X-Rays Spex – A Below fWAR Rays Fan Site

TNWN: Rays vs. Rangers — an AL Wildcard Series preview

After finishing the regular season with a series win in Toronto, the Tampa Bay Rays return to the friendly confines of the Trop, where they will start the best of three AL Wildcard Series against the Rangers on Tuesday. The Rangers dropped three of four against the Mariners over the weekend.

At 99-64 on the season (including the playoffs), the Rays enter play Wednesday 35 games above .500. They also set franchise records in runs scored (860) and home runs hit (230).

Tampa Bay won four of their final five regular-season games and seven of the last 10. They finished the regular season in second place in the AL East, two games behind Baltimore for the top spot. On Sunday, Tampa Bay got three hits from Raimel Tapia (run) and Jonathan Aranda (run, grand slam, six RBI) to lead a 16-hit charge in the contest. Manuel Margot (his fourth), Aranda (his second), and Junior Caminero (his first) also went deep in the win.

In spite of the injuries to key players, not to mention Kevin Cash keeping others on the bench to make sure they are fresh for a deep postseason run, the Rays put up a healthy .316 BA/.370 OBP/.511 SLG/.881 OPS over the last seven days of the season, with a 146 wRC+. Tampa Bay could get back a couple of key members of the wrecking crew; Luke Raley (neck) and José Siri each faced live batting practice on Monday, and by all accounts, they looked good.

The Rangers finished the regular season with a 90-72 record and tied with the Astros atop the AL West. They lost the tiebreaker to Houston as they fell 9-4 in the season series. Against Seattle Sunday, Texas finished with four hits with Evan Carter the lone player with two in the game. He had their lone extra-base hit, a double, and the team had just one at-bat with runners in scoring position. While the Rangers scored 21 more runs than Tampa Bay and put up a marginally better overall slash line, the offense has been ice-cold over the last seven days, slashing .189 BA/.297 OBP/.346 SLG/.643 OPS with a 78 wRC+.

The Rays ended the season with an overall 3.88 ERA and 3.81 FIP (3.92 ERA and 3.62 FIP for the starters, 3.83 ERA, and 4.03 FIP for the relievers). Tampa Bay has regressed over the last seven days — although that could be attributed to Kevin Cash leaning on depth as opposed to quality arms — putting up a 5.00 ERA and 3.77 FIP (4.50 ERA and a 3.81 FIP for the starters, 5.33 ERA and a 3.74 FIP for the relievers).

Texas’ pitching staff has put up a 3.47 ERA and 3.54 FIP on the season (4.24 ERA and 3.93 FIP for the starters, 4.77 ERA, and 4.45 FIP for the relievers). Over the final seven days of the season, they pitched to a combined 3.47 ERA and a 3.54 FIP (4.24 ERA and a 3.93 FIP for the starters, 2.45 ERA and a 3.02 FIP for the relievers).

Tampa Bay is 2-4 against Texas this season, with a -2 run differential. Things are different at the Trop, however, where the Rays went 2-1 with a +5 run differential.

Pitching Probables

Over the next three days, Kevin Cash is expected to turn to Tyler Glasnow (10-7, 3.53 ERA, 2.91 FIP), Zach Eflin (16-8, 3.50 ERA, 3.01 FIP), and Aaron Civale (7-5, 3.46 ERA, 3.57 FIP). Bruce Bochy will counter with Jordan Montgomery (10-11, 3.20 ERA, 3.56 FIP), Nathan Eovaldi (12-5, 3.63 ERA, 3.88 FIP), and a pitcher to be named before the (potential) third contest.

Tyler Glasnow allowed two hits and a walk over five scoreless innings against the Red Sox. He struck out nine. Glasnow left the mound after just 70 pitches (45 strikes, 64% strike rate) with the postseason in mind, but he was dominant before his exit, generating an incredible 31 called or swinging strikes (44% SwStr%). Whiffs have come easily for him in September even if nothing else has, and Glasnow has a 4.86 ERA and a 2.45 FIP, with a 1.17 WHIP, and a 4.8 K/BB through 33.1 innings on the month.

