X-Rays Spex

A Below Average Rays Fan Blog

TNWN: Rays in salvage mode; Glasnow and Duffy updates

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  • Despite going 1-for-4 with an RBI, not even Avisail Garcia could help the Rays defeat the New York Yankees on Tuesday. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays are in salvage mode after dropping the first two games in New York against the Yankees. Tampa Bay enters play at 2-6 against the Yankees this season and has lost 14 of the last 15 road series with the Yankees (the Rays are 12-33 in New York 2014).

The 6-3 loss yesterday was all the more disappointing since the pitching staff (minus Ryan Yarbrough, who was excellent) could not contain the Yankees, not to mention Yandy Diaz (left hamstring tightness) was not in the lineup. Diaz has been placed on the Injured List retroactive to Monday, while INF Daniel Robertson has been recalled to take his place on the active roster.

Diaz left Sunday’s game in the ninth inning, and hasn’t played since. Rays manager Kevin Cash spoke about the potential loss of Diaz prior to the roster move.

We’re trying to take it as a day-to-day thing. The last thing you want to do is put him out there when he’s not feeling right and something maybe a little more severe possibly could happen. He’s been such a big part of the offense lately, even on the homestand he was really swinging the bat well. We don’t want to lose him for an extended period of time.

— Kevin Cash

Speaking of poor pitching, Rays skipper Kevin Cash said that pulling Yarbrough for Chaz Roe — who allowed three runs in 2/3 of an inning on Tuesday, and eight runs across 5-2/3 innings extending back to June 2 — was a “difficult decision,” however, he wanted the matchup against all the Yankees right-handed hitters. Cash went on to say that even though Oliver Drake was warming up in the bullpen, he wanted to stay with Roe through the frame.

For his part, Roe said, “I felt good. I threw some pitches that were out of the zone and they were just able to get enough wood on it for it to fall in. Things just didn’t go my way tonight.”

Personally, I would love to stop seeing Chaz Roe in any high leverage situations, as would most Rays fans.

Over the life of this series, Tampa Bay has been outscored 9-3 and out homered 4-0. The Rays have now allowed 16 homers in the last 15 days, while New York has homered in 21 consecutive games — four shy of the franchise record. Per Neil Solondz (Rays Radio) the Rays are 8-8 in their stretch of 21 games in 20 days from June 4-23 and are 16-13 in their stretch of 34 games in 34 days.

The New What Next

Left-hander Blake Snell (4-5, 3.70 ERA) will get the start for the Rays, pitching opposite of Grimace lookalike C.C. Sabathia (3-4, 4.42 ERA).

Blake Snell allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits and four walks across 3-1/3 against the Angels on Friday. He struck out three. That start marked Snell’s shortest outing since May 1, although he was able to avoid a loss because the Rays offense scored nine runs against the Angels bullpen. Snell has been a little hot and cold of late, yielding just one run in three of his last seven starts, but more than three runs in under five frames in his other two. Overall, Snell is 4-5 with a 3.70 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 101 punch outs across 75-1/3 innings this season, and is 3-5 with a 3.97 ERA in 13 career starts against the Yankees (59.0 innings of work).

C.C. Sabathia coughed up six runs (five earned) on 10 hits and three walks while striking out three over 4-2/3 innings against the White Sox. Sabathia was tagged for four first-inning runs, including a three-run blast by Eloy Jimenez, and things went downhill from there. The left-hander had been taken deep at least once in nine straight starts, and as a result, he carries a 4.42 ERA and 2.38 K/BB through 57 into his next outing against Tampa Bay, on Wednesday. Over his career against the Rays, Sabathia is 17-16 with a 3.63 ERA and is 0-0 with a 2.45 ERA in two starts against the Rays this season ― although he averaged 5.5 IP in each of those starts. Key Matchups: Willy Adames (3-12, HR, 2 RBI, BB), Travis d’Arnaud (3-9, 2 BB), Kevin Kiermaier (5-16, 2 HR, 2 RBI), Brandon Lowe (1-4, BB), Austin Meadows (1-4, BB), Joey Wendle (1-2), Mike Zunino (5-11, HR, RBI, BB)

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

TNWN: Rays vs Yankees ― yet another series preview

Rays 6/19/19 Starting Lineup

  1. d’Arnaud C
  2. Pham LF
  3. Meadows RF
  4. Garcia DH
  5. Adames SS
  6. Lowe 2B
  7. Heredia CF
  8. Choi 1B
  9. Robertson 3B

Noteworthiness

― Tyler Glasnow was happy with his 15 pitch bullpen session (all fastballs) and lines up to throw another on Friday.

