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The New What Next: Rays vs Yankees — yet another series preview

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With the offensive droughts plaguing CJ Cron and Jake Bauers, Joey Wendle’s bat has become very important in the Rays lineup. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

Back at it Tuesday. The Tampa Bay Rays continue their three-city, nine-game road trip through the AL East in the Bronx, where they’ll face the New York Yankees in a three-game set. Both teams are coming off series wins against the Blue Jays and Rangers (respectively), although the Yankees lost an interleague makeup game against the Mets on Monday.

(Stats Credit: ESPN)

After finally figuring out the lowly Orioles, Tampa Bay took two-of-three from the Blue Jays. In all honesty, had Ryne Stanek laid a better tag on Kevin Pillar — as he slid across the plate for the go-ahead run in the series finale — the Rays likely would have swept Toronto. What’s done is done though, and a series win is a series win.

The Yankees are a good team no doubt about it, but it wasn’t that long ago that they dropped five in a row while being outscored 35-16. As it’s been said, good pitching defeats good hitting. If the Yanks can be kept in the yard, they can be contained. True, since the calendar flipped to August, the Yankees have hit 24 homers in their past 12 games. They also have 10 multi-homer games since August 1, including seven straight entering Monday night. Yet Rays’ hurlers have done a very good job at limiting the long ball, allowing none to New York in the last six contests.

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

Tampa Bay starts the series 10.5 games out of the second Wildcard spot, and because of it, the next two series will be of the “test their mettle” variety. A series win would go far for a couple of different reasons: not only would it add some separation in the win/loss columns, the Rays also have an opportunity to make up ground while the Mariners and Athletics — the two clubs ahead of them in the standings — beat up on each other over the next three days before the M’s start a series with the Dodgers, and the A’s start a series against the reigning World Series champs.

That doesn’t mean it will be easy; the Yankees are where they are for a reason. Nevertheless, it bears mentioning, Tampa Bay has won six of the last 10 games against the Evil Empire.

Pitching Probables

Aside for Hunter Wood (0-0, 3.91 ERA), who will open for the Rays on Tuesday, neither Kevin Cash nor Aaron Boone has set the rotation for the series. Clearly, you can see how difficult it is to prognosticate the hurlers for the series. What follows is an assumption of the pitching probables based who last pitched and when. Jalen Beeks (1-1, 9.15 ERA) could follow Wood in the opener and then could be followed by a pitcher to be named Wednesday and Blake Snell (13-5, 2.18 ERA) on Thursday. Boone could counter with JA Happ (12-6, 4.07 ERA), a pitcher to be named Wednesday, and Masahiro Tanaka (9-3, 4.08 ERA) on Thursday.

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

Hunter Wood allowed three runs on Thursday as the opener, allowing five hits and a walk while striking out just one. Wood otherwise has been solid when opening games, allowing just two runs in his previous five starts. His season ERA is now at 3.91 across 24-1/3 innings this season.

Jalen Beeks allowed one run on two hits (including a home run) and two walks over five innings against the Orioles. Beeks threw 68 pitches (44 strikes, 65% strike rate, 12/19 first-pitch strikes), struck out three and, impressively, has lowered his ERA from 15.94 to 9.15 (since July 28).

JA Happ yielded three runs on four hits and a walk across six innings in his last start. Happ struck out nine and gave up one home run while earning the victory. In his first start after a trip to the disabled list with an illness, the southpaw moved to 2-0 with the Yankees in a solid outing. He allowed a solo homer to Jurickson Profar in the fourth inning before a two-run double from Shin-Soo Choo in the fifth, although he threw a pretty clean start otherwise. In his two starts with New York, Happ has allowed just four runs in 12 innings. He will carry a 3.81 K/BB into Tuesday’s start. Happ, however, is 3-4 with a 4.73 ERA in 15 starts against the Rays and lost both turns against Tampa Bay this season. Key Matchups: Jake Bauers (1-3), Matt Duffy (5-12, HR, 3 RBI, BB), Kevin Kiermaier (4-16, 3 RBI, 2 BB)

Blake Snell collected six strikeouts and was very sharp overall, showing pitchability by keeping the Blue Jays off-balance throughout five innings of work. Snell was on a pitch limit to help him recover from the shoulder fatigue that sidelined him following the All-Star Break, and he likely will continue to be for one to two more starts until he is fully stretched out again. Even so, Snell dominated Toronto’s lineup, throwing five perfect innings.