Jordan Montgomery allowed one run on five hits and two walks while striking out five over six innings against the Mariners on Thursday. Montgomery’s lone mistake was a solo home run to Julio Rodriguez in the fourth inning. The southpaw has pitched to a 2.79 ERA over 67.2 innings with the Rangers, and he’s at a 3.20 ERA and a 3.56 FIP, with a 1.19 WHIP, and 3.46 K/BB through 188.2 innings (32 starts) this season between Texas and St. Louis. Montgomery relies primarily on a 93 mph sinker that has surprising cut action, an 84 mph changeup, and an 80 mph 12-6 curveball, while also mixing in a 93 mph fourseam fastball that has some natural sinking action. Key Matchups: Randy Arozarena (4-20, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB), Christian Bethancourt (1-4), Josh Lowe (1-3), Manuel Margot (6-18, 4 2B, HR, 3 RBI, BB), Isaac Paredes (1-3, HR, RBI), Harold Ramírez (1-2, BB), Taylor Walls (2-4, BB)

Zach Eflin allowed three runs on five hits over five innings against Boston. He struck out four. Eflin cruised through the front four frames Tuesday, holding the Red Sox scoreless until Enmanuel Valdez’s three-run homer in the fifth. The 29-year-old right-hander closed out the regular season on a high note, holding opponents to three runs or fewer in each of his last eight starts. Eflin will finish an impressive first year in Tampa Bay with career-bests in ERA (3.50), WHIP (1.02), strikeouts (186), and innings pitched (177.2). He also boasts a 3.01 FIP.

Nathan Eovaldi allowed seven runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five over 3.1 innings on Friday versus the Mariners. Seattle did all its damage in the third and fourth innings, sending Eovaldi to the showers early after the back-to-back shaky frames. Over six September appearances, after returning from a forearm strain, Eovaldi allowed 21 runs across 20.1 innings with a 1.61 K/BB. He ends the regular season with a 3.63 ERA and a 3.88 FIP, 1.14 WHIP, and 3.26 K/BB over 144 innings (25 starts). Key Matchups: Josh Lowe (3-5, 2B, 2 BB), Manuel Margot (2-7), Taylor Walls (1-2, 2B)

Aaron Civale gave up one run on two hits and two walks over 1.2 innings against the Blue Jays on Friday. He struck out three. With Tampa Bay already locked into the top Wildcard spot, manager Kevin Cash elected to pull Civale after 40 pitches (21 strikes, 53% strike rate), while Zack Littell (35 pitches) and Taj Bradley (21 pitches) also saw action out of the ‘pen. All three right-handers figure to be available out of the bullpen in the AL Wildcard Series. Civale finishes the regular season with a 3.46 ERA and a 3.57 FIP, with a 1.16 WHIP, and a 3.52 K/BB through 122.1 innings split between Tampa Bay and Cleveland.

TBA

Noteworthiness

— To those of you who had bad takes about the lack of fans in attendance on Tuesday, at the Trop, let me first offer you a huge, yet free, piece of advice: pump the brakes. You clearly could not separate the signal from the noise if your life depended upon it.

Now that I’ve gotten that off my chest, and before you put your foot in your mouth once again with your pointless sports talk radio-driven narrative, that the Rays should play in Paducah, KY because of their proximity to both Nashville and St. Louis, blah blah blah, let’s first remember some things:

Rays attendance was up 28% this year over last, and almost 1.5 million butts were in the stands this season. Perfect? No. But, fans will and do show up to the Trop, and it is something to build on. Give us some credit.
The Rays, historically, HAVE drawn in the postseason. If anything, Tuesday’s +19,000 figure is more anomalous than anything else. Hell, in 2019, the team drew 32,251 fans to game three of the ALDS versus Houston, and the following day 32,178 attended game four.

“What’s the difference?”, you might be asking. Game scheduling.

On Sunday, Major League Baseball scheduled all three contests against the Rangers for 3:08 PM. …You know, in the middle of a workday, and in the middle of a workweek. While I’m no genius, a simple understanding of elapsed time would show a difference of fewer than two days’ worth of lead time to make a decision to purchase tickets, ask for time off from work, and show up to the game.

Do you know who has the luxury of taking time off from work? The people who sit in the really expensive seats … the ones that were packed Tuesday afternoon. And, do you know which seats weren’t filled? The ones in the less expensive areas of the stadium, like the upper deck or down the lines. To me, that screams that Joe Q. Baseball Fan couldn’t get time off from work, had more important tasks to handle like picking their kids up from school (which gets out around 3:00 PM), or both.

I am willing to bet that, had the game started at a later time — say 6:40 PM, when Rays’ weekday games typically start — far more people would have made it out Tuesday. Actually, that’s a wager I’m willing to make. If the Rays make it to the American League Division Series, and if the two presumed games start later in the day, I am confident that far more fans will be in attendance.

Anyone who is willing to castigate or strawman Rays fans for not showing up to a middle-of-the-afternoon contest — which, as stated above was haphazard in its scheduling — is far happier to spread some low-hanging (and frankly classist) media-driven narrative, than they are in having an honest and candid conversation.

— The Rays made a flurry of roster moves on Monday, which you can read below.

