ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Rays have won four straight to move a season-high three games over .500, and as they seek a series sweep against the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday afternoon, they'll do it with a new addition to their experimental relievers-as-starters rotation.
Tampa Bay's Hunter Wood, a 24-year-old right-hander pitching in just his sixth major league game, will make his first career start Wednesday, and there's no expectation of him going more than an inning or two, as the "opener" role is designed. Wood pitched very well in Monday's series opener.