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TNWN: Rays vs. Rangers — a series preview

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Randy Arozarena hit two homers against the Yankees over the weekend. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

After taking two of three from the Yankees over the weekend, the Tampa Bay Rays will continue their opening homestand on Monday, when they welcome the Texas Rangers into the Trop for a four-game series. The Rangers are coming off a three-game sweep at the hands of the Padres.

Tampa Bay has won two of the first three series of the season, taking two of three from Miami before getting swept by the Red Sox. Yet, following the depressing three-game set against Boston, their fortunes changed against the Yankees who they just faced. Meanwhile, Texas won the final two games of the series against the Blue Jays earlier in the week only to be swept by San Diego because of awful production at the plate which included two shutout losses, as well as being the recipient of Joe Musgrove’s no-hitter.

Despite uneven production, the Rays are still averaging 4.56 runs per game, ranking them at 12th in baseball. Yet, therein lies a problem — they also own a 5.18 team ERA. That, however, is juxtaposed by a 3.33 team FIP. Meanwhile, the Rangers are scoring an average of 4 runs per game on the season, while the pitching staff enters the series with a 5.53 team ERA and a 5.22 team FIP.

The Rays showed glimpses of what we could expect, both offensively and on the mound, against a very good Yankees ball club. And while friend of the Rays, Nate Lowe, as well as a few others, got off to a good start, the Rangers are not of the same caliber as the Yankees or even the Red Sox. Does that mean the Rays should take a laissez-faire attitude toward the series? Absolutely not. It is to say, however, that they can use this four-game set as a springboard for the following series against the Bronx Bummers.

Tampa Bay is 7-3 in the last 10-games against Texas.

Pitching Probables

Over the next four days, Kevin Cash will turn to Tyler Glasnow (0-0, 0.75 ERA), Ryan Yarbrough (0-1, 5.06 ERA), Rich Hill (1-0, 7.20 ERA), and a pitcher to be named before the series finale. Chris Woodward will counter with Dane Dunning (1-0, 1.80 ERA), Kyle Gibson (1-0, 7.11 ERA), Kohei Arihara (0-1, 5.00 ERA), and Jordan Lyles (1-0, 4.50 ERA).

Tyler Glasnow got the start for Tampa Bay on Tuesday tasked with putting together a quality outing as well as shutting down a Red Sox offense that plated 11 runs the night before. Given how dominant he was on Opening Day, the question begged: would Tyler be able to put up similar numbers in his second outing of the season? The answer was yes and no. Was Glasnow as dominant on Tuesday as he was on Opening Day? No. However, he was very good nonetheless. The right-hander made some big pitches when he needed to and limited Boston to one run across six innings.

Glasnow got into trouble in the first inning when he gave up a leadoff double to Christian Arroyo that chopped its way down the left-field line. The one time Ray moved up to third on a groundout by J.D. Martinez that was full of indecision by Willy Adames, who had an opportunity to tag Arroyo as he made his way to third. Arroyo later came around to score on a wild pitch to Xander Bogaerts, who subsequently struck out on a 99 mph fastball.

From there Glasnow went to work, scattering three other hits and two walks across five scoreless frames. He used roughly the same mix of pitches as he had against Miami, although he coaxed fewer whiffs: 52 four-seam fastballs (six whiffs, 33% called strikes+whiffs), 34 cut-sliders (five whiffs, 21% called strikes+whiffs), and 10 curveballs (three whiffs, 40% called strikes+whiffs). And while Glasnow did not have the eye-popping 75% strike rate of five days ago, the results speak favorably for the Rays’ ace. His final line: 6 IP/4 H/2 BB/1 R/9 K on 97 pitches (60 strikes, 62% strike rate, 16.2 pitches per inning). Glasnow is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in one career start against Texas.

Dane Dunning pitched five innings and allowed one run on three hits and no walks while striking out six on Tuesday against the Blue Jays. The right-hander looked like he might be in for a tough night after Bo Bichette clubbed a solo homer off him in the first inning, yet that was the only run Dunning allowed during the contest. He was expected to tandem start with Wes Benjamin on Tuesday, however, Dunning was efficient enough with his pitch count — tossing 70 pitches (51 for strikes, 73% strike rate) — that he remained in the game long enough to earn the win. Dunning relies primarily on a 92mph sinker, an 82 mph slider, and a 92 mph four-seam fastball, while also mixing in an 86 mph changeup and a 79 mph curveball.