10/02/23	Tampa Bay Rays activated CF Jose Siri from the 10-day injured list.
10/02/23	LF Luke Raley roster status changed by Tampa Bay Rays.
10/02/23	CF Jose Siri roster status changed by Tampa Bay Rays.
10/02/23	2B Brandon Lowe roster status changed by Tampa Bay Rays.
10/02/23	Tampa Bay Rays activated LF Luke Raley from the 10-day injured list.
10/02/23	Tampa Bay Rays activated 2B Brandon Lowe from the 10-day injured list.
10/02/23	Tampa Bay Rays recalled LHP Josh Fleming from Durham Bulls.
10/02/23	Tampa Bay Rays recalled 2B Vidal Bruján from Durham Bulls.
10/02/23	Tampa Bay Rays sent RHP Erasmo Ramírez outright to Durham Bulls.
10/02/23	Tampa Bay Rays recalled SS Tristan Gray from Durham Bulls.
10/02/23	Tampa Bay Rays recalled RHP Cole Sulser from Durham Bulls.
10/02/23	Tampa Bay Rays recalled RHP Colby White from Montgomery Biscuits.

— 15 position players and 11 pitchers cracked the Rays Wildcard Series roster including José Siri, who returns from the 10-Day Injured List.

TNWN: Rays vs. Blue Jays — one last regular season series preview

After sweeping the Red Sox in Boston, the Tampa Bay Rays made their way to Toronto, where they will get one last tuneup before the postseason. The Blue Jays, most recently, dropped two of three three to the Yankees.

At 97-52 on the season, the Rays enter play a season-high-tying 35 games over .500 with three games left to play.

Tampa Bay has earned the first AL Wildcard spot and a date with the second Wildcard seed which could be Houston or Toronto. The Rays played the Blue Jays last weekend and dropped two of three bouts due to weak pitching. However, they rebounded by sweeping the Red Sox. The Rays are 5-5 in their last 10 contests.

Despite myriad injuries, Tampa Bay continues to find ways to win games, winning three of their last four clashes. In so doing, they have put up a .298 BA/.356 OBP/.450 SLG/.806 OPS slash line over the last seven days, with a 127 wRC+. Both Randy Arozarena and Robert Stevenson returned to live action on Wednesday, and Yandy Díaz could return this weekend. Whatever the case, Kevin Cash is expected to continue rolling out “The Kids” for a couple of reasons: 1. He, and the front office, are treating the last few regular season contests like Spring Training in order to see who will or won’t earn a spot on the playoff roster, and 2. To rotate players into, and out of, the lineup in order to keep those, who likely will crack the postseason roster, fresh. And no, much to Rays Zaddy’s chagrin, don’t expect the triumphant return of Wander Franco.

Meanwhile, the Blue Jays have been inconsistent and just lost the opening two games of their series against the Yankees, while scoring no runs. They still have a chance to finish with a Wildcard spot as they stood two games ahead of the Mariners entering Thursday night, and have won seven of the last 10 games. Even so, over the last week, Toronto has put up a lackluster .190 BA/.270 OBP/.330 SLG/.600 OPS with a 66 wRC+ and a -6.6 wRAA.

The Rays enter play with an overall 3.83 ERA and 3.78 FIP (3.89 ERA and 3.60 FIP for the starters, 3.76 ERA, and 3.99 FIP for the relievers). Tampa Bay has improved since last weekend, putting up a 4.83 ERA and 3.66 FIP over the last week (4.09 ERA and 3.01 FIP for the starters, but a 6.00 ERA and a 4.69 FIP for the relievers).

Toronto’s pitching staff has put up a 3.75 ERA and 4.06 FIP on the season (3.80 ERA and 4.15 FIP for the starters, 3.67 ERA, and 3.91 FIP for the relievers). Those numbers have regressed over the last seven days, pitching to a combined 4.61 ERA and a 4.15 FIP (4.81 ERA and a 4.12 FIP for the starters, 4.26 ERA and a 4.20 FIP for the relievers).

Tampa Bay is 5-5 against Toronto this season, with a -16 run differential.

Pitching Probables

Over the next three days, Kevin Cash is expected to turn to Aaron Civale (2-2, 5.36 ERA, 3.35 FIP), Zack Littell (3-6, 3.68 ERA, 3.96 FIP), and Taj Bradley (5-8, 5.52 ERA, 4.72 FIP). John Schneider is expected to counter with Hyun-Jin Ryu (3-3, 3.31 ERA, 5.05 FIP), Yusei Kikuchi (10-6, 3.82 ERA, 4.08 FIP), and Kevin Gausman (12-9, 3.16 ERA, 2.97 FIP).

