X-Rays Spex

A Below Average Rays Fan Blog

Rays Roster Moves: Nathan Eovaldi traded to Boston for Triple-A prospect

By Leave a Comment

Nathan Eovaldi has been traded to the Boston Red Sox for a Triple-A prospect.

Six days before the non-waiver trade deadline, the Tampa Bay Rays have traded RHP Nathan Eovaldi to the Boston Red Sox for southpaw Jalen Beeks.

Eovaldi was slated to start this afternoon’s contest against the New York Yankees, but instead the Rays will start Ryne Stanek. Austin Pruitt has been recalled from Triple-A Durham to take Eovaldi’s place on the active roster for the time being.

Eovaldi has been hit-or-miss for Tampa Bay this season, delivering a couple of lengthy no-hit bids, but also four starts where he allowed four earned runs or more. This season Eovaldi has performed to a 4.26 ERA/4.28 FIP over 10 starts (57 innings of work). It is believed that Eovaldi’s recent track record and injury history likely limited the return the the Rays achieved.

Eovaldi, who will be a free-agent at the end of the 2018 season, was acquired in 2016 as he recovered from Tommy John surgery. He was slated to be a part of the Rays’ Opening Day rotation, yet loose bodies were found in his elbow, requiring arthroscopic surgery, which sidelined the hurler until mid-May.

In return for Eovaldi, the Rays acquired 24 year-old LHP Jalen Beeks, who has two games of big league experience with the Red Sox this season. Beeks was a 12th round selection in the 2014 draft, and spent the bulk of the past two seasons in Triple-A Pawtucket. Most recently he has shown an uptick in strikeouts, while his walk rate is the lowest of his professional career.

While the decision to trade with an AL East foe might be questionable, that Tampa Bay will face Boston just six more times (two series) likely factored into the decision to deal the free-agent to be to the Red Sox.

LBWMF: Rays hold on for 7-6 win over the Yankees in wild ballgame

By Leave a Comment

Back-to-back exciting games has Willy and Blake like… (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

Another wild one at the Trop last night, as the Tampa Bay Rays staved off the mighty New York Yankees in their 41st one-run game of the season. The Rays held on to a 7-6 victory, and are now 18-23 in one-run affairs.

Tampa Bay got on the board in the first inning after Jake Bauers hit a two-out double to right, off the top of the wall. With Ji-Man Choi at the plate, Severino uncorked a passed ball which Gary Sanchez lallygagged after. Bauers took advantage of Sanchez, scoring all the way from second base to score the game’s first run. It was a heads-up play by the rookie who easily could have settled for just moving up 90 feet.

Everything was right in front of me there, Bauers said after the game. I saw it kick pretty far away. Hustled to get to third, then once I got to third, I saw that tight window that was there and decided to take a chance. In the first inning, I would have told you that hits off Severino are hard to come by so you have to take a chance when you get one.

Meanwhile, Hunter Wood opened the game. And while he was tagged for one run, that probably shouldn’t be held against his line. In the second inning, Giancarlo “doubled,” and by that I mean Kevin Kiermaier lost the ball in the rubbed up baseball colored roof. Three batters later, Stanton came around to score on Miguel Andujar’s two-strike, two-out single to center. When you leave a hanging breaking ball over the plate, expect it to be hit.

Matt Andriese followed Wood for 3-2/3 innings, and looked pretty good. Andriese scattered three hits and fanned five, keeping the game tied through the fifth, when the Rays struck for three runs.

Jesus Sucre went down swinging on three pitches for the first out of the inning, yet Kevin Kiermaier and Matt Duffy hit back-to-back with singles (to center and left, respectively), bringing Bauers to the plate. Severino left a hanging slider over the heart of the plate, and Jake responded by sending the mistake pitch to deep right field for a three-run lead. Nevertheless the Yankees cut into that lead with a two-out rally a half inning later.