The left-hander earned his 13th win of the season, his first since July 7th against the New York Mets, and lowered his ERA to 2.18 and his FIP to 3.41 in the process.

Masahiro Tanaka allowed six runs on six hits (including three homers) and three walks over five innings of work while striking out just two. Tanaka threw three scoreless frames to start the game before the wheels fell off, allowing homers to Adrian Beltre and Ronald Guzman in the fourth inning, a two-run double to Elvis Andrus in the fifth and another homer to Guzman to lead off the sixth. It likely was Tanaka’s worst of the season, tying the most runs he’s allowed in 2018 since he allowed six to Boston back on April 11. Be it as it may, Tanaka threw a complete game shutout against the Rays on July 24 and was absolutely dominant in doing so. Key Matchups: CJ Cron (3-6, 2B), Carlos Gomez (3-10, 2B, RBI, BB), Kevin Kiermaier (7-19, 2B, 3B, HR, RBI, BB), Jesus Sucre (2-5, 2B, RBI)

Noteworthiness

— The Rays made a roster move following the game on Sunday, optioning RHP Jamie Schultz to Durham (cough…where he can work on fastball command) ahead of the expected reinstatement of Chaz Roe from the disabled list.

Tampa Bay Rays 8/12/18 pregame notes, Chaz Roe update, WOOOOOO!

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The Iron Sheik and Nature Boy Rick Flair … I mean, Jesus Sucre and Willy Adames. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

After winning their third consecutive game yesterday, the Tampa Bay Rays look to sweep the three-game series from the Blue Jays this afternoon, in Toronto. A victory would put Tampa Bay at four games over .500 going into an off-day, equalling the club’s high-water mark for the season. The Rays are 7-1 so far against the Blue Jays in 2018.

Willy Adames came up big yesterday, going 2-4 with an RBI and a run scored. He has gotten toasty at the plate, slashing .359 BA/.409 OBP/.564 SLG/.973 OPS/.412 wOBA/167 wRC+ with two home runs, six RBI and 10 runs scored over the last 14-days — joining Mallex Smith, Joey Wendle and Matt Duffy as the most productive hitters over the same stretch of play. That is important because CJ Cron and Jake Bauers have both cooled down considerably.

The New What Next

Tyler Glasnow (0-0, 2.57 ERA) will get the start for Tampa Bay, pitching opposite of Marcus Stroman (4-8, 5.20 ERA).

Ryan Yarbrough was not used on Saturday, and he is available for length today behind Glasnow.

Glasnow made his second start for the Rays on Monday, but because he had been used as a reliever in Pittsburgh, Glasnow was on a pitch count of four innings or 60 pitches and will continue to be until he is fully stretched out.

Over his first two frames, Glasnow struck out five of six batters on 98 mph fastballs and low 80’s curveballs that were hard to time up due to the speed differential and the movement.

Baltimore got its first baserunner with two outs in the third, when Caleb Joseph singled and swiped second, but Glasnow struck out Jonathan Villar on four pitches, setting up a filthy 86 mph slider with a trio of fastballs.

Tim Beckham, ever the intrepid fastball hunter, led off the fourth inning with a solo home run when Glasnow’s velocity dropped a touch, but that was the only damage incurred against the tall right-hander.

All told, Glasnow struck out nine and walked none — not bad for a guy with a reputation of having control issues.

Following the game, Glasnow told reporters he feels comfortable with Tampa Bay and is pitching more athletically than trying to control his delivery.

I felt good physically and I wanted to go out and attack, Glasnow was quoted as saying.

The next step for Glasnow is to prove he’s capable of going five or six innings per outing.