Ryan Yarbrough allowed six runs on nine hits and a walk while fanning two across five innings against the Red Sox on Wednesday. The lefty opened the season with a strong performance against Miami, tossing 5-2/3 shutout frames while striking out three, however, he wasn’t able to repeat the feat against Boston, as he barely managed to complete five innings. Yarbrough held the Red Sox without a run through the first three innings, but the wheels fell off in the fourth inning and he was eventually chased in a six-run fifth. Yarbrough is 1-0 with a 4.91 ERA in two career outings (one start) against the Rangers.

Kyle Gibson threw six shutout innings on Wednesday against Toronto. He scattered six hits and a walk while striking out eight. Gibson had a nightmarish first start of the season against the Royals, allowing five runs on four hits and three walks over one-third of an inning. Yet, he successfully quieted the Blue Jays’ bats, allowing him to lower his ERA to 7.11. Gibson is 4-5 with a 5.12 ERA in 11 career outings (10 starts) against Tampa Bay. Gibson relies primarily on a 93 mph two-seam sinker and an 84 mph slider, while also mixing in an 85 mph changeup, a 93 mph four-seam fastball, and a 79 mph curveball. Key Matchups: (3-4, HR, RBI), Mike Brosseau (1-1, 2B, 2 RBI), Yandy Díaz (1-3), Brandon Lowe (2-7, 2B, 3B, RBI), Brett Phillips (1-3), Joey Wendle (3-10, 2B, 3B)

Rich Hill took the mound on Friday with a monkey on his back after he allowed four runs in his four-inning Rays’ debut. The veteran lefty retired his first eight batters before Tyler Wade sparked a two-out rally in the third inning, reaching on an infield hit near second base. D.J. LeMahieu followed with a ground-rule double that bounced over the wall in center field, putting runners at second and third, before Giancarlo Stanton hit an RBI single against the shift, plating a pair of runs and tying the game at two. Aaron Hicks capped the four-run rally with a two-run homer.

Yet, Hill settled down and settled in, retiring the final 10 batters he faced in order and collecting two of his seven strikeouts in a 10-pitch inning that followed New York’s uprising. Hill ended up throwing six efficient innings and tossed 61 of 83 pitches for strikes (73% strike rate, 13.8 pitches per inning) without walking a batter. Hill is 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA in three career outings (one start) against the Rangers.

Kohei Arihara allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and a walk while striking out a batter over four innings against the Padres on Friday. Arihara ran into trouble after the first innings, allowing two runs in the second and an additional one in the third on a pair of extra-base hits and a sac-fly. He has been capped at 73 pitches in each of his first two turns, meaning he typically won’t pitch deeply. While the Rangers haven’t given him much run support, Arihara hasn’t been impressive either, allowing 11 hits and five earned runs in nine innings while striking out just two batters. Arihara relies primarily on a low-90’s two-seam and a four-seam fastball, a high-80’s splitter, a low-80’s slider thrown to right-handed hitters, a cutter, and a mid-70’s changeup, that he throws against left-handed hitters.

TBA

Jordan Lyles allowed three earned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out one across 4-1/3 innings on Saturday against the Padres. Lyles got through the first three innings cleanly before giving up a pair of home runs to Eric Hosmer and Ha-Seong Kim. The 30-year-old is coming off a poor start and boasts a 7.02 ERA and 1.56 WHIP thus far. Lyles is 0-0 with a 1.69 ERA in two career outings (one start) against the Rays. He relies primarily on a 93 mph four-seam fastball and an 80 mph knuckle curveball, while also mixing in an 86 mph slider and an 87 mph changeup. Key Matchups: Austin Meadows (2-3, HR, 2 RBI), Mike Zunino (2-6)

LBWMF: Rays win 4-0; earn series win while losing Archer to the IL

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These guys have had fun the last couple of days. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

In spite of the loss of another hurler to the injury bug, the Tampa Bay Rays earned their second series win of the season, defeating the New York Yankees for the second consecutive day, 4-0. They will go for the series sweep tomorrow afternoon.

