Rays' Mikie Mahtook: Hitless in last 29 at-bats following Sunday victory

Mahtook is mired in a slump of epic proportions, having gone hitless in his last 29 at-bats, Roger Mooney of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Analysis:

The struggling outfielder's season line is now down to an atrocious .136/.196/.165 following another 0-for-3 performance in Sunday's 8-4 victory over the Rangers. Mahtook did manage to draw a walk in his final at-bat, his first free pass since Aug. 8. Despite his last hit having come back on Aug. 9 against the Blue Jays, manager Kevin Cash has stuck with Mahtook, but that has at least partly been out of necessity in recent days, with both Nick Franklin (concussion) and Kevin Kiermaier (hip) having been sidelined. With Kiermaier having returned in a pinch-hitting role Sunday, Mahtook may find himself riding the pine for a much-needed mental break beginning with Monday's tilt versus the Red Sox.