Stroman suffered an injury that forced him to leave Tuesday’s game after seven innings; a blister on his right middle finger. The right-hander cruised through Boston’s lineup before he was pulled during warmups prior to the eighth inning. And while Stroman said he “won’t be missing (his) next start,” everything will depend on his progress over the next few days. He has dealt with the blister issue throughout the season. He has relied primarily on a whiffy 93 mph sinker with natural sinking action and a sweeping 86 mph slider with two-plane movement, while also mixing in a 91 mph worm-killer cutter, an 83 mph curveball with slight glove-side movement, a 93 mph four-seam fastball and an 83 mph changeup with slight arm side fade. Stroman is 5-4 with a 4.37 ERA in 11 career starts against the Rays. Key Matchups: CJ Cron (3-8), Matt Duffy (2-5. 2B, BB), Carlos Gomez (2-2, HR, 3 RBI), Kevin Kiermaier (8-28, 2 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB), Mallex Smith (1-4, 2B)

You can read about the series in our preview.

The New What Next: Rays vs Blue Jays — a series preview

Rays 8/12/18 Starting Lineup

Smith RF
Duffy 3B
Bauers 1B
Wendle 2B
Choi DH
Kiermaier CF
Adames SS
Lowe LF
Perez C
Glasnow RHP

Noteworthiness

— Chaz Roe threw a perfect inning for the Charlotte Stone Crabs on Saturday. He is scheduled to face one batter today to complete the second of back-to-back outings and should join the team in New York.

— …And because it bears mentioning:

LBWMF: Blake Snell, Rays dominate the Blue Jays, 7-0

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Last night’s 7-0 win was the first time in franchise history the Rays started rookies at all five infield positions. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

Blake Snell threw five perfect innings on just 47 pitches (33 strikes, 70% strike rate, 12/15 first-pitch strikes) in his second start since returning from the disabled list. That, paired with an offense that came alive after six quiet home games against Chicago and Baltimore, allowed Tampa Bay to cruise to a 7-0 victory over the Blue Jays, in Toronto.

Any questions about Snell should have been answered Friday night when the southpaw collected six strikeouts and was very sharp overall, showing pitchability by keeping the Blue Jays off-balance throughout five innings of work. Snell was on a pitch limit to help him recover from the shoulder fatigue that sidelined him following the All-Star Break, and he likely will continue to be for one to two more starts until he is fully stretched out again. Even so, Snell dominated Toronto’s lineup, throwing five perfect innings.

The left-hander earned his 13th win of the season, his first since July 7th against the New York Mets, and lowered his ERA to 2.18 and his FIP to 3.41 in the process.

Meanwhile, the youth movement full steam ahead last night. In fact, it was the first time in franchise history the Rays started rookies at all five infield positions. And while it a appeared the Rays were in for another quiet night after Marco Estrada put down the first seven hitters in order, Willy Adames’ one-out walk in the third inning set up Michael Perez’s first big league homer — a laser shot just over the right-field wall.

That gave the Rays a lead they would never relinquish.

Adames continued to be productive, leading off the fifth inning with a double. Two batters later, Mallex Smith hit his league-leading ninth triple of the season, a run-scoring gapper to left-center.

Joey Wendle drove in the Rays fourth run of the game four pitches later on a sacrifice fly.

Then in the sixth inning, after falling behind in the count 0-2, Ji-Man Choi hit a lead-off solo shot to right — his second in as many nights.

The Rays chased Marco Estrada in the sixth after he struck out Carlos Gomez, as the right-hander gave up five earned runs on five hits (including two home runs) over 5-1/3 innings of work.

But Tampa Bay wasn’t done, and it again started with Adames, who singled his way on base to start the frame. Perez followed with a single before Smith bunted both runners into scoring position. Wendle followed, driving in a pair of runs on a double to left center, putting the Rays up by seven.

After Snell was pulled, Jake Faria took the mound for the first time in 10 days and pitched three shutout innings in relief. The right-hander struck out three while allowing a walk and three hits. He was followed by Jaime Schultz, who pitched a perfect ninth inning to seal the win.

The New What Next

The Rays look to win the series on Saturday afternoon. Ryne Stanek (1-3, 2.56 ERA) will open the game for Tampa Bay and will be followed by Ryan Yarbrough (10-5, 4.24 ERA) (not Faria since he pitched in the opener). They’ll be opposed by Sam Gaviglio (1-4, 5.25 ERA).