Aaron Civale allowed six runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out seven batters over three innings against the Angels. Civale fell behind 2-0 in the first inning and gave up four more runs in the second. Even though he bounced back to strike out three batters in a scoreless third, the right-hander wasn’t allowed to return for the fourth. This was Civale’s shortest outing of his season and snapped his streak of seven consecutive starts of at least five frames. One positive takeaway is that Civale continued his recent strikeout binge — he’s struck out 44 over his past 28.1 frames covering six starts.

Hyun-Jin Ryu coughed up five runs on seven hits — including three homers — and three walks over 4.1 innings on Saturday against the Rays. He struck out two. Two of the long balls came in the first inning when Ryu served up a solo shot to Yandy Díaz and a three-run blast to Josh Lowe. Ryu has failed to complete five innings in two straight starts, and he has a 4.32 ERA and a 6.22 FIP, with a 1.44 WHIP, and 1.89 K/BB through 25 innings in September. Key Matchups: Randy Arozarena (4-8, 2 2B, BB), Christian Bethancourt (2-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBI), Junior Caminero (1-2, BB), Yandy Díaz (3-12, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB), Josh Lowe (2-3, HR, 3 RBI), Manuel Margot (6-23, 3 RBI), Harold Ramírez (5-10, 2 2B, RBI, 3 BB)

Zack Littell allowed two unearned runs on five hits and a walk over 5.2 innings against the Blue Jays. He struck out six. The right-hander came one out shy of his third quality start in five September outings. Littell sports a sharp 2.70 ERA and a 3.59 FIP, with a 1.00 WHIP, and an 11.00 K/BB through 30 innings in the month of September.

Yusei Kikuchi allowed three runs on nine hits over four innings against Tampa Bay. He struck out seven. Kikuchi’s now gone five straight starts without pitching more than five innings, and he appeared to be on a short leash Sunday, throwing just 73 pitches. Kikuchi maintains a 3.82 ERA and a 4.08 FIP, with a 1.27 WHIP, and 177 strikeouts on the season. Key Matchups: Randy Arozarena (4-16, HR, RBI, BB), Osleivis Basabe (1-1), Christian Bethancourt (2-4, RBI), Junior Caminero (1-2, RBI), Josh Lowe (1-4), Manuel Margot (4-15, 3B, RBI, BB), Curtis Mead (1-2), Isaac Paredes (3-11, HR, 4 RBI), Rene Pinto (1-3), Harold Ramírez (5-13, BB)

Taj Bradley allowed six runs on seven hits and two walks over seven innings against Toronto. He struck out four. Toronto did most of its damage against Bradley in the second inning, scoring five runs, including three on George Springer’s inside-the-park home run. The 22-year-old Bradley has now allowed four or more runs in three of his five starts since he was recalled from Triple-A earlier this month, pitching to a 5.14 ERA over that stretch.

Kevin Gausman allowed three hits and two walks over seven shutout innings against the Yankees. He struck out five. This marked Gausman’s second straight scoreless outing against New York after throwing six shutout innings in a win against the Bronx Bummers on Wednesday. Over the two starts, the 32-year-old righty was electric, recording 15 strikeouts over 13 innings while allowing six hits and five walks. All told, Gausman maintains a 3.16 ERA and a 2.97 FIP, with a 1.18 ERA, and a 4.31 FIP on the season. Key Matchups: Yandy Díaz (2-5, HR, 3 RBI, BB), Josh Lowe (1-1), Rene Pinto (2-4, RBI), Raimel Tapia (3-12, 2B, 2 RBI), Taylor Walls (2-6)

TNWN: Rays vs. Red Sox — one last series preview; Rays postseason push events

The next time you’ll see this roof lit up, it will be during the AL Wildcard Series.

After dropping two of three to the Blue Jays, the Tampa Bay Rays departed the friendly confines of Tropicana Field for Fenway Park, where they will start one last series against the Red Sox on Tuesday. The Red Sox dropped two of three to the White Sox over the weekend.

At 95-62 on the season, the Rays enter play 33 games over .500 with five games left to play.

Given that the path to an AL East title has narrowed, the team’s focus has shifted (albeit unofficially) to remaining competitive in the final five regular season games, while also getting Yandy Díaz, Luke Raley, Randy Arozarena, and Robert Stevenson healthy for the postseason, which starts on October 3. While Díaz, Arozarena, and Stevenson have not been placed on the Injured List, all three of them missed time in the series against Toronto; Raley was placed on the 10-Day IL and can return by the playoffs. All four players have played crucial roles on the roster this season, and their returning healthy is far more important than winning five meaningless contests. Meanwhile, depending on how quickly he can recover from a hairline fracture incurred on September 12, José Siri could, conceivably, return to the fold by the end of the week. Knowing how conservatively the Rays handle injuries, though, it’s far more likely that he would return by the start of the postseason.