Veteran right-hander Chris Archer got the start and looked very good across the first 2-1/3 frames, allowing two hits and striking out four on 42 pitches (26 strikes, 62% strike rate). Yet, something was amiss, as his fastball sat in the 90-92 mph range — below his career norms. All that came to a head one out in the third inning after he allowed a double to D.J. LeMahieu. Following the play, Archer motioned both to the dugout and catcher Francisco Mejía for a mound visit, and after a few moments of discussion, he exited the ballgame with what later had been called right lateral forearm tightness. The Rays placed Archer on the 10-day Injured List following the contest, yet he said the injury doesn’t appear to be anything too serious.

I finally felt like I was competing. I really felt like I was in my element here at home. I had a lot of friends and family, so I wanted to be out there as long as I could. But fortunate that we got ahead of something serious happening. If I need to miss a few days or miss a start, then it is what it is. We’ll be happy in the long run.

— Chris Archer

The team is expected to receive more information on the right-hander’s status after he receives an MRI on Sunday, and the club is optimistic based on the location of the injury — the lateral side of his forearm, not the “pinky” side associated with significant elbow injuries.

It doesn’t seem like it’ll be too, too long. I probably do need to rest for a couple of days and then reassess and kind of see where we’re at.

— Chris Archer

In recent days, the Rays also have suffered injuries to Nick Anderson, Pete Fairbanks, and Chaz Roe, while Ryan Sherriff was placed on the restricted list.

The team announced that Brent Honeywell will be promoted, replacing Archer on the Rays’ roster. And while this may just be his first cup of coffee, Honeywell has the ability to create a niche for himself on the staff. More on him below.

Andrew Kittredge entered in relief of Archer and finished that inning by striking out Giancarlo Stanton (swinging) with two on, maintaining the three-run advantage earned in the previous two frames.

Jeffrey Springs followed Kittredge and posted two scoreless innings, fanning three and working around a hard-hit single by Aaron Judge.

In the seventh, lanky right-hander Ryan Thompson sat the Yankees down in order on an efficient nine pitches (six strikes, 67% strike rate), while Cody Reed worked around a leadoff walk in the eighth inning, punctuated by a strikeout and a double.

Chris Mazza closed things out in a perfect eight-pitch (six strikes, 75% strike rate) ninth.

Offensively, the good guys took the initial lead against domestic abuser Domingo Germán in the first inning. With one out, Austin Meadows got ahead of the count 2-1 before he lashed a changeup off the right-field fair pole for his third home run of the season, and a one-run lead.

Then in the second inning, Joey Wendle singled off the glove of Germán before Willy Adames hit a single to center.

Both runners moved into scoring position on Brett Phillips’ groundout. It’s just a hunch, but the fact that Phillips walks up to Vanessa Carlton might have been the impetus for the outfielder’s productive day.

Finally, the Rays backstop, Mejía, bounced a comebacker off Germán’s glove which bounded into shallow right field for a two-run single. I don’t recall ever seeing a two-RBI infield single before, but alas, you see something new in every baseball game.

Finally, in the third inning, Randy Arozarena capped the scoring when he launched a 420-foot homer, presumably at a 69° launch angle, to dead centerfield. Arozarena had himself a day in the matinee contest, going 3-for-5, and he now has hit safely in each of his first seven games to start the season.

Following the contest, the Yankees optioned right-handed domestic abuser Germán to their alternate site.

The New What Next

The Rays will go for the sweep on Sunday behind the tandem of Brent Honeywell and Michael Wacha (). They’ll be opposed by Jordan Montgomery (1-0, 0.00 ERA).

Brent Honeywell touched 95 mph with his fastball and mixed in offspeed and breaking pitches during his lone Spring Training outing against the Red Sox. The right-hander threw one inning and allowed one earned run on one hit and a walk in his first appearance in a live game since September 19, 2017. He reportedly hit 95 mph with his fastball while also mixing in a slider, changeup, and a screwball. More importantly, though, he left the outing healthy. He will open the contest ahead of bulk-guy Michael Wacha.

Michael Wacha gave up five runs (four earned) on eight hits and two walks over five innings against the Red Sox. He struck out six. He was fairly whiffy, which was nice, although it was a rough debut for Wacha, who tossed 65 of 90 pitches for strikes (72% strike rate). Wacha is 0-1 with a 5.63 ERA in three career starts against the Yankees.