Gaviglio allowed three earned runs on seven hits and three walks while fanning seven across 5-2/3 innings Sunday against Seattle — falling one out shy of a quality start and was pulled after 89 pitches and walking consecutive batters in the sixth inning. His seven strikeouts (including 11 swinging strikes) marked his second-best performance in an outing this season. While Gaviglio has a solid 74 strikeouts across 78 frames this season, he has only two quality starts in 15 chances and has struggled to post useful peripherals (5.08 ERA, 1.44 WHIP). He allowed five earned runs on seven hits (including a home run) over 3-1/3 innings in his last start against the Rays and is 1-1 with a 6.48 ERA in two career starts against the good guys. Key Matchups: Willy Adames (1-1, RBI), Jake Bauers (2-2, 2B, HR, 2 RBI), Matt Duffy (2-3), Mallex Smith (1-2, RBI), Joey Wendle (1-1, RBI)

You can read about the series in our preview.

The New What Next: Rays vs Blue Jays — a series preview

Rays 8/11/18 Starting Lineup

Smith RF
Duffy 3B
Wendle 2B
Cron 1B
Choi DH
Kiermaier CF
Adames SS
Lowe LF
Sucre C
Stanek RHP

Noteworthiness

— The Rays start the day nine games behind the Athletics for the second Wildcard spot and seven-and-a-half behind the Mariners.

Tampa Bay Rays 8/9/18 pregame notes; Chaz Roe update

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Jalen Beeks fared well in his third appearance with the Rays last night. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

After another one-run game on Wednesday, resulting in a 5-4 loss, the Tampa Bay Rays look to win the series against Baltimore this evening and finish a homestand on a high note. The Rays need a win to move back above the .500 mark.

The loss was just the third this season when Tampa Bay held a lead after eight innings — the first since June 18th. The Rays are, surprisingly, 7-8 against the worst team in baseball, due in large part because have allowed 31 home runs in 15 contests, including three last night.

Even so, Jalen Beeks was good on the mound Wednesday night, firing off five innings of one-run ball, while allowing two hits (indulging a home run) and a pair of free passes on an efficient 68 pitches (44 strikes, 65% strike rate, 12/19 first pitch strikes). Beeks kept the game a one-run affair through the seventh when the Rays took advantage of Baltimore mistakes to tie the game.

Beeks spoke about his outing with Neil Solondz (Rays Radio) after the game:

The southpaw has rebounded in impressive fashion since his July 28th debut with the team, surrendering three combined runs over 10-innings and allowing him to lower his ERA from 15.94 to 9.15.

The New What Next

Hunter Wood (0-0, 3.22 ERA) will get the start tonight and will be followed by Yonny Chirinos (0-4, 3.70 ERA) or Jake Faria (4-3, 5.26 ERA). They’ll be opposed by David Hess (2-6, 6.41 ERA).

Wood allowed a run in his second inning of work on Sunday against Chicago, but just two runs in 8-1/3 innings as an opener (five previous appearances). Chirinos has been good in his two home appearances since coming off the DL.

Hess coughed up seven runs (five earned) on five hits and a walk over 3-1/3 innings while striking out four Rangers. While some shitty defense helped deflect the blow to Hess’s ratios, most of it was by the pitcher himself, as he committed two of the Orioles three errors on the night. Hess has split his time out of the ‘pen and the rotation this season, although a lack of arms necessitated the starter status. In three games against Tampa Bay, Hess is 2-0 with a 1.98 ERA … but, that over just 13-2/3 innings of work. Key Matchups: Matt Duffy (2-6, HR, 3 RBI), Joey Wendle (4-5, BB)

You can read about the series in our preview.

The New What Next: Rays vs Orioles — a series preview

Rays 8/9/18 Starting Lineup

Smith RF
Duffy 3B
Bauers LF
Cron 1B
Choi DH
Kiermaier CF
Adames SS
Lowe LF
Sucre C
Wood RHP

Noteworthiness

Medical matters…

— RHP Chaz Roe will begin a rehab assignment with the Charlotte Stone Crabs tonight. The right-hander has been out since July 6 after going under the knife to repair a torn meniscus. Roe could return during the upcoming road trip.

