing to the Rays.
The Astros have scored more than three runs just four times in their last nine games. To that end, they continue to be weakened by the absence of All-Star right fielder Kyle Tucker, who missed 48 games with a right shin contusion. Tucker, who had 19 home runs and 40 RBIs in 60 games, remains on the 60-day injured list and his return appears to be far off.
“That would be great, but I’m not going to sit here and say that’s going to happen,” Astros manager Joe Espada said when asked if Tucker would return this month. It’s going to be great, but it’s day-by-day and seeing how he feels and how we develop him.
“It would be radical if I said we would get him before the end of the month. It’s possible.”
Tucker last played on June 3.
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