Jordan Montgomery scattered four hits across six scoreless frames in Monday’s win over Baltimore. He struck out seven. Montgomery was terrific from the jump, retiring the first six batters he faced while allowing just one baserunner through the front four innings. The only time he was in danger was in a first-and-third situation during the fifth inning, although he managed to escape the threat with a timely groundout. The southpaw is 1-2 with a 5.14 ERA in six starts against the Rays. Last season, Montgomery relied primarily on a 93 mph sinker, an 83 mph changeup, an 81 mph curveball, and a 93 mph four-seam fastball, while also mixing in an 89 mph cutter. Key Matchups: Willy Adames (1-2, 2B), Randy Arozrena (1-1, HR, 2 RBI), Mike Brosseau (1-1, HR, 2 RBI), Yandy Diaz (1-2, 2 RBI), Manuel Margot (1-1, 2B), Austin Meadows (2-2)

You can read about the series in our preview, while the starting lineup is below.

TNWN: Rays vs. Yankees — a series preview

Rays 4/11/21 Starting Lineup

  1. Díaz 1B
  2. Arozarena RF
  3. Meadows DH
  4. Margot CF
  5. Brosseau 2B
  6. Lowe LF
  7. Adames SS
  8. Zunino C
  9. Padlo 3B
  10. Honeywell Jr. RHP

LBWMF: Rich Hill, as well as the Rays’ offense, snap the four-game skid, 10-5 against the Bronx Bummers

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I cannot articulate how happy I was to be in attendance at a baseball game again after a year and seven months. (Photo Credit: X-Rays Spex)

The Rays scored runs across four different innings, while left-hander Rich Hill put together a gutsy six-inning start, as Tampa Bay snapped its four-game skid on Friday, defeating the Yankees 10-5.

After all of the Opening Day pomp and circumstance, Hill took the mound with a monkey on his back after he allowed four runs in his four-inning Rays’ debut. The veteran lefty retired his first eight batters before Tyler Wade sparked a two-out rally in the third inning, reaching on an infield hit near second base. D.J. LeMahieu followed with a ground-rule double that bounced over the wall in center field, putting runners at second and third, before Giancarlo Stanton hit an RBI single against the shift, plating a pair of runs and tying the game at two. Aaron Hicks capped the four-run rally with a two-run homer.

Yet, Hill settled down and settled in, retiring the final 10 batters he faced in order and collecting two of his seven strikeouts in a 10-pitch inning that followed New York’s uprising. Hill ended up throwing six efficient innings and tossed 61 of 83 pitches for strikes (73% strike rate, 13.8 pitches per inning) without walking a batter.

He was outstanding the entire game.

— Kevin Cash

Meanwhile, Tampa Bay took the initial lead in the second inning against veteran right-hander Corey Kluber. Yandy Díaz reached on a one-out throwing error by de facto third baseman D.J. LeMahieu, who was playing in place of Gio Urshela after he was placed on the COVID-19 related IL.

Joey Wendle moved Díaz up 180 feet when he rolled a single into right before Willy Adames doubled off the top of the right-field wall for a one-run lead. Brett Phillips capped the scoring on a sac-fly to center.

Then, down by a pair in the third, Tampa Bay moved in front for good against Kluber and Nick Nelson. Yoshi Tsutsugo ripped a single off the wall in right before Austin Meadows walked to put two on for Randy Arozarena, who plated a run on a base hit to right. Díaz walked to load the bases, and Yankees skipper Aaron Boone had seen enough.

Nick Nelson entered in relief, and Joey Wendle welcomed him with a two-base hit over the head of Mike Tauchman in left, scoring two and putting Tampa Bay up by one.

But, Tampa Bay wasn’t done, as they added three more runs in the following frame.

After Mike Zunino was hit by a 1-2 pitch, Tsutsugo earned a free pass, and Meadows lined a single to right, loading the bases. Lowe made up for a caught-looking strikeout the inning prior by lining a double to the left-center gap, scoring three and putting the Rays up by four. Díaz plated one last run in the inning, ripping a base hit to right.