Expect Kevin Cash to roll out players who are competing for spots on the playoff roster — such as Osleivis Basabe, Jonathan Aranda, and Erasmo Ramírez, for example — while others will be deployed strategically to both keep them fresh and off their feet. Think of it as Spring Training 2.0.

Even with the injuries, the Rays’ offense has fared well the last seven days, putting up a .277 BA/.356 OBP/.418 SLG/.774 OPS slash line, with a 121 wRC+. Compare that to the 75 wRC+ Red Sox over the same stretch, slashing .243 BA/.307 OBP/.354 SLG/.661 OPS.

The Rays enter play with an overall 3.84 ERA and 3.81 FIP (3.90 ERA and 3.62 FIP for the starters, 3.76 ERA, and 4.04 FIP for the relievers). Over the last seven days, Tampa Bay has looked like crap, putting up a 5.50 ERA and 4.70 FIP (5.52 ERA and 3.52 FIP for the starters, and a 5.48 ERA and a 6.30 FIP for the relievers).

Meanwhile, the Red Sox pitching staff has put up a 4.57 ERA and 4.42 FIP on the season (4.75 ERA and 4.55 FIP for the starters, 4.35 ERA, and 4.28 FIP for the relievers). Those numbers are even worse over the last seven days, pitching to a combined 5.14 ERA and a 4.50 FIP (4.45 ERA and a 4.12 FIP for the starters, 6.17 ERA and a 5.13 FIP for the relievers).

Tampa Bay is 9-2 against Toronto this season, with a +23 run differential.

Pitching Probables

Over the next two days, Kevin Cash will call on Zach Eflin (15-8, 3.44 ERA, 2.98 FIP), and Tyler Glasnow (9-7, 3.68 ERA, 3.03 FIP). Alex Cora will counter with Tanner Houck (5-9, 4.92 ERA, 4.46 FIP), and Brayan Bello (12-10, 4.11 ERA, 4.42 FIP).

Zach Eflin struck out 10 in Thursday’s win over the Angels. He allowed two runs on six hits and one walk over five innings. Eflin reached the double-digit strikeout mark for the third time this season and has an active streak of seven consecutive starts allowing three runs or fewer, dating back to August 19. Over that stretch, Eflin is 3-1 with a 2.68 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 8.33 K/BB over 40.1 innings. Eflin has shined in his first season in Tampa Bay boasting a 3.44 ERA and 2.98 FIP, with a 1.03 WHIP, and a 7.58 K/BB over 172.2 innings.

Tanner Houck allowed two runs on three hits and four walks over four innings against the Rangers. He struck out four. Houck didn’t have his typical command Tuesday, walking four batters and hitting another to tie his season high in walks allowed. And while he limited Texas to three hits, one of them was a solo homer by Adolis Garcia in the second frame. Over four September starts (20.1 innings), Houck owns a 2-1 record to go along with a 4.87 ERA and 2.1 K/BB. Key Matchups: Yandy Díaz (2-7), Josh Lowe (1-1, RBI, BB), Harold Ramírez (1-4, BB), Raimel Tapia (1-3)

Tyler Glasnow allowed four runs on three hits and four walks over 5.1 innings against the Blue Jays. He struck out seven. Glasnow was cruising along until the sixth inning when his command evaporated. His four walks equaled his season high (June 14 vs. Oakland). In eight starts since returning from a back injury on August 14, the 30-year-old pitcher has gone 4-4 with a 4.46 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 4.07 K/BB over 46.1 innings.

Brayan Bello allowed eight runs on eight hits and four walks over three innings in a 15-5 loss against the Rangers. He struck out two. It was a brutal outing for Bello, who was tagged for a season-high eight runs. Texas did most of its damage in the second inning, scoring six runs on six hits, including a pair of homers. Coming into the contest, Bello hadn’t allowed more than three runs in his last six starts. His ERA is now up to 4.11, while his FIP sits at 4.42, with a 1.32 WHIP, and a 3.00 K/BB across 27 starts (151 innings) this year. Key Matchups: Jonathan Aranda (2-4, RBI), Yandy Díaz (5-7, 2 2B, RBI, BB), Josh Lowe (4-11, 2 2B, 3 RBI), Manuel Margot (1-3, RBI), Harold Ramírez (1-3, RBI), Raimel Tapia (3-3, 3B, 3 RBI, BB)

Noteworthiness

— The Rays rolled out their postseason information site recently including information on pop-up parties, yard sign distribution, and flash tattoo events. You can find information on all those events below, as well as on the team’s webpage.