After Stanton reached on a single to right, Sunday’s hero Daniel Robertson committed an error that both allowed Aaron Hicks to reach base, and for Stanton to move into third. Rays manager Kevin Cash called upon the hard throwing Diego Castillo to get the final out of the frame, yet he promptly uncorked a passed ball, scoring Stanton. Three pitches later, Sanchez hit a 2-2 single to left field, bringing New York within one. but Greg Bird grounded out on the very next pitch, ending the threat.

With penance on his mind, Robertson led off the bottom of the sixth with a one-run homer to left field, atoning for his error.

The Rays weren’t done though. Mallex Smith doubled, Willy Adames singled, and Tampa Bay chased Severino after allowing double-digit hits for the first time in over two years (April 8, 2016 vs. Detroit). Jesus Sucre singled home Smith with Chad Green on the mound, and Matt Duffy plated a run on a fielder’s choice to short, giving the good guys a 7-3 advantage.

Not content with a four-run lead and the promise of a non-nailbiter of a game though, the Rays sent four different pitchers to the mound in the top of the seventh, as Castillo walked a pair, Jaime Schultz walked Aaron Judge to load the bases, Adam Kolarek got a ground out which plated a run, and Ryne Stanek allowed a two-run single before striking out Hicks to end the inning.

The Rays went quietly in the bottom of the frame, while Jose Alvarado — who got the final out of the eighth — again took the mound in the ninth with Sergio Romo out with the flu. That set up a wild end to the game.

As he is wont to do, Brett Gardner led off the inning with an infield hit. Judge was next, walking on six pitches including a wild pitch by the shockingly erratic southpaw. With the left-handed hitting Didi Gregorius stepping into the batter’s box, Aaron Boone called for a sacrifice bunt, which one one hand allowed both runners to move into scoring position, but on the other hand gave the Rays their first out and opened up first base. Instead of facing Stanton, who had reached base each of his past 10 plate appearances against Tampa Bay, Cash called for an intentional walk, setting up the double play opportunity.

Hicks followed with an RBI or bust opportunity, however, he grounded a ball to Duffy, who fired home to cut down the runner (Gardner) and keep the Yankees off the board.

Finally, with two outs and the bases loaded, Sanchez represented New York’s last opportunity to at least pull even on the ledger. With a 1-1 count, Sanchez grounded a ball to the left side of second base, but because of the shift Robertson made the play. For whatever reason, Robertson flipped the ball to Adames, who had a lot of ground to cover as he made his way across the diamond toward second base, subsequently allowing Hicks to beat him to the bag. And while it appeared as though the Yankees had tied the game, Adames made a heads up play, recognizing that Sanchez was lackadaisically making his way to first base. Adames fired over to Bauers, and got the final out of the wild contest.

Extremely heads-up, extremely heads-up, said Bauers of Adames’ play. That’s how you win games right there, with plays like that. He’s the guy who is going to make plays like that.

The New What Next

The Rays are expected to recall right-hander Yonny Chirinos (0-1, 3.71 ERA) from Triple-A Durham ahead of Tuesday night’s game. He will get the start opposite of Masahiro Tanaka (7-2, 4.54 ERA). To make room for Chirinos on the roster, LHP Adam Kolarek was optioned back to Durham.

Yonny Chirinos made six appearances (five starts) for the Rays in 2018, and sits with a 3.71 ERA and 1.27 WHIP with 24 strikeouts over 26-2/3 innings. It will be his first big league start since April 28 when he was placed on the DL with a flexor tendon strain in his elbow. He later found himself on the shelf in Triple-A with a shoulder injury. He threw five innings his last time out for Durham, allowing three runs (two earned) against Buffalo.

Masahiro Tanaka allowed two runs on six hits and a walk while fanning five over 6-1/3 innings on Sunday. He did not factor into the decision. The right-hander gave up a two-run lead in the fourth inning after surrendering a home run to Edwin Encarnacion. In spite three straight solid performances (six runs allowed over 15-2/3 innings), Tanaka doesn’t have a win to show for his efforts. The splitter throwing Tanaka has not faced the Rays this season. He has a 7-2 record against Tampa Bay in 11 career starts, but with a 4.10 ERA, and is 3-2 with a 5.96 ERA in five starts at the Trop. Key Matchups: CJ Cron (1-3), Matt Duffy (1-3), Carlos Gomez (3-10, 2B, RBI, BB), Adeiny Hechavarria (3-5, RBI), Kevin Kiermaier (7-15, 2B, 3B, HR, RBI, BB), Daniel Robertson (1-1, 2B), Jesus Sucre (1-2, 2B, RBI)

You can read about the series in our preview.

