Author: Matt Pelc | Article Posted at: June 23, 09 - 5:09 pm

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Philadelphia Phillies

When we last saw the Philadelphia Phillies taking on the Tampa Bay Rays in a meaningful game, the Phillies were celebrating just their second World Series victory in their 125-year history, while the Rays saw their dream season derailed.

The teams will renew rivalries this week, beginning Tuesday in St. Petersburg, as each teams’ fortunes have been turned around recently.

The Phillies have, at times, looked like a leading contender to win their third title in their, now, 126-year history, but their inability to win at home has been both head scratching and problematic.

Philadelphia (36-31) is still clinging to a 1 1/2 game lead over the second-place New York Mets, which is remarkable considering they are currently on a six-game losing streak, having been swept by the Toronto Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles, all at home.

The Phillies have started interleague play at 3-9 for the second straight season, but that could be a good omen, as they beat the AL when it counted: in the World Series.

The Phillies fell to 13-22 at home with a 2-1 loss at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday. That is not what you would expect from a first place club, but they are a MLB best 23-9 away from home, which may help them end their skid in the place where they split the first two games on the World Series last year, Tampa Bay.

For most of the season, the Rays (37-34) have not looked like a defending champion and that has buried them in their division, even despite solid play over the last few weeks. Buoyed by interleague play, in which they are 8-4, Tampa Bay has gotten over .500, but has remained in fourth place in the AL East.

David Price (1-1, 3.46) will get the start for the Rays on Tuesday. Price pitched in 3 1/3 innings of relief in the World Series, allowing two runs. In his last start he had his worst outing of his young career when he allowed five runs on 10 hits over seven innings of a 5-3 loss to the red-hot Colorado Rockies.

He will be faced by ageless wonder Jamie Moyer (4-6, 6.35) who pitched well in Game 3 when he held the Tampa Bay bats to three runs in 6 1/3 innings of a 5-4 win. He took the loss in his last outing, when he allowed six runs on 10 hits over six innings of a 7-1 loss to Toronto on Wednesday.

The teams have not met in the regular season since 2006, and not in St. Petersburg since 2001 as the Tampa Bay Rays lead the all-time, non-World Series, series 10-5.