First time throwing off the mound in a long time, but it felt like I hadn’t taken any time off, so that’s good.

― Tyler Glasnow

The right-hander hasn’t thrown any breaking balls yet but said working on his lower-half mechanics will make it easier to spin the ball, which he will likely start next week.

I’m a big believer, for me anyway, the more consistent I am and strong in the low half, like if my hips are in the right spot and I’m not cross firing and I feel strong with my legs and everything comes out in the right spot. So I know if my fastball feels good, my curveball is going to feel good. It’s basically like the exact same thing, it’s just over and under. But the consistency as far as pitch location was extremely good, so I know my curveball will come along.

― Tyler Glasnow

― 3B Matt Duffy (hamstring, back) took batting practice with the Gulf Coast League Rays yesterday, and logged at-bats in a simulated game in Port Charlotte. The Rays manager said Duffy told him this is “probably the best he’s felt where he has not felt anything in his hamstring, which is a great sign.”

We’ll start this back up, the buildup, the playing time. He’s still got a ways to go. Everything’s been interrupted so far. Hopefully, we can get it to go with no interruptions.

— Kevin Cash

Rays 6/18/19 pregame notes; on Alvarado, Duffy, and Glasnow

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  • Citing a need for a fresh arm in the ‘pen, the Rays recalled right-hander Andrew Kittredge from Triple-A Durham on Tuesday. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

After a 3-0 loss to the New York Yankees on Monday, the Tampa Bay Rays look to bounce back tonight in the Bronx. Tampa Bay enters play at 42-28 on the season and 1-1/2 games back of the Yankees in the AL East.

Yankee Stadium has been a house of horrors for Tampa Bay, as the Rays have lost three of four there this season, and the last 14 series openers in that ballpark. That’s due in part to a pitching staff that hasn’t been able to keep the ball in the yard of late, allowing 14 homers in the last 14 days. Accordingly, the Yankees homered for all of their runs last night and now have hit the long ball in 20 consecutive games.

It won’t get any easier for the Rays tonight. After adding Edwin Encarnacion to the lineup yesterday Giancarlo Stanton will be activated from the Injured List today.

The New What Next

Ryne Stanek (0-1, 2.45 ERA) will open for the Rays tonight Ryan Yarbrough (5-3, 5.59 ERA). They will be opposed by left-hander J.A. Happ (6-3, 4.66 ERA).

Ryne Stanek will make his third open this year against New York, and fifth appearance against them overall. In the two previous opening turns, he has allowed one run in four innings, with the run coming on a solo homer by Kendrys Morales, who’s currently on the IL.

Ryan Yarbrough allowed five runs on five hits and one walk across six innings against the Angels on Thursday. He struck out four. All five hits went for extra bases ― including a three-run homer from Shohei Ohtani, and a two-run shot from Albert Pujols. Aside from that, Yarbrough pitched quite well and needed an efficient 90 pitches (58 strikes, 64% strike rate) to complete six innings. Yarbrough’s form has been erratic lately; he’s allowed five or more earned runs three times in the last six starts while yielding two or fewer in the other three. He is 3-2 with a 3.71 ERA in 17 career innings against the Yankees.