Willy Adames capped Tampa Bay’s offensive onslaught with a seventh-inning homer to right field.

All told, the Rays scored 10 runs on 13 hits, three walks, and a hit by pitch, while going 6-for-16 wRISP (.375 BA). Every Ray plated a run except Phillips who drove in an RBI.

Hunter Strickland, who was recalled Friday morning when Pete Fairbanks went on the IL, followed Hill for two innings, striking out three and walking one while allowing a solo homer to Giancarlo Stanton. Chris Mazza closed things out, working around a pair of singles in the ninth to end the game on a high note.

The New What Next

The Rays will face the Yankees in the second game of the three-game set on Saturday afternoon. Chris Archer (0-1, 13.50 ERA) will get the start for Tampa Bay, pitching opposite of Domingo Germán (0-1, 9.00 ERA).

Chris Archer entered Saturday’s contest against the Marlins in the fifth inning following Rich Hill and allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits and a walk across two innings. He struck out two. For his part, Archer was able to get first-pitch strikes on eight of the 11 batters he faced, although it took him a whopping 52 pitches to get just six outs. Then again, if his FIP and BABIP against speak to anything, it’s that Archer was the recipient of bad luck due to misplays by the fielders behind him. Yes, he gave up the run-scoring hits and allowed a lot of hard contact, but his final line does not give an accurate depiction of how he performed in his first outing of the season. The right-hander is 6-7 with a 3.14 ERA in 18 career starts against the Bronx Bummers.

Domingo Germán surrendered three runs on four hits and a walk while fanning two across three innings on Sunday against Toronto. Germán tossed nine scoreless frames during Spring Training, striking out 13 and walking just one, yet he wasn’t able to replicate those results in his season debut and lasted just three innings before being lifted. He is 3-0 with a 5.14 ERA in five outings (four starts) against Tampa Bay, and 1-0 with an 8.10 ERA in three outings (two starts) at Tropicana Field. In 2019, his last big league season, Germán relied primarily on an 82 mph curveball and a 94 mph four-seam fastball, while also mixing in an 87 mph changeup and a 94 mph sinker. Key Matchups: Yandy Diaz (2-6, HR, RBI), Brandon Lowe (1-3), Austin Meadows (3-6, 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI)

You can read about the series in our preview, while the starting lineup and Noteworthiness are below.

TNWN: Rays vs. Yankees — a series preview

Rays 4/10/21 Starting Lineup

  1. Tsutsugo DH
  2. Meadows LF
  3. Arozarena RF
  4. B. Lowe 2B
  5. Díaz 1B
  6. Wendle 3B
  7. Adames SS
  8. Phillips CF
  9. Mejía C
  10. Archer RHP

Noteworthiness

— The Tampa Bay Rays raised their championship banners before the game, and boy do they look pretty.

(Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

TNWN: Rays vs. Yankees — a series preview

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The Rays open a home set against the Yankees on Friday, in the friendly confines of Tropicana Field. (Photo Credit: X-Rays Spex)

After an abysmal 2-4 start to the 2021 regular season, including three consecutive losses at the hands of the Red Sox, the Tampa Bay Rays return home to the friendly confines of Tropicana Field, where they will play host to the New York Yankees over the next three days. The Yankees are coming off a series win against the Orioles.

In the span of six ballgames, the Rays have been participants of three blowouts, including two against Boston. Tampa Bay’s vaunted pitching staff couldn’t hold it together against the Red Sox, allowing 26 runners to cross the plate — 11 of which came with two outs. The Rays enter play with a -19 run differential and in the throes of a four-game losing streak.

We just have not been playing good baseball the last couple of days. I think that’s pretty obvious. Offensively, defensively, on the mound at times.

— Kevin Cash

For their part, the Yankees received great work from their pitching staff through the front six games. This, while Tampa Bay has struggled to keep runs off the board. However, no team in the Modern Era has had a perpetual sub-2.00 ERA pitching staff, and while the Yankees have been good thus far, their success is not sustainable. Meanwhile, there have been many teams with a corps of hurlers that have worked to a +5.00 ERA, yet I’d be truly surprised if the Rays are that bad. Put another way, regression is due for both teams at some point … and if you’re a player or a fan, you hope that point is now.