The New What Next: Rays vs Yankees part four — a series preview

Rays 7/24/18 Starting Lineup

Kiermaier CF
Duffy 3B
Bauers LF
Cron 3B
Choi DH
Robertson 2B
Smith RF
Adames SS
Sucre C
Chirinos

Injury plagued Rays are in salvage mode Sunday afternoon

By Leave a Comment

Accounting for 1/2 half of last night’s offensive output, Joey Wendle hit one of two homers for the Rays. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

After dropping the first two games of the series against the Marlins, the Tampa Bay Rays find themselves in salvage mode this afternoon. The Rays are looking to get back over .500 after dropping five of the last six games — a stretch of play where the team has been hit hard by injuries.

Aside from Wilson Ramos, who strained his hamstring in Minnesota, Matt Duffy has been out the past two games with back spasms after he tweaked his his back while turning the steering wheel on his truck. Duffy is back in the lineup today though. Kevin Kiermaier was pulled from Friday’s game with right foot soreness — extending from a bone bruise that he suffered in April — requiring a cortisone shot. And last night Adeiny Hechavarria left the game with left oblique tightness, he is listed as day-to-day. The injuries forced Rays skipper Kevin Cash to play Carlos Gomez at second base for a few innings yesterday.

Due to the injuries, Tampa Bay recalled Willy Adames from Triple-A Durham, and optioned Justin Williams after he made his big league debut last night.

The New What Next

A battle of titans in the series finale, as Chris Archer (3-4, 4.29 ERA) takes the mound opposite of Trevor Richards (3-5, 4.74 ERA).

Chris Archer lasted just 4-1/3 innings on Saturday, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and a walk while striking out seven. The erratic right-hander failed to finish five innings for the second straight start, laboring with just 59 strikes on 93 pitches (63% strike rate). On the bright side, he induced 16 swinging strikes (27% SwStr), allowing him to supplement his line via the strikeout column. It was only his second start since returning from the DL, so maybe he still has some rust to shake off. For Archer, the hope is for a turnaround in the second half, pushing him more toward his 3.79 FIP.

Trevor Richards threw 3-/23 innings in a no-decision against Washington on Sunday, allowing two earned runs on four hits, while striking out five but walking seven (a season-high). Richards couldn’t put himself in line for a win thanks to his command issues, resulting in him tossing 87 pitches over the course of his outing. Overall, Richards’ 5.24 ERA and a 1.61 WHIP through 56-2/3 innings. Richards allowed four runs on nine hits (including a homer) against the Rays on July 3. Key Matchups: Adeiny Hechavarria (2-2, 2B, RBI), Kevin Kiermaier (1-3), Daniel Robertson (1-2, 2B), Mallex Smith (2-2, RBI), Joey Wendle (1-3)

You can read about the series in our preview.

The New What Next: Rays vs Marlins part two — an interleague series preview

Rays 7/22/18 Starting Lineup

Wendle 2B

Duffy 3B
Bauers LF
Cron 1B
Choi DH
Gomez RF
Smith CF
Adames SS
Moore C
Archer RHP

Noteworthiness

— Pitching reinforcements. Jake Faria is expected to start this afternoon for Durham, while Jonny Venters should appear for the Charlotte Stone Crabs after his appearance was washed out yesterday. Both hurlers are expected back soon.

Rays 7/21/18 pregame notes, Kiermaier injury update, Williams promoted, Stadium Sagapacolypse 2018

By Leave a Comment

Left-hander Hoby Milner gave up a three-run homer to right field before allowing a two-run Little League homer to left on Friday. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

After a 6-5 loss to the Miami Marlins on Friday, the Tampa Bay Rays look to bounce back in game two of a three-game series tonight. Tampa Bay starts the day one game over .500 and a bit banged up.

