The Tampa Bay Rays play the Detroit Tigers again on Thursday following last night's 3-0 win. The game starts at 1:08 p.m. ET, and you can stream it live here.
Tigers pitcher Max Scherzer leads the rotation Thursday afternoon and can become the first Detroit pitcher in six years to start 8-0 against teams, the Associated Press reports. Scherzer had the opportunity to do it on Friday when he pitched his team to a 5-3 lead against the Baltimore Orioles, but closer Jose Valverde gave up four runs in a 7-5 loss.
"It's always frustrating," Scherzer told reporters. "At the end of the day, I always think we have one of the better teams around, so hopefully this doesn't happen too often."
Scherzer is 7-0 and enjoying a 3.42 ERA. A large part of his success is due to his team, which is supporting him with 8.02 runs per game this season. Despite posting a 5.17 ERA at home, the Tigers have helped their 28-year-old pitcher to a 5-0 record at Comerica Park by stepping up their run support to 8.69 per home game.
Tampa Bay, meanwhile, has bounced back from their 10-1 loss in the series opener by winning Wednesday night, 3-0. The Rays have won eight of their last 10 games, bringing them three games behind the division-leading Boston Red Sox.
Despite the Rays' recent run, the team has usually struggled to beat the Tigers; they've won four of their last 17 games against Detroit.
Roberto Hernandez (3-5, 4.87) will start Thursday afternoon for Tampa Bay. He had his best outing last Wednesday after allowing only a run and three hits against the Miami Marlins, helping his team to a 3-1 win.
"He got better as the game was in progress," Rays manager Joe Maddon told the team website. "He's got good stuff, he knows how to pitch. A really nice breaking ball. A nice feel for what he's doing out there. He's going to be very good."