Neither team has been an offensive juggernaut by any stretch of the imagination, with Tampa Bay slashing just .208 BA/.294 OBP/.337 SLG/.631 OPS/.285 wOBA with an 85 wRC+, and New York slashing .254 BA/.342 OBP/.378 SLG/.720 OPS/.325 wOBA with a 107 wRC+. Interestingly enough though, while they have massively underperformed the Yankees overall, and as it relates to wRAA (weighted runs above average), -4.8 to 2.7, New York has plated just two more runs than Tampa Bay. In other words, if the Rays pitching staff can, somehow, figure out how to keep things together, they will have a fighting chance against the Yankees this weekend.

Last season the Rays went 8-2 in the 10 games against the Yankees and outscored them 47-34. They also won the best-of-five ALDS.

Pitching Probables

Over the next three days, Kevin Cash will turn to Rich Hill (0-0, 9.00 ERA), Chris Archer (0-1, 13.50 ERA), and a hurler or hurlers to be named before the series finale. Aaron Boone will counter with Corey Kluber (0-0, 2.25 ERA), Domingo Germán (0-1, 9.00 ERA), and Jordan Montgomery (1-0, 0.00 ERA).

Rich Hill allowed four earned runs on five hits and two walks across four innings against the Marlins on Saturday. He struck out four. The veteran southpaw worked up to 71 pitches (52 strikes, 73% strike rate) in his planned tandem start with Chris Archer and gave up a run apiece in each of his four frames. Hill allowed a good amount of hard contact — surrendering a pair of doubles and a solo homer — which helped lead to the relatively poor outing. He is 2-2 with a 6.69 ERA in 11 games (three starts) against the Yankees, although he hasn’t faced them since 2016, so take that with a grain of salt.

Corey Kluber tossed four innings on Saturday against Toronto, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and three walks while striking out five. Kluber’s velocity rarely got above 90 mph — down from the average of 92.0 mph he managed in his last healthy season — although it was a decent enough outing in terms of results. He, however, walked two batters in the third inning and uncorked a wild pitch which preceded a throwing error by catcher Gary Sanchez. He later served up a homer to Marcus Semien before being pulled from the game, having thrown 74 pitches. Kluber is 5-2 with a 2.67 ERA in 10 career starts against the Rays, but 2-1 with a 4.35 ERA in four starts at the Trop. In his injury-marred 2020 campaign, Kluber relied primarily on a 92 mph two-seam sinker and an 84 mph slider, while also mixing in an 89 mph cutter, a 92 mph four-seam fastball, and an 84 mph changeup. Key Matchups: Willy Adames (1-3), Manuel Margot (1-3), Joey Wendle (2-4, 3B)

Chris Archer entered Saturday’s contest against the Marlins in the fifth inning following Rich Hill and allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits and a walk across two innings. He struck out two. For his part, Archer was able to get first-pitch strikes on eight of the 11 batters he faced, although it took him a whopping 52 pitches to get just six outs. Then again, if his FIP and BABIP against speak to anything, it’s that Archer was the recipient of bad luck due to misplays by the fielders behind him. Yes, he gave up the run-scoring hits and allowed a lot of hard contact, but his final line does not give an accurate depiction of how he performed in his first outing of the season. The right-hander is 6-7 with a 3.14 ERA in 18 career starts against the Bronx Bummers.

Domingo Germán surrendered three runs on four hits and a walk while fanning two across three innings on Sunday against Toronto. Germán tossed nine scoreless frames during Spring Training, striking out 13 and walking just one, yet he wasn’t able to replicate those results in his season debut and lasted just three innings before being lifted. He is 3-0 with a 5.14 ERA in five outings (four starts) against Tampa Bay, and 1-0 with an 8.10 ERA in three outings (two starts) at Tropicana Field. In 2019, his last big league season, Germán relied primarily on an 82 mph curveball and a 94 mph four-seam fastball, while also mixing in an 87 mph changeup and a 94 mph sinker. Key Matchups: Yandy Diaz (2-6, HR, RBI), Brandon Lowe (1-3), Austin Meadows (3-6, 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI)