After leading off last night’s contest with a hustle double, and subsequently coming around to score on Adeiny Hechavarria’s first inning base hit, Kevin Kiermaier left the ballgame with lingering soreness in his right foot, extending from a deep bone bruise he suffered at the start of April. Three-plus months — and a stint on the 60-day DL — later, the injury still has a grip on the centerfielder.

Kiermaier said he has had “good days and bad days,” since he injured his foot, although last night was pretty bad.

Today was the worst day I’ve had and I just felt like I wouldn’t give the team any justice by me possibly pushing this and making it worse than it is. Kiermaier said. For me it’s frustrating, because I haven’t been able to get rid of this. It’s a severe bone bruise, and they told me I might not be the same all year. Going on the 60-day DL, I thought I would get over it.

He had MRI on his foot and a cortisone shot this morning, and is expected to miss tonight and Sunday’s games, yet he expects to be “100 percent” by Monday when the Yankees come to town.

Nathan Eovaldi made just one mistake during his start last night, allowing a one-run homer to Derek Dietrich to tie the game at one. That score stood until the Marlins put up a five run seventh against Tampa Bay’s bullpen, which hasn’t been sharp since the start of the series with the Twins.

Diego Castillo took the mound in relief of Eovaldi and struck out JT Riddle to start the seventh inning. Yet Castillo issued two walks to Miami’s eight and nine hitters, Garrett Cooper and Cameron Maybin. With the left-handed Dietrich stepping into the batter’s box, Rays skipper Kevin Cash called upon southpaw Hoby Milner.

The left-hander got ahead of Dietrich before the outfielder unleashed a three-run shot to right field, his second of the game, giving Miami a three-run lead. After a walk of Brian Anderson, Milner allowed a double-cum-Little League homer to J.T. Realmuto, wherein Hechavarria and Daniel Robertson both committed errors when getting the ball back to the infield, extending the lead to five runs.

Tampa Bay put up a good fight, but came up a run short in a ninth inning rally. Carlos Gomez kicked things off with a one-out walk, which was followed by a Joey Wendle double to put a pair of runners into scoring position. Jesus Sucre was next, reaching on an error when Marlins hurler Javy Guerra bobbled a comebacker, found it, and then had the ball slip backwards out of his hand when he tried to make the throw.

With the bases “juiced,” Mallex Smith laced a base clearing triple into the right-centerfield gap, bringing Tampa Bay within a pair. A batter later, Smith scored on C.J. Cron’s sacrifice fly. The Rays put both the tying and winning runs on base after Hechavarria and Jake Bauers went back-to-back with a pair of two out singles, yet Robertson went down swinging against Adam Conley to end the game.

The Rays fell to 1-3 on the season against Miami, while they have allowed five runs or more in five consecutive games for the first time this season. They are just 1-4 during that stretch. Tampa Bay has also allowed 39 runs over the last five games, after giving up a total of 37 over the previous 15 contests.

The New What Next

Ryne Stanek (1-2, 2.08 ERA) will open the game for Tampa Bay, pitching opposite of Pablo Lopez (1-1, 6.35 ERA).

Ryne Stanek gave up a run in two innings his last time out against Minnesota, just the third run he’s allowed as an opener. Ryan Yarbrough (8-4, 3.61 ERA) could follow Stanek for the bulk of the innings.

Pablo Lopez gave up five runs on six hits and three walks while striking out six over six innings against the Brewers on Tuesday. He took the loss. The Brewers made their hits count in this one, as they were able to pummel Lopez early for the first big league loss of his short career. He settled down later on, not allowing a hit or a walk over his final four frames of work. This season Lopez has relied primarily on his 93 mph worm-killer sinker and a 93 mph four-seam fastball, while also mixing in a 78 mph curveball with slight glove-side movement, and a whiffy 86 mph changeup. All of his offerings boast natural sinking action.

