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Twins-Rays Preview

Aug 4, 2010 - 4:00 AM By CHRIS ALTRUDA STATS Editor

Minnesota (59-47) at Tampa Bay (66-39), 7:10 p.m. EDT

The Tampa Bay Rays didn't start winning until they got consistent pitching. With David Price emerging as an elite pitcher, they may be winning for years to come.

Price seeks his AL-leading and team-record 15th victory Wednesday night when the Rays continue their series against the Minnesota Twins.

Tampa Bay (67-39) entered the league in 1998 and finished last in the AL East nine times in its first 10 years. The Rays had only 10 pitchers reach double figures in wins in that span, with Rolando Arrojo establishing the high-water mark with 14 in their inaugural 1998 season.

Their surprising run to the 2008 AL pennant - in which James Shields and Edwin Jackson tied Arrojo's record before Price was a key postseason contributor - changed the culture of the team. Twelve pitchers have recorded a minimum of 10 victories the past two-plus seasons as Tampa Bay is on course for its third straight winning season and potentially its second division title in three years.

The linchpin of the rotation and a frontrunner for the AL Cy Young Award, Price (14-5, 2.90 ERA) matched the single-season team record for victories Thursday by striking out nine in 6 1-3 innings of a 4-2 win over Detroit.

"The sky is the limit with a guy like Price. He's just a kid. Let's not forget that," Carlos Pena told the team's official website. "He's already obviously made a name for himself and established himself as one of the best pitchers in the league."

The left-hander has won four straight starts at home, where he is 7-1 with a 2.12 ERA in nine outings. Price, though, did lose 2-1 to Twins scheduled starter Scott Baker (9-9, 5.00) at Minnesota on July 2 despite throwing a four-hitter.

Tampa Bay has won 10 of 11 after Tuesday's 6-3 victory gave it sole possession of first in the AL East. Jeff Niemann became the fourth Rays pitcher to 10 wins, and B.J. Upton hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the seventh.

"Obviously it's nice," manager Joe Maddon said. "I'm looking at the scoreboard, I knew the Yankees had lost. Probably a lot of the other guys did, too. We want to be in first place. We want to win the division. Now it's up to us to maintain that position."

The Twins (59-48) did have a positive in the loss as reigning AL MVP Joe Mauer picked up right where he left off after a two-game absence by going 3 for 4 with three RBIs as designated hitter. Mauer, who received a cortisone shot following Saturday's win for his ailing shoulder, is 15 for 23 (.652) with 13 RBIs in his last six games.

"Just have to go day by day with him and see how his arm feels," manager Ron Gardenhire said before the game about when Mauer would return to catching. "The one thing we want to do is make sure we give him plenty of time to let his arm heal."

He is 2 for 6 with a double lifetime versus Price.

Baker's effort against Price - striking out eight while holding the Rays to one run in seven innings - was one of his best of this season. He labored to beat Seattle on Friday for his second straight win, giving up three runs and seven hits while walking four in 5 1-3 innings.