TBA

Jordan Montgomery scattered four hits across six scoreless frames in Monday’s win over Baltimore. He struck out seven. Montgomery was terrific from the jump, retiring the first six batters he faced while allowing just one baserunner through the front four innings. The only time he was in danger was in a first-and-third situation during the fifth inning, although he managed to escape the threat with a timely groundout. The southpaw is 1-2 with a 5.14 ERA in six starts against the Rays. Last season, Montgomery relied primarily on a 93 mph sinker, an 83 mph changeup, an 81 mph curveball, and a 93 mph four-seam fastball, while also mixing in an 89 mph cutter. Key Matchups: Willy Adames (1-2, 2B), Randy Arozrena (1-1, HR, 2 RBI), Mike Brosseau (1-1, HR, 2 RBI), Yandy Diaz (1-2, 2 RBI), Manuel Margot (1-1, 2B), Austin Meadows (2-2)

Noteworthiness

— The Rays announced their food and beverage offerings for the 2021 season, which you can read about here.


— The Rays made a slew of roster moves on Friday, one of which is unfortunate as Pete Fairbanks was placed on the 10-Day Injured List with a right rotator cuff strain.

Fairbanks says he felt the injury the day after pitching in Boston. He hasn’t had a shoulder injury before, but after getting examined doesn’t think it’s severe. Rays skipped Kevin Cash said that Pete Fairbanks would be shut down for two-to-three weeks before the resumption of throwing.

Meanwhile, C Joseph Odom was designated for assignment to make room for RHP Hunter Strickland. OF Brett Phillips activated from the IL, while C Deivy Grullon cleared intake protocols and will report to the alternate training site, in Port Charlotte.

TNWN: Rays vs. Red Sox — a series preview

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Chris Archer made his not so triumphant return to the mound in the series finale against the Marlins, on Saturday. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

After winning their first series of the season, two-games-to-one against the Marlins, the Tampa Bay Rays will kick-start a three-game set in Boston. The Red Sox are coming off a series sweep by the Baltimore Orioles.

Tampa Bay opened the season strongly by taking care of business against Miami. Granted, the pitching didn’t look quite Rays-like in the series finale, they, however, managed to come away with a pair of wins to solidify the opening series victory.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox opened their season with a .145 BA/.206 OBP/.177 SLG/.383 OBP slash line on the heels of a five-run assault on Baltimore’s hurlers. As it was written elsewhere, “you’d have to go all the way back to 1948 to find the last time the Red Sox opened with a 0-3 start at Fenway Park. They got shut out in the opener before dropping a 4-2 loss and eventually getting plowed 11-3 in the finale.”

The Rays certainly didn’t blow anyone away, offensively speaking, last season, however, they held their own. Still, Tampa Bay compensated for their average to slightly above average offense by suffocating the opposition with their defense, while the pitching rotation ranked third in the league in ERA — averaging the sixth-most punch outs. Yet, they won’t go far this season if they continue to relinquish 16 runs over the course of a three-game series. That being said, they could find themselves in a position to stabilize the pitching staff and get back on track against the 7 wRC+ performing Red Sox heading into their first homestand at the end of the week.

Tampa Bay won all four games in Boston last season, and have won eight straight overall dating back to 2019.

Pitching Probables

Over the next three days, Kevin Cash will call upon Michael Wacha, Tyler Glasnow (0-0, 0.00 ERA), and Ryan Yarbrough (0-0, 0.00 ERA). Alex Cora will counter with Nick Pivetta, Martin Pérez, and Nathan Eovaldi (0-1, 1.69 ERA).

Michael Wacha finished Spring Training with a 0.60 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, .176 BAA, and 6.00 K/BB across 15 innings of work (five appearances). In his final tuneup before the start of the regular season, Wacha threw three frames against Detroit last Tuesday — a game in which he pitched as the bulk reliever behind Cody Reed. There is a possibility he could be deployed behind an opener on Monday. The right-hander is 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA in one career start against the Red Sox.

Nick Pivetta, who spent the majority of his career in the National League, allowed six runs on six hits and three walks while striking out three across four innings in one of his final spring outings. Prior to that, the right-hander had been sharp during his first three Spring Training turns before falling victim to spotty command. Pivetta has never faced the Rays, although he thrived in his only start at Fenway last season, limiting Baltimore to one run over five innings. Last season, Pivetta relied primarily on a 93 mph four-seam fastball and an 80 mph curveball, while also mixing in an 86 mph slider and an 86 mph changeup.