You can read about the series in our preview.

The New What Next: Rays vs Marlins part two — an interleague series preview

Rays 7/21/18 Starting Lineup

Wendle 2B
Robertson 3B
Bauers LF
Cron 1B
Choi DH
Gomez RF
Smith CF
Hechavarria SS
Sucre C
Stanek RHP

Noteworthiness

— The Rays optioned Hoby Milner to Triple-A Durham and promoted OF prospect Justin Williams, who will wear No. 6. It is thought that Kiermaier being out through weekend adds to team’s need call Williams up to the bigs in his first Major League promotion.

— Marlins closer Kyle Barraclough was unavailable last night due to illness, and it’s unclear if he will be available this evening.

— How much stadium madness can you take?!

On Wednesday, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred gave one of his tri-yearly “state of the Stadium Saga” updates; preceded by one at the start of the season, and to be followed by one during the playoffs. It’s the same cycle every season, and will be until it’s not … rinse and repeat.

Manfred reiterated the same, saber-rattling threats, as well as tired blanket statements of praise for Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg:

I thought the design was innovative and well-suited to the Tampa Bay market, Manfred said. I think it was economically efficient.

…I am a fan of Mr. Sternberg’s creative ability and persuasive ability in terms of getting something done, I really am. I think he’s going to get this done.

Yet Manfred openly advocated for the use of public subsidies for the estimated $892-million facility, saying it is completely appropriate’ for business and “governmental entities” to participate in the financing, touting stadiums as “municipal assets” that are indicative of a region’s status.

Stadiums are municipal assets, Manfred said. They are indicative of a … region’s status kind of as a major league city, and participation either in terms of businesses or governmental entities in the financing of the stadium I continue to believe is completely appropriate.

Forget not, a funding mechanism to pay for the stadium is not in place, and there are less than 5-1/2 months left to figure out how to pay for the project.

Still, writers from the region’s loudest bullhorn in favor of a stadium, the Tampa Bay Times, sounded off following the commissioners presser.

Columnist Ernest Hooper wrote in favor of a publicly subsidized facility, saying,

With ingenuity, solutions can be found. …There always will be naysayers who dismiss every idea and every project with cynicism.

Some of Hooper’s suggestions?

What if the Rays built school district offices into its stadium, possibly allowing the district to sell its valuable downtown real estate and use the money to address its current budget deficits?

Yes, you read that correctly. Cooper suggests selling downtown real estate owned by the Hillsborough County School District, which, like most public school districts in the state of Florida, is facing a budget shortfall and cannot adequately pay it’s teachers. But fret not, the school board could have a shiny office overlooking left-centerfield, and teachers could pay a nominal fee to enter the facility. Perhaps DJ Kitty and Raymond could moonlight as campus security?

Neil deMause (Field of Schemes) pointed to another response to the press conference, this one a far more acerbic take by Times columnist Daniel Ruth,

…boggling at the $892 million price tag for what would be MLB’s smallest stadium at a time when “public transportation is barely above the level of rickshaws.” Then he closed with the suggestion that Tampa could build “a museum dedicated to the history of architectural renderings of all the stuff that’s never happened,” called “the Field of Schemes Institute of Higher Chutzpah.”

One of our very own attended last night’s game, and had his own take on Stadium Sagapacolypse 2018.

The most aesthetically pleasing facility in Major League Baseball? Clearly not — I’m willing to bet most homers would say the same. BUT, when the clouds are dark and imposing, this fabric big top assures that all 81 games will be played without risk of postponements, etc (well, with the exception of the occasional major tropical system). . I fully understand the valid reasoning behind the want of a new facility. Hell, my participation in #BaseballForever speaks to that. Yet I also acknowledge that there has been a push for a new stadium on the other side of the bay based on reasoning that attempts to correlate causation when, frankly, the facts don’t necessarily jive. I also tend to think with an $892-million price tag, paired with less than 5-1/2 months to figure out a funding apparatus, an Ybor stadium is nothing more than a pipe dream. Time will tell. . A new stadium will get built somewhere in the area in the near future. That is to say the #Rays aren’t going to move to Las Vegas, Portland, Charlotte or Montreal. The commissioner and the ownership may as well stop fanning those flames. In any case, until a REASONABLE stadium deal is in the table, let’s enjoy what we have, after all a subpar stadium and a scrappy team are way better than neither of the above. #RaysUp #TheTrop

A post shared by X-Rays Spex (@xraysspex) on

All of this is headache inducing. Is it January yet?