Pop-Up Parties

The Rays are coming to your area! Attend one of our Postseason Pop-Up Parties for fun, exclusive promotional items and soft serve icees from Carousel’s!

Experiences and Giveaways

Car Flags
Randy Arozarena Boot Can Koozies
Yard Signs presented by Bayfront Health
Celebrate with Raymond & DJ Kitty

Pop-Up Party Schedule

Saturday, September 30

Bob Gardner Community Park in Lakewood Ranch
2710 White Eagle Blvd, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34211
11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Hyde Park Village in Tampa
742 South Village Circle, Tampa FL 33606
3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Walter Fuller Park in St. Petersburg
2800 75th Street N, St. Petersburg, FL 33710
6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Sunday, October 1

Oscar Cooler Sports Complex in Lutz
770 Lutz Lake Fern Road, Lutz, FL 33548
12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Dunedin Community Center
1920 Pinehurst Rd, Dunedin, FL 34698
3:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Yard Sign Distribution Sites

Rays Up Tampa Bay Yard Signs, presented by Bayfront Health, Distribution Sites

Fans can pick up Rays yard signs presented by Bayfront Health and car flags at select partner locations during each business’ regular operating hours, while supplies last.

Please note: Distribution begins Saturday, September 30.

Distribution Sites

The Avenue
330 1st Ave S, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Chicken Salad Chick
1221 4th St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Clearwater Marine Aquarium
249 Windward Passage, Clearwater, FL 33767

Coppertail Brewing Co.
2601 E 2nd Ave, Tampa, FL 33605

Crown Honda
7671 US Hwy 19N Pinellas Park, FL 33781

Kane’s Furniture
6222 N Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, FL 33614
4501 34th St N, Saint Petersburg, FL 33714

Suncoast Credit Union
Downtown St. Pete – 1022 Central Ave. St. Petersburg, FL 33705
South St. Pete – 2120 34th St. S. St. Petersburg, FL 33711

Flash Tattoo Events

Rays Flash Tattoo Events

Make your loyalty to the Rays fandom permanent by receiving a free Rays tattoo at one of our two flash tattoo events. The first 50 per location can select one (1) of five available Rays tattoo designs! These events will be based on a first-come, first-serve basis. You must be 18 years or older to receive a tattoo and provide a valid ID.

When: Monday, October 2
Time: 2 p.m. – 8 p.m.
First 50 people per location

Participating Locations:

Poison Ivy Ink – St. Petersburg
218 5th Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Poison Ivy Ink – Temple Terrace
9722 N 56th St, Temple Terrace, FL 33617

Event Details:

Tattoos will be 2-3 inches
Tattoos are available on arms or legs only
Flash tattoos are limited to one (1) tattoo per person
Make sure to stay hydrated and eat before arriving
You are allowed to bring foldable/portable chairs to accommodate any wait
Fans are not permitted to line up to receive flash tattoos until 1 p.m. at each location
Please Note: All flash tattoo designs are final as is. Color and design changes are not permitted

Tattoo designs:

Parking:

St. Petersburg parking will be the general city parking spaces or the Sundial parking garage

Tampa parking will be in the parking lot of the plaza where the shop is located

Important Information:

All participants must be 18 years of age or older and provide valid ID to receive a tattoo. Participants must agree to sign waivers for both the Tampa Bay Rays and Poison Ivy Ink prior to receiving a tattoo. Tipping your artist is not required, but is strongly encouraged.

Tampa Bay Rays Postseason Tattoo Event Waiver

Poison Ivy Ink Consent Form – St. Pete / Tampa

— The Rays also released the 2023 postseason schedule as it pertains to potential Rays’ games. Note: MLB has not yet released the start times for the games. You can see that calendar below.

Rays 9/23/23 pregame notes

The Tampa Bay Rays made a flurry of roster moves on Saturday to compensate for a deluge of injuries, placing Jason Adam (left oblique strain) on the 15-day IL, Brandon Lowe (right kneecap fracture) on the 10-day IL — although he’s expected to miss 4-6 weeks — Luke Raley (cervical strain) on the 10-Day IL, and Calvin Faucher (biceps tendinitis) on the 60-day IL. To compensate for the moves, the team recalled RHP Chris Devenski, and selected the contract of OF Raimel Tapia.

As mentioned above, Lowe will miss 4-to-6 weeks of action after suffering the fracture when he fouled a ball off his knee. He, conceivably, could be back in time for the postseason should the team make a deep run.