J.A. Happ allowed four runs on four hits and four walks while striking out two through five innings in his last start. Happ looked solid until the fourth inning when he loaded the bases on a single and a pair of walks ― it was the first time all season that Happ pitched with the bases loaded. Despite throwing nine straight balls, the 36-year-old managed to wiggle out of the jam without any damage. The White Sox got to Happ again in the fifth inning when the left-hander gave up a leadoff walk to Yolmer Sanchez, then allowed a single to Ryan Cordell and an RBI double to Leury Garcia. Tim Anderson followed with a three-run, 416-foot homer to even the score at four apiece. The long ball has proven to be Happ’s nemesis this season, and Thursday was no exception. He carries a 4.68 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and a 3.21 K/BB on the season, and is 4-4 with a 4.34 ERA in 16 career starts against Tampa Bay. He relies primarily on a whiffy 92 mph four-seam fastball and an 89 mph worm-killer sinker which has some natural sinking action, while also mixing in an 84 mph slider with little depth, and an 86 mph changeup with some natural sinking action. Key Matchups: Avisail Garcia (3-9, 2 HR, 2 RBI), Guillermo Heredia (2-7, BB)

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

TNWN: Rays vs Yankees ― yet another series preview

Rays 6/18/19 Starting Lineup

  1. d’Arnaud 1B
  2. Pham DH
  3. Lowe 2B
  4. García RF
  5. Adames SS
  6. Kiermaier CF
  7. Heredia LF
  8. Zunino C
  9. Wendle 3B

Noteworthiness

— Citing a need for a fresh arm in the ‘pen, the Rays recalled right-hander Andrew Kittredge — who was originally slated to be recalled last week but his wife, Tobey, gave birth to their first child — from Triple-A Durham. The Rays had an open spot on the 40-man roster with Jose Alvarado still on the restricted list. To make room on the active roster, Tampa Bay optioned right-hander Jake Faria, who pitched across multiple innings last night.

— Speaking of Jose Alvarado, his return to the roster doesn’t appear imminent, with manager Kevin Cash telling Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) that Alvarado will need a restart similar to an abbreviated spring training before he’s ready to rejoin the club.

I hope it doesn’t take that long, but we’re going to make sure we do everything and be responsible. We want him back right now, but we want him to come back and be the guy that he is for us, and we can’t rush that.

— Kevin Cash

The right-hander reported to Port Charlotte to resume throwing after a two-week stay in his native Venezuela. While Alvarado is in a “pretty good spot,” the Rays skipper couldn’t place a definitive timetable on his return.

Per Topkin, Cash did say that Alvarado will have to show he can pitch on consecutive days, so he will likely have to get some minor-league games under his belt before he is activated. But that would only come after bullpen sessions and live BP.

Throwing strikes, commanding the baseball and how he’s bouncing back from his outings, from the bullpen sessions, from live BP, whatever it is, it’s how he bounces back because we don’t have any relievers that aren’t capable of throwing on two consecutive days.

— Kevin Cash

— Matt Duffy (hamstring, back) is expected to take batting practice today with the Gulf Coast League Rays and have four or five at-bats in a simulated game in Port Charlotte.

— Tyler Glasnow (right forearm strain) is scheduled to throw 15-20 fastballs at Yankee Stadium in his first bullpen session since suffering the injury on May 10th against the Yankees.

Glasnow threw off a mound for the first time on Saturday, throwing entirely fastballs.

Everybody is kind of thumbs up at this point. The ball is coming out of his hand effortlessly and pain free. That’s a good sign.

— Kevin Cash

Glasnow will remain with the team and work with pitching coach Kyle Snyder and bullpen coach Stan Boroski while he builds up from the injury.

He’s done such a good job of working with Kyle and every bit of information that we can find through this buildup process, I think it makes (the) most sense to have Kyle and Stan’s eyes on it and for everyone to communicate on it as it’s going. You watch Tyler throw bullpens and there’s a lot of conversation that goes on between pitches. Don’t want to take that away from him as he’s building back up to join our club.

— Kevin Cash

TNWN: Rays vs Yankees ― yet another series preview

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Kevin Kiermaier and the Rays capped their seven-game home stand with a series split against the Angels. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

After defeating the Los Angeles Angels 6-5 on Sunday, allowing Tampa Bay to earn a series split, the Rays hit the road for a 10-game, 11-day road trip. First stop the Bronx, where they’ll face the first-place Yankees. The Yankees are coming off a series split against the White Sox.

