Rays host the Braves on home losing streak #Rays #host #Braves #home #losing #streak

Atlanta Braves (59-28, first in the NL East) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (57-34, first in the AL East)

St. Petersburg, Florida; Saturday, 7:15 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Braves: Spencer Strider (10-2, 3.75 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 155 strikeouts); Rays: Taj Bradley (5-4, 5.11 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 76 strikeouts)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts rounds second after hitting a solo home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels Friday, July 7, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Mookie Betts hit a pair of solo homers and drove in four runs and fellow All-Star Freddie Freeman went deep to help the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Angels 11-4. J.D.

Chicago White Sox's Luis Robert Jr. (88) celebrates with teammate Eloy Jimenez (74) after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Friday, July 7, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

All-Star Luis Robert Jr. tied the game with his 26th homer of the season, and the Chicago White Sox rallied past St.

Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr., center, celebrates with Ozzie Albies, left, and Orlando Arcia after the team's 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in a baseball game Friday, July 7, 2023, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Sean Murphy hit a two-run homer and the red-hot Atlanta Braves began a series between teams with the best records in the major leagues with a 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night.

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery (47) reacts before leaving a baseball game during the fifth inning against the Chicago White Sox, Friday, July 7, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

St. Louis Cardinals starter Jordan Montgomery abruptly left Friday night’s game against the Chicago White Sox in the fifth inning with an apparent injury. With St.

FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Braves -148, Rays +126; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Tampa Bay Rays play the Atlanta Braves looking to end a four-game home slide.

Tampa Bay has a 34-14 record at home and a 57-34 record overall. The Rays have the second-ranked team on-base percentage in the AL at .332.

Atlanta is 59-28 overall and 29-13 on the road. The Braves have hit 167 total home runs to lead the NL.

The teams meet Saturday for the second time this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Randy Arozarena leads the Rays with 16 home runs while slugging .469. Yandy Diaz is 11-for-35 with two doubles and an RBI over the last 10 games.

Matt Olson leads Atlanta with 29 home runs while slugging .573. Ronald Acuna Jr. is 14-for-37 with five home runs and seven RBI over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Rays: 3-7, .216 batting average, 4.35 ERA, outscored by two runs

Braves: 9-1, .279 batting average, 1.70 ERA, outscored opponents by 41 runs

INJURIES: Rays: Tyler Glasnow: day-to-day (cramping), Shane McClanahan: 15-Day IL (back), Josh Fleming: 60-Day IL (elbow), Drew Rasmussen: 60-Day IL (flexor), Garrett Cleavinger: 60-Day IL (knee), Jeffrey Springs: 60-Day IL (elbow), Shane Baz: 60-Day IL (elbow), Andrew Kittredge: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Braves: Dylan Lee: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Jesse Chavez: 15-Day IL (shin), Max Fried: 60-Day IL (forearm), Ehire Adrianza: 60-Day IL (elbow), Kyle Wright: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Huascar Ynoa: 60-Day IL (elbow), Tyler Matzek: 60-Day IL (elbow)