This will be Tapia’s third different big-league team of the season, and his fifth club in less than two years after playing with Colorado in 2021 and Toronto last season. Tapia signed a minor league deal with Boston over the winter and ended up appearing in 39 games for the Red Sox before being released in June. He later signed a big league deal with Milwaukee and played in 20 games before the Brewers designated him for assignment and subsequently released him.

Overall, Tapia slashed .230 BA/.308 OBP/.338 SLG/.646 OPS over 158 combined plate appearances with Boston and Milwaukee, as well as .269 BA/.371 OBP/.414 SLG/.785 OPS across 124 PA with the Durham Bulls Tampa Bay signed the outfielder to a minor league contract in early August.

Tapia has a decent .273 career batting average in 2016 big-league PA, albeit without much pop to show all of the contact he makes. He is known as an excellent baserunner, and Tapia’s speed has helped him beat out some infield grounders to the tune of a .328 career BABIP. Even so, he is more known as a fourth-outfielder type who can play all three positions in a pinch (although he’s primarily a corner outfielder). He also provides bench depth as a pinch-runner.

Tapia is a better hitter against southpaw pitching, yet he provides Tampa Bay with some balance within their mostly right-handed hitting outfield group. It should be noted that Randy Arozarena left Friday’s contest due to quad tightness and is listed as day-to-day, so with Tapia’s selection, the Rays might be looking to bolster the outfield should Arozarena need a couple of days off.

Raley was placed on the IL and replaced by top prospect Junior Caminero. Right-handed reliever Trevor Kelley was designated for assignment to make room for Caminero on the 40-man roster. Caminero should make his Major League debut tonight now that the roster move is official.

TNWN: Rays vs. Blue Jays — yet another series preview; Junior Caminero to be promoted

After taking two of three from the Angels, the Tampa Bay Rays will cap their final regular season home stand with a three-game set against the Blue Jays, starting Friday. Toronto most recently took two of three from the Yankees.

At 94-60 on the season, the Rays enter play 34 games above .500 with eight games left to play. They will try to create a little more distance between themselves and the third-place Blue Jays over the weekend.

The Rays locked up a playoff berth last weekend, while the Blue Jays have a 90.6% chance of securing a Wildcard spot. Toronto needs wins more than Tampa Bay, although the Rays are still competing for an AL East championship since they enter play 1.5 games back of the first-place Orioles (hey, thanks Cleveland).

The Rays’ offense has fallen off since the final two games of their series against Baltimore, with the team slashing a combined .227 BA/.281 OBP/.396 SLG/.677 OPS with a 88 wRC+. Unfortunately, Luke Raley has been out the last few games due to an unfortunate collision during batting practice a few days back. This, after he put up a 218 wRC+ in the days prior to the injury. It isn’t entirely clear whether he’ll be placed on the IL with 10 games left to play, or if Kevin Cash will unofficially sit him out for a few games while he is on the mend. In the meantime, they will rely on Yandy Díaz (125 wRC+ over the last seven days), Harold Ramírez (123 wRC+ over the last seven days), Randy Arozarena (112 wRC+ over the last seven days), and Manuel Margot 106 wRC+ over the last seven days) and hope for bounce-back performances from Brandon Lowe, Josh Lowe, and Isaac Paredes who haven’t been as productive as they could or should be the last week.

While the Blue Jays have won five of their last six contests, this followed a series sweep at the hands of a Rangers team that is hot on their heels. Nevertheless, iff Tampa Bay has been tepid over the last seven days, Toronto has been, uhh…not so good. The Blue Jays have slashed a combined .203 BA/.280 OBP/.357 SLG/.637 OPS over that stretch with a 75 wRC+. It’s not certain when Vladdy Jr. will return to the lineup given that he is listed as day-t0-day due to knee inflammation.

The Rays enter play with an overall 3.79 ERA and 3.78 FIP (3.88 ERA and 3.63 FIP for the starters, 3.68 ERA, and 3.97 FIP for the relievers). Over the last seven days, Tampa Bay has put up a decent 4.12 ERA and 3.29 FIP (albeit with an ugly 5.65 ERA and 3.99 FIP for the starters, and a regressed 2.42 ERA and a 2.53 FIP for the relievers).

Meanwhile, the Blue Jays pitching staff has put up a solid 3.71 ERA and 4.06 FIP on the season (3.75 ERA and 4.15 FIP for the starters, 3.65 ERA, and 3.91 FIP for the relievers). Those numbers are even better over the last seven days, pitching to a combined 2.33 ERA and a 3.40 FIP (1.83 ERA and a 3.55 FIP for the starters, 3.04 ERA and a 3.17 FIP for the relievers).