(Stats Credit: ESPN)

The Rays have the best road record in baseball at 23-10, yet this trip will be a challenging one. They’ll start in New York (2-4), fly across the country for a three-game set in Oakland (1-2), and cap things off in Minnesota (1-3) ― all while facing three teams that have won their respective sets against Tampa Bay this season. The first two series wrap up a 21-game, 20-day stretch of play without an off-day. So far, Tampa Bay is 8-6 over that spread.

New York is the only team to win a road series against Tampa Bay this season. In kind, this set provides a particularly tough matchup for a few reasons. As Neil Solondz (Rays Radio) noted, one is that the Rays have had a difficult time lately against lefties, and two of the three pitchers New York will throw are southpaws (C.C. Sabathia and J.A. Happ). The other starter is Masahiro Tanaka (4-5, 3.58 ERA) who has already faced and won against the Rays twice this season.

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

The Yankees haven’t been firing on all their cylinders of late, however, they are expected to activate Edwin Encarnacion on Monday and Giancarlo Stanton on Tuesday. Tampa Bay will likely add another right-hander to the relief corps to compensate for New York’s right-handed heavy lineup.

Pitching Probables

Over the next three days, Kevin Cash will lean on bulk guys Yonny Chirinos (7-2, 2.88 ERA) and Ryan Yarbrough (5-3, 5.59 ERA) in some capacity, and left-hander Blake Snell (4-5, 3.70 ERA). Aaron Boone will counter with Masahiro Tanaka (4-5, 3.58 ERA), J.A. Happ (6-3, 4.66 ERA), and the ever swarthy C.C. Sabathia (3-4, 4.42 ERA).

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

Yonny Chirinos allowed two runs on seven hits and a walk across six innings against the Athletics on Wednesday. He struck out seven. Oakland had traffic on the basepaths most of the night, yet they only scored against Chirinos on an infield single and solo home rum. The Rays didn’t give right-hander much run support, although they did score twice in the seventh inning to tie the game and get him off the hook. Chirinos enters play with a 7-2 record and a 2.88 ERA, a 0.98 WHIP, and 62 strikeouts across 75 innings this season. He is 2-1 with a 2.33 ERA across 19-1/3 career innings against the Yankees, and 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA across 4-2/3 innings at Yankee Stadium.

Masahiro Tanaka allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits and no walks over 6-2/3 innings in the first game of a doubleheader against the Mets on Tuesday. He struck out seven. Tanaka ran into trouble in the third inning when he allowed a run on a Juan Lagares infield single and a three-run homer to Jeff McNeil. He steadied after that, relinquishing just one more run on a sixth-inning RBI single and pitched into the seventh inning. The right-hander has a 3.58 ERA and 1.18 WHIP this season and is 1-0 with a 0.69 ERA in two 2019 starts against the Rays. Key Matchups: Ji-Man Choi (4-11, 2 2B, BB), Avisail Garcia (5-18, 2B, RBI, 2 BB), Guillermo Heredia (1-4), Kevin Kiermaier (8-28, 2B, 3B, HR, RBI, BB), Tommy Pham (4-11, 2B, HR, 2 RBI), Joey Wendle (3-5, 2B, 2 RBI), Mike Zunino (5-16, 2 2B, HR, RBI)

Ryan Yarbrough allowed five runs on five hits and one walk across six innings against the Angels on Thursday. He struck out four. All five hits went for extra bases ― including a three-run homer from Shohei Ohtani, and a two-run shot from Albert Pujols. Aside from that, Yarbrough pitched quite well and needed an efficient 90 pitches (58 strikes, 64% strike rate) to complete six innings. Yarbrough’s form has been erratic lately; he’s allowed five or more earned runs three times in the last six starts while yielding two or fewer in the other three. He is 3-2 with a 3.71 ERA in 17 career innings against the Yankees.

