That's The Ticket: Catching Rays

OVERVIEW

Last year the Rays lost 85 games and traded away David Price, so expectations were tempered coming into this 2015 campaign. They've recently lost two of their best starters, Alex Cobb and Drew Smyly, to season-ending injuries, and they have 12 total players currently on the disabled list. These are the types of setbacks that would bury many clubs. Yet here are the Rays, second in the American League East with a winning record.

The Twins have gone 7-22 against Tampa Bay over the last four years but are looking to reverse that trend, and they've got a good opportunity as they kick off the season series at Target Field, where they've played awfully well so far.

PITCHING MATCH-UPS

Friday, 7:10 PM: Jake Odorizzi vs. Phil Hughes

Odorizzi was among the high-end prospects received by the Rays when they dealt James Shields to the Royals a couple years ago, and he has panned out nicely in Tampa. Last year, in his first full big-league season, he posted a respectable 4.13 ERA with the sixth-highest strikeout rate in the AL. This year he's 3-2 with a 2.09 ERA through seven turns.

Hughes is throwing strikes and avoiding walks, as he did last year, but he's had a hard time keeping the ball in the park. Fortunately, the Rays don't have a ton of power. I'd expect a low-scoring affair on Friday.

Saturday, 1:10 PM: Alex Colome vs. Trevor May

Added to the Tampa Bay rotation at the beginning of May after recovering from a nasty bout of pneumonia, Colome has yet to record a quality start in three tries. He was trounced in his most recent outing against the Yankees, who piled up eight runs on 11 hits in six innings.

May is also coming off a poor start in Cleveland, but he has a 3.97 ERA at Target Field.

Sunday, 1:10 PM: Chris Archer vs. Kyle Gibson

Gibson's first start of the year was a mess, but he's been absolutely brilliant since, with a 3-1 record and 1.59 ERA across six starts. He showed how far along he's come in his most recent outing, when he returned to the scene of that brutal season debut and held the Tigers to one run over seven innings in Detroit, striking out five of the last six batters he faced. He draws a tough assignment in Archer, who has been insanely dominant despite a 3-4 record.

WHICH GAME SHOULD YOU ATTEND?

Well, that depends on what you're looking for.

Want to see the Twins hit some homers?

They'll be hard-pressed to do so against Odorizzi or Archer, who have given up only four home runs combined all year. Colome, though, is a fly ball pitcher who has surrendered four bombs in 16 innings.

Best Choice: Saturday

Want to see some infield defense on display?

Gibson and Archer are heavy ground ball pitchers. Both teams have a few flashy fielders in the infield, and they figure to see plenty of action with those two hurlers on the mound.

Best Choice: Sunday

Looking for an evening out on the town?

Saturday and Sunday are day games, but the 7:10 start on Friday night is conducive to some post-game partying. It forecasts to be a beautiful evening, with clear skies and temperatures in the high 60s -- perfect for spilling out out of the ballpark to a nearby patio.

Best Choice: Friday