Tigers vs Rays Preview: Week 62 Showdown at Tropicana

The Tigers are rolling right now. They just destroyed the Rays 8-0 on Tuesday night—complete dominance. Wenceel Pérez crushed a two-run homer to left field. Matt Vierling doubled and drove in runs. Marcus Greene launched one over the right wall for 328 feet. The Tigers' bats came alive all over the field. Now Detroit brings that hot streak to game three of this series. They're hungry to keep winning. Troy Melton takes the mound for Detroit, looking to keep the momentum going strong.

Tampa Bay is in trouble. They've lost two straight games to Detroit and their last ten games show a rough 3-7 record. The Rays are at home, which normally helps—they're 21-8 at Tropicana Field this season. But Detroit's bats are hot right now. Nick Martinez pitches for Tampa Bay today. He's got a 3 ERA this season. The Rays need to tighten up defensively and get their pitching sharp. They have to find a way to slow down Detroit's powerful lineup. This is a critical game for getting back on track.

Both squads are dealing with hurt players. Detroit's Justin Verlander, the future Hall of Famer, is working his way back from a hip injury with Triple-A Toledo. He could return soon. Tarik Skubal, a two-time Cy Young winner, is throwing simulated games to get ready. Tampa Bay lost Ryan Pepiot to season-ending hip surgery. Jake Fraley needs surgery for a hernia and will be out for weeks. These injuries change what both teams can do. It makes every win matter more right now. The healthy players have to step up big.