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A Below Average Rays Fan Blog

TNWN: Rays look for a series sweep in the season finale

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John Curtiss allowed one run on three hits across 2/3 inning on Saturday.

Sunday marks the last day of the 60-game regular season, and with it, one of the strangest campaigns in baseball history. Aside from COVID-19 and the political strife that has made America a powder keg ready to explode, the Tampa Bay Rays have dealt with injuries, other teams literally throwing at their heads (side note: how the fuck has Aroldis Chapman not served his three-game suspension yet?!), an all left-handed-hitting lineup, 12 different players notching saves, an astronomically high strikeout rate in the month of September (31.3% K%), and a 14-5 record in one-run games which is tops in all of baseball. The Rays have already clinched the top seed in the American League playoffs. The only questions remaining are whether they will earn their 40th win, and consequently the mark of the Devil Ray — a .666 winning percentage (WP%) — and who they will play in the opening round. With a win, Tampa Bay would tie for the best 60-game mark at any point in any season in team history.

Tampa Bay enters play with a 39-20 (19 games over .500) record. They are guaranteed to finish with the best WP% in team history, exceeding the .599 mark by the 2008 “worst-to-first” pennant winners. Their current record extrapolates to a dominant 107-55 over a 162 game season. Meanwhile, 20 of the Rays 39 wins are of the come from behind variety, most in the American League. What’s more, Kevin Cash now has the best WP% of any manager in franchise history at .521, surpassing that one guy who managed the Cubs and now calls Anaheim his home. What was his name again? I don’t remember either.

The Rays will face the Blue Jays in the Wildcard round playoffs — starting Tuesday at Tropicana Field — if the Yankees beat Miami or Toronto loses to Baltimore. If the Blue Jays win and the Yankees lose, the Rays will then face New York.

As for Philadelphia, they need a win and some help to qualify for a postseason berth … albeit one with a sub .500 record. They also need Milwaukee and San Francisco to lose.

The New What Next

Josh Fleming (4-0, