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Rays take their swings against Weaver, Angels

Apr 5, 2011 - 3:02 PM (Sports Network) - The offensively-challenged Tampa Bay Rays get no favors from the schedule-makers tonight when they face tough right-hander Jered Weaver to start a three-game series with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Tropicana Field.

Winners of the American League's East Division in two of the last three seasons, the Rays saw an exodus of offensive talent during the recent offseason - including center fielder Carl Crawford, first baseman Carlos Pena and shortstop Jason Bartlett.

Also absent for the short term is third baseman Evan Longoria, who was placed on the disabled list Sunday after suffering a left oblique injury. Longoria, who drove in a team-high 104 runs last season, is expected to miss at least three weeks of playing time.

Tampa Bay scored just three runs while dropping a season-opening home series to the Baltimore Orioles, including a 5-1 verdict on Sunday in which Rays starter Wade Davis (0-1) went 6 1/3 innings and allowed four runs on eight hits.

The Rays were just 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

Right-hander Jeff Niemann takes the ball for Tampa Bay tonight and will face the Angels for the sixth time in his 67th career big-league start. He's 1-2 with a 9.38 earned run average against them in 24 innings, surrendering 34 hits and 26 runs with 14 walks and 18 strikeouts.

Niemann was 2-2 in five appearances with the Rays in his first big-league call-up in 2008, then went 13-6 in 31 outings - 30 starts - with them as a full-timer in 2009. Last season, in 30 appearances, he won 12 of 20 decisions and posted a 4.39 ERA in 174 1/3 innings.

In 371 career innings, opponents have recorded a .255 batting average against Niemann.

For the Angels, the 6-foot-7, 215-pound Weaver tries to follow-up on a scoreless 6 1/3-inning Opening Day outing that saw him allow just two hits and strike out six batters while winning, 4-2, at Kansas City.

Weaver's been a double-digit winner in each of his first five seasons in the majors, including a career-best 16 wins in 2009 and 13 wins in 25 decisions in 2010.

He's 3-1 in five lifetime starts against the Rays with a 2.45 ERA in 33 innings, along with nine walks and 36 strikeouts.

Weaver last faced Tampa Bay on May 12, 2010 in Anaheim and dropped a 4-3 decision after allowing six hits and a single earned run in seven innings with 12 strikeouts.

It was his strikeout high in 34 starts last season.

On Sunday, Matt Treanor hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the 13th inning to give the Kansas City Royals a 12-9 win over the Angels in the finale of a four-game set.

Howie Kendrick hit two solo home runs and scored three times, Bobby Abreu went 5-for-5 with a two-run home run and Maicer Izturis and Alberto Callaspo added solo shots for the Angels, who won seven of the 10 games against the Royals last season.

Scott Kazmir didn't last long in the start as he was pulled with two outs in the second after giving up five runs on five hits with two walks.

Tampa Bay was 5-4 against the Angels last season.