J.A. Happ allowed four runs on four hits and four walks while striking out two through five innings in his last start. Happ looked solid until the fourth inning when he loaded the bases on a single and a pair of walks ― it was the first time all season that Happ pitched with the bases loaded. Despite throwing nine straight balls, the 36-year-old managed to wiggle out of the jam without any damage. The White Sox got to Happ again in the fifth inning when the left-hander gave up a leadoff walk to Yolmer Sanchez, then allowed a single to Ryan Cordell and an RBI double to Leury Garcia. Tim Anderson followed with a three-run, 416-foot homer to even the score at four apiece. The long ball has proven to be Happ’s nemesis this season, and Thursday was no exception. He carries a 4.68 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and a 3.21 K/BB on the season, and is 4-4 with a 4.34 ERA in 16 career starts against Tampa Bay. He relies primarily on a whiffy 92 mph four-seam fastball and an 89 mph worm-killer sinker which has some natural sinking action, while also mixing in an 84 mph slider with little depth, and an 86 mph changeup with some natural sinking action. Key Matchups: Avisail Garcia (3-9, 2 HR, 2 RBI), Guillermo Heredia (2-7, BB)

Blake Snell allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits and four walks across 3-1/3 against the Angels on Friday. He struck out three. That start marked Snell’s shortest outing since May 1, although he was able to avoid a loss because the Rays offense scored nine runs against the Angels bullpen. Snell has been a little hot and cold of late, yielding just one run in three of his last seven starts, but more than three runs in under five frames in his other two. Overall, Snell is 4-5 with a 3.70 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 101 punch outs across 75-1/3 innings this season, and is 3-5 with a 3.97 ERA in 13 career starts against the Yankees (59.0 innings of work).

C.C. Sabathia coughed up six runs (five earned) on 10 hits and three walks while striking out three over 4-2/3 innings against the White Sox. Sabathia was tagged for four first-inning runs, including a three-run blast by Eloy Jimenez, and things went downhill from there. The left-hander had been taken deep at least once in nine straight starts, and as a result, he carries a 4.42 ERA and 2.38 K/BB through 57 into his next outing against Tampa Bay, on Wednesday. Over his career against the Rays, Sabathia is 17-16 with a 3.63 ERA and is 0-0 with a 2.45 ERA in two starts against the Rays this season ― although he averaged 5.5 IP in each of those starts. Key Matchups: Willy Adames (3-12, HR, 2 RBI, BB), Travis d’Arnaud (3-9, 2 BB), Kevin Kiermaier (5-16, 2 HR, 2 RBI), Brandon Lowe (1-4, BB), Austin Meadows (1-4, BB), Joey Wendle (1-2), Mike Zunino (5-11, HR, RBI, BB)

Noteworthiness

― Update on RHP Jose Alvarado, who will immediately report to Port Charlotte:

TNWN: Rays look to end homestand on a high note; Sternberg moving to the ‘Burg

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  • Yandy Diaz accounted for all the Rays offense on Saturday, hitting a sixth inning, three-run homer to get Tampa Bay on the board. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

After another disappointing loss to Los Angeles on Saturday, in what has become a challenging homestand, the Tampa Bay Rays look to split the series with the Angels this afternoon. The Rays enter play at 42-28 — a half-game behind New York in the AL East after Saturday’s 5-3 loss to the Angels.

In each of the first three games this series, Tampa Bay has had to play catch-up after falling behind by four runs or more in the early innings. The Rays are 33-10 when they strike first, yet just 9-18 when the opposing team pulls ahead first.

Yandy Diaz accounted for all of the Rays offense on Saturday, hitting a three-run, sixth inning home run to left field.

https://twitter.com/FOXSportsFL/status/1139969372884066305

After leaning on traditional starters the first three games of the series, the opener/bulk guy strategy will be employed this afternoon as the Rays attempt to do what Ryan Yarbrough, Blake Snell, and Charlie Morton could not: Slow the Angels down early.

The New What Next

The tandem of Ryne Stanek (0-1, 2.54 ERA) and Jalen Beeks (5-0, 2.55 ERA) will take the mound this afternoon, pitching opposite of Griffin Canning (2-2, 3.65 ERA).