Tampa Bay Rays 7/15/18 pregame notes; injury and roster news

By Leave a Comment

The 19 runs on Saturday matched a franchise record. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

After scoring a season high 19 runs against the Twins on Saturday, matching a franchise high, the Tampa Bay Rays look to end the ceremonial first half on a high note in Minneapolis. The win yesterday solidified the Rays’ plus .500 record at the All-Star Break, while a victory today could help determine if the team will be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline, or if they’ll stay put.

It was announced after Saturday’s contest that Wilson Ramos, who was pulled early — in the sixth inning — due to left hamstring tightness, will not be able to play in the All-Star Game on Tuesday.

Ramos said the injury occurred when he was running out a ground ball to third.
Ramos will travel to DC for the game, but it is uncertain whether he’ll hit the disabled list.

I was very excited to participate in that game, Ramos said. Now, I’m very sad. I worked really hard to make that team. But I will be there with my family and get some time there.

Hopefully it gets better soon. I still have half a season left … It’s better to miss one game than two months. Just have to be smart, do my rehab well and come back strong.

The Rays also made a roster move, acquiring the recently DFA’d southpaw Hoby Milner from the Phillies for cash considerations.

Milner, 27, broke camp on the Phillies’ Opening Day roster, however, he performed to a 7.71 ERA in 10 appearances before being optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Last season he had worked to a 2.01 ERA in 37 appearances.

In order to make room on the 25 and 40-man rosters, Tampa Bay optioned RHP Chih-Wei Hu back to Triple-A Durham, and designated RHP Ryan Weber for assignment.

When a player is DFA’d, he is immediately removed from the 25 and 40-man 40-man rosters. Within seven days of the transaction, the player must either be traded, released or placed on irrevocable outright waivers.

The New What Next

RHP Ryne Stanek (1-2, 1.92 ERA) will get the start in a bullpen day for the Rays, pitching opposite of RHP Fernando Romero (3-3, 4.38 ERA).

Ryne Stanek has sterling peripherals this season, posting a 1.93 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 11.3 K/9 across his 27 appearances this season (32-2/3 innings). The right-hander pitched a scoreless frame with two punch outs in his lone appearance against Minnesota this season.

If history speaks to anything, southpaw Ryan Yarbrough (8-4, 3.68 ERA) will likely see some mound time this afternoon.

Fernando Romero has a solid-but-unspectacular 4.38 ERA in 51-1/3 innings this season, although his 2.04 ERA in 39-2/3 innings for Triple-A Rochester is quite good. In his previous start for the Twins, Romero took the loss after he allowed four runs in six innings. This season he has relied primarily on a whiffy 96 mph sinker with some slight armside run and some natural sinking action, a swing-and-miss 96 mph four-seam fastball with natural sinking action, and a 12-6 87 mph slider, while also mixing in a hard 91 mph changeup with some armside fade and natural sink.

You can read about the series in our preview.

The New What Next: Rays vs Twins part two — a series preview

Rays 7/15/18 Starting Lineup

Kiermaier CF
Duffy 3B
Bauers DH
Cron 1B
Robertson 2B
Gomez RF
Smith LF
Hechavarria SS
Sucre C
Stanek RHP

Noteworthiness

— A li’l R&R. After a long stretch of writing pretty much daily since the start of Spring Training, we’ll be taking a brief respite this week. Treat yo-self as it were. Fret not, if anything pressing needs to be reported between now and Friday, we’ll be on it. Otherwise, see y’all when the Rays return to action on Friday against the Marlins.