Rays 8/8/18 pregame notes; Glasnow’s second start in Tampa Bay

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More of this, please. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

After winning in walk-off fashion on Tuesday night, the Tampa Bay Rays look to win a series against the Orioles tonight. Tampa Bay has won seven games in walk-off fashion, four via the home run. The seven walk-off wins are tied for the American League lead. Thanks to losses by the Mariners and Athletics, the Rays start the day 9.5 games out of the final Wildcard spot, and 7.5 behind Seattle.

Tyler Glasnow, one of the players who came to Tampa Bay in the Chris Archer trade, got the start for the Rays. Because he had been used as a reliever in Pittsburgh, Glasnow was on a pitch count of four innings or 60 pitches and will continue to be until he is fully stretched out.

Over his first two frames, Glasnow struck out five of six batters on 98 mph fastballs and low 80’s curveballs that were hard to time up due to the speed differential and the movement.

Baltimore got its first baserunner with two outs in the third, when Caleb Joseph singled and swiped second, but Glasnow struck out Jonathan Villar on four pitches, setting up a filthy 86 mph slider with a trio of fastballs.

Tim Beckham, ever the intrepid fastball hunter, led off the fourth inning with a solo home run when Glasnow’s velocity dropped a touch, but that was the only damage incurred against the tall right-hander.

All told, Glasnow struck out nine and walked none — not bad for a guy with a reputation of having control issues.

Following the game, Glasnow told reporters he feels comfortable with Tampa Bay and is pitching more athletically than trying to control his delivery.

I felt good physically and I wanted to go out and attack, Glasnow was quoted as saying.

The other big story from the game was Willy Adames’ walk-off homer, his first hit of that type since he was in Double-A Montgomery. It also came in front of his parents and sister, who had flown in from the Dominican Republic.

That bat flip though!

It’s just an amazing feeling, Adames said after the game. I have no words to explain the feeling I have right now.

The New What Next

Ryne Stanek (1-3, 2.27 ERA) will open for the Rays, and will likely be followed by Jalen Beeks (1-0, 10.80 ERA). They’ll be opposed by Andrew Cashner (3-10, 5.05 ERA).

Stanek struck out all five batters he faced his last appearance against the White Sox.

Beeks allowed two earned runs on two hits and a walk over five innings on Thursday. He struck out four. Beeks didn’t exactly set a high bar in his debut against the Orioles on July 28th, allowing eight earned runs on 10 hits and three walks over 3-1/3 innings. Yet the southpaw looked considerably more composed over an efficient 71 pitches (47 strikes, 66% strike rate, 13/18 first-pitch strikes) Thursday, limiting the damage after Hunter Wood had been stellar over the first two innings as the opener. The key to Beeks’ bounce back success was two-fold: he got ahead of batters, and remained calm when things appeared like they might spiral out of control. He figures to be utilized in similar fashion Wednesday, with his ability to pitch multiple innings makes him a natural for the second-man-in role on “bullpen days.”

Andrew Cashner allowed 10 earned runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out one across just 1-2/3 innings in a loss on Thursday against the Rangers. Cashner only allowed one home run, yet five consecutive Rangers reached base in the second inning before he was chased from the game. Cashner had pitched well over a 52-inning stretch prior to Thursday’s game, performing to a 3.46 ERA and 1.29 WHIP — although he only managed 31 strikeouts. In that stretch, the right-hander limited the Rays to two runs on five hits and three walks over six innings of work back on the 27th. Key Matchups: Jake Bauers (1-3), CJ Cron (3-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB), Matt Duffy (4-16, 3B, RBI, 2 BB), Kevin Kiermaier (2-3), Michael Perez (1-2), Joey Wendle (2-5, 3B, RBI, BB) 

You can read about the series in our preview.

The New What Next: Rays vs Orioles — a series preview

Rays 8/8/18 Starting Lineup

Smith LF
Duffy 3B
Bauers 1B
Wendle 2B
Choi DH
Gomez RF
Kiermaier CF
Adames SS
Perez C
Stanek RHP