Ryne Stanek will open the game for Tampa Bay, the 20th time he’s opened this season. The right-hander, which has allowed six earned runs across 30-1/3 opening innings, has a 1.78 ERA in this role.

Jalen Beeks allowed one run (unearned) on two hits and a walk across four innings on Tuesday. He struck out two on 50 pitches (32 strikes 64% strike rate). Jurickson Profar singled to center to lead off the fifth inning, then moved into second when Mike Zunino allowed a passed ball. The ever-aggressive Profar came around to score on Chad Pinder’s single to center, tagging Beeks for the only damage he would relinquish. In three outings extending back to May 31, Beeks has allowed just two earned runs across 11-2/3 innings with a 4.00 K/BB. His season ERA is down to an impressive 2.55, while his FIP sits at 2.86 across 53 innings of work.

Griffin Canning gave up three earned runs on five hits while striking out five and walking across six innings in his last start. Canning tossed a quality start for the third time in his last five outings although he had to settle for a no-decision after exiting with a 3-1 deficit. After a rough start to the season, the rookie has been impressive sporting a solid 3.65 ERA, a 0.99 WHIP and a 4.7 K/BB across 44-1/3 innings. He relies primarily on a 94 mph four-seam fastball and a hard 89 mph worm-killer slider with 12-6 movement, while also mixing in an 82 mph curveball with little depth, and an 89 mph changeup with a lot of backspin.

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

TNWN: Rays vs Angels — a series preview

Rays 6/16/19 Starting Lineup

  1. Meadows DH
  2. Pham LF
  3. Lowe 2B
  4. Choi 1B
  5. Diaz 3B
  6. Kiermaier CF
  7. Garcia RF
  8. Wendle SS
  9. Zunino C
  10. Stanek Opener

Noteworthiness

— Brendan McKay and the Durham Bulls downed the Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge bolstered Scranton Rail Riders on Saturday, 2-0. SS/P Jake Cronenworth opened the game and threw a scoreless frame, striking out a batter, before McKay tossed five scoreless innings. It was the first scoreless outing for McKay since his May 28 debut with Durham. The southpaw threw 41 of 67 pitches for strikes (61% strike rate), struck out seven and walked one, and faced one batter over the minimum.

While one outing against a pair big league sluggers isn’t enough for the Rays front office to shape their opinion or change their plans, it obviously can’t hurt for McKay to show well.

He made 65 pitches in each of his first three outings since being promoted from Double-A Montgomery and has lowered his ERA to 1.35 with 21 punchouts over 20 innings. Across 22 career bulk outings, McKay has yet to allow a run. During his first time pitching out of the bullpen this season, with the Biscuits, he posted six zeros and whiffed nine.

The 23-year-old may find himself pitching out of the bullpen in the big leagues, and potentially sooner than later because of Brent Honeywell’s season-ending injury.

— Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) broke news that I have been sitting on* for a couple of weeks, Rays principal owner Stu Sternberg has purchased a house in St. Petersburg and intends to spend more time in the Sunshine City as stadium discussions start to ramp up between city and team officials.

Sternberg purchased a home in the Old North East area of St. Petersburg, where other Rays’ employees (players and front office staff), both past and present — like Matt Duffy, Evan Longoria, Corey Dickerson, Logan Forsythe— live or have lived. Sternberg moving to St. Petersburg is a great optical move, and it is a sign of commitment to the region, however, he will also need to invest in the community to build public trust.

*For what it is worth, even though I was made aware of Sternberg’s house purchase well before Topkin became privy to the news, I did not feel comfortable outing this, a private decision made by the Rays’ principal owner. Many would have blabbed on soon as they knew, yet tabloid style blog writing is not my raison d’être.

TNWN: Rays look for a second straight win after their 9-4, come from behind victory on Friday

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The Rays celebrated Pride night at the Trop with a 9-4 comeback win against the Los Angeles Angels. (Photo Credit: X-Rays Spex)

For the second consecutive night, the Tampa Bay Rays put themselves in a first-inning hole, yet this time they not only closed the gap, but they also pulled ahead and never looked back. Down by four, the Rays scored nine unanswered runs on Friday night and won 9-4.