Tampa Bay is 4-3 against Toronto this season, but with a -9 run differential.

Pitching Probables

Over the next three days, Kevin Cash will turn to Tyler Gasnow (9-6, 3.53 ERA, 3.04 FIP), Zack Littell (3-6, 4.12 ERA, 4.05 FIP), and Taj Bradley (5-7, 5.36 ERA, 4.58 FIP). John Schneider will counter with Chris Bassitt (14-8, 3.78 ERA, 4.49 FIP), Hyun-Jin Ryu (3-3, 2.62 ERA, 4.18 FIP), and Yusei Kikuchi (10-6, 3.74 ERA, 4.19 FIP).

Tyler Glasnow allowed six runs on eight hits and two walks over four innings against the Orioles on Saturday. He struck out four. Glasnow turned in his worst performance of the season, tying his season worsts in earned runs allowed and strikeouts while failing to go deeper than four frames for the first time all season. He was also tagged for a two-run home run in the second inning by Gunnar Henderson. Glasnow has allowed four or more runs in back-to-back appearances. All told, the right-hander maintains a 3.53 ERA and a 3.04 FIP, with a 1.09 WHIP, and a 4.56 K/BB across 109.2 innings.

Chris Bassitt allowed two runs on four hits and three walks over seven innings against Boston. He struck out five. Bassitt got off to a strong start, retiring the first 11 batters, although Toronto failed to back him with any run support. The only two runs against him came via a home run off of the bat of Rafael Devers in the top of the sixth inning which followed a walk to Wilyer Abreu to open the frame. Bassitt has now gone at least seven innings in three of his last four starts, posting a 2.57 K/BB over that stretch. Key Matchups: Randy Arozarena (2-6, 2B, HR, RBI), Manuel Margot (1-2, BB), Isaac Paredes (1-3, RBI)

Zack Littell allowed one run on four hits over 4.2 innings against the Orioles. He struck out three. After pitching eight and seven innings, respectively, in his previous two starts, Littell only made it through 4.2 frames Sunday, departing after throwing just 55 pitches. Whatever the case, he has looked good of late, working to a 2.29 ERA while issuing just one walk in his last three turns (19.2 innings). Overall, Littell is 3-6 with a 4.12 ERA and a 4.05 FIP, with a 1.14 WHIP, and a 7.44 K/BB through 83 innings this season.

Hyun-Jin Ryu surrendered six hits and two walks over 4.2 scoreless frames against Boston. He struck out two. Ryu held the Red Sox off the board Sunday, although he wasn’t able to make it through the fifth inning after throwing an inefficient 83 pitches. While Toronto continues to monitor the left-hander’s pitch count, Ryu’s provided a steadying presence in the rotation since returning from Tommy John surgery in early August, going 3-3 with a 2.62 ERA and a 4.18 FIP in nine starts (44.2 innings). Key Matchups: Randy Arozarena (4-8, 2B, BB), Christian Bethancourt (1-2, 2B, RBI), Manuel Margot (6-21, 3 RBI), Harold Ramírez (4-8, 2 2B, RBI, 2 BB), Taylor Walls (1-4)

Taj Bradley allowed one run on three hits and one walk over five innings against the Angels. He struck out six. The right-hander retired 11 of the first 13 batters Tuesday before Logan O’Hoppe ripped a fourth-inning solo homer against the hurler. In four starts since being recalled from Triple-A on September 3, Bradley has posted a 4.29 ERA, a 1.29 WHIP, and a 2.72 K/BB across 21 frames, while six of his 10 earned runs during that stretch came on solo homers.

Yusei Kikuchi departed early from his last start, on Tuesday, because of a left upper trap muscle cramp. It doesn’t appear to be much of a concern. The 32-year-old southpaw maintains a solid 3.74 ERA and a 4.19 FIP, with a 3.70 K/BB across 158.2 innings (30 starts) this season with Toronto. Key Matchups: Randy Arozarena (4-16, HR, RBI, BB), Christian Bethancourt (2-4, RBI), Manuel Margot (4-13, 3B, RBI, BB), Rene Pinto (1-1), Harold Ramírez (3-11, BB)

Noteworthiness

— The Rays are expected to call up top infield prospect Junior Caminero. Caminero, 20, will make the leap from AA, where he was slashing .309 BA/.373 OBP/.548 SLG/.921 OPS with 20 HR, a 140 wRC+, and a .239 ISO across 314 at-bats. Caminero is not only a power threat, but his bat-to-ball skills are impeccable, with the infielder putting up just a 17.1% strikeout rate on the season. He has played at first base, third base, and shortstop, although he will likely see the most playing time at short where he has accumulated 147.1 innings on the season.