Tyler Glasnow made his first-ever Opening Day start and was dominant, allowing only a first-inning, two-out infield dribbler to third off the bat of Jesus Aguilar.

Leaning heavily on his four-seam fastball (40 thrown, 24 strikes, 60% strike rate, 18% SwStr%) and his newfound cut-slider (26 thrown, 16 strikes, 62% strike rate, 19% SwStr%), Glasnow kept Miami’s over-anxious batters off-balance, limiting hard contact while coaxing seven ground outs to three fly ball outs. His fastball sat at 98 mph, although he hit the century mark on more than one occasion. And after Glasnow relinquished his lone hit, he retired his next 16 batters in a row, collecting six strikeouts overall. The right-hander threw 57 of 76 pitches for strikes (75% strike rate) and, impressively, found himself in just two three-ball counts.

Martin Pérez allowed five runs (none earned) on five hits while striking out four back on March 25 against Minnesota. He was the victim of fielding errors from Michael Chavis and Rafael Devers, although Pérez did manage to throw more strikes in this outing after he walked five during his previous start. He thrived against Tampa Bay in 2020, going 2-1 with a 2.30 ERA, however, Pérez didn’t get any wins at home last season, going 0-4 with a 5.46 ERA in six starts at Fenway. Last season, he relied primarily on an 89 mph cutter and an 84 mph circle changeup, while also mixing in a 92 mph sinker, a 93 mph four-seam fastball, and a 78 mph curveball. Key Matchups: Randy Arozarena (1-3), Michael Brosseau (4-10, 3 2B, HR, 3 RBI), Yandy Díaz (5-15, 2 2B, 2 RBI), Brandon Lowe (2-5, 2 RBI), Mike Zunino (6-22, 3 HR, 5 RBI)

Ryan Yarbrough got the start for Tampa Bay and retired the first nine batters in order by doing what he is wont to do: forcing weak contact. In fact, the left-hander limited hard contact all night; just two at-bats resulted in exit velocities of +95 mph, and even then both resulted in fly-ball outs. Yarbrough allowed base runners in the fourth inning, yet a Garrett Cooper double play ended the threat. Then in the fifth inning, he allowed a two-out base hit to Jazz Chisholm Jr., but a ground ball out by Jorge Alfaro whacked Miami’s mole, ending the inning. After giving up a two-out double to Starling Marte that bounced down the third base line, Yarbrough was lifted. He was efficient, throwing 65 pitches (41 strikes, 63% strike rate) total, and leaned heavily on his cutter/changeup combo while sprinkling in a few sinkers and curveballs for good measure. Yarbrough’s final line: 5.2 IP/4 H/3 K/0 BB/4 groundouts/5 fly ball outs.

Nathan Eovaldi gave up one run on four hits and a walk over 5-1/3 innings while striking out four. The right-hander found himself in a pitchers’ duel with John Means and exited the game in the sixth inning with the score still knotted up at zero, but Eovaldi got saddled with the loss when former Rays hurler Matt Andriese allowed his inherited runner to score. Eovaldi is coming off a strong 2020, posting career highs in strikeouts and walk rates. Even so, Eovaldi is 2-5 with a 5.48 ERA in 10 career outings (eight starts) against Tampa Bay. Last season, he relied primarily on a 98 mph four-seam fastball and a 93 mph cutter, while also mixing in an 80 mph curveball, an 88 mph splitter, and an 89 mph slider. Key Matchups: Michael Brosseau (1-1), Yandy Díaz (2-7, RBI), Kevin Kiermaier (3-11, 3B, 4 RBI), Manuel Margo (1-2), Austin Meadows (5-9, 2B, 3B, HR, 3 RBI), Joey Wendle (5-7, 2B, 3B, HR, RBI)

Noteworthiness

— The Rays placed LHP Ryan Sherriff on the restricted list for private reasons over the weekend. Aside from C Joseph Odom, who was temporarily recalled to fill Sherriff’s spot on the roster, the Rays have not yet announced a long-term substitute for the loss of Sherriff. Shane McClanahan and Josh Fleming are two southpaws that could be recalled, although both are being stretched out for a starting role.

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