With the win and a Yankees loss, Tampa Bay moved in front of the Yankees by a half-game for first place in the AL East. It was the largest deficit the Rays have overcome this season — with the previous high being two runs — and marked the first time the Rays had overcome a four-run deficit since July 22, 2018.

The nine-run rally started in the sixth inning when Austin Meadows doubled to right off of left-hander Andrew Heaney, snapping an 0-for-14 stretch — spelling the end of Heaney’s night. Luis Garcia entered in relief while and Yandy Diaz welcomed the hurler with an RBI single to center. Pinch-hitter Ji-Man Choi followed with a base hit to center to put two on with none out. Garcia came back to get the next two batters before pinch-hitter Kevin Kiermaier hit an RBI single into right, scoring Diaz.

Ty Buttrey, the third pitcher of the inning entered and hit Guillermo Heredia with a 1-2 pitch, loading the bases. Heredia left the game with a left-hand contusion. X-Rays were negative and he is listed as day-to-day.

Avisail Garcia kept the rally going by lining a single to right-center, scoring two runs and tying the game at four.

https://twitter.com/FOXSportsFL/status/1139715812443348992

Tommy Pham capped the inning with a base hit to right-center, giving the Rays a go-ahead lead.

https://twitter.com/FOXSportsFL/status/1139715812443348992

In the seventh inning, Diaz doubled to center before Choi blasted a two-run homer to right off Cody Allen for a 7-4 lead.

Later in the frame, Kiermaier reached on a fielder’s choice, swiped second, and came home on a Travis d’Arnaud’s double to left-center, pushing the lead to four. After Garcia walked, Pham capped the scoring with a base hit to left.

The Rays hope to get off to a better start this afternoon after trailing in the first inning in each of the first two contests in the set. Per Neil Solondz (Rays Radio), they have allowed five first-inning runs in the last two games against the Angels, equaling the total allowed in the previous 22 games combined.

The New What Next

Charlie Morton (8-0, 2.10 ERA) will get the start for Tampa Bay, pitching opposite of left-hander Jose Suarez (1-1, 4.35 ERA).

Charlie Morton allowed just two hits (with a combined exit velocity of 121.7 mph) and two walks across seven scoreless innings. He struck out seven batters on an efficient 83 pitches (55 strikes, 66% strike rate). After allowing base runners in the first and third innings, Morton retired his final 14 batters…although he did get a little help from his friends. In the fifth inning, Tommy Pham leaped at the wall in left to rob Chapman of an extra-base hit. In two June starts, Morton has tossed 14 scoreless frames with a 7.5 K/BB. His season ERA is down to a sparkling 2.10, while his FIP sits at 2.66 across 81-1/3 frames.

Jose Suarez gave up two runs on four hits and two walks over 4-2/3 innings on Sunday against the Mariners. He struck out six. Suarez missed bats — 14 of 87 pitches were swinging strikes (16% SwStr) — but his command was spotty which contributed to the decision to pull the rookie early from the contest. The 21-year-old has acquitted himself reasonably well through his first two big-league outings, posting a 4.35 ERA/5.19 FIP across 10-1/3 innings with a 1.36 WHIP. He relies primarily on a whiffy 92 mph four-seam fastball with little arm-side movement and an 82 mph swing-and-miss changeup with a little arm-side movement and some natural sink, while also mixing in a whiffy 76 mph curveball with glove-side movement.

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

TNWN: Rays vs Angels — a series preview

Rays 6/15/19 Starting Lineup

  1. Garcia DH
  2. Pham LF
  3. Meadows RF
  4. Diaz 3B
  5. Choi 1B
  6. Adames SS
  7. Kiermaier CF
  8. d’Arnaud C
  9. Wendle 2B
  10. Morton RHP

Noteworthiness

— The Rays have recalled RHP Jake Faria and optioned INF Daniel Robertson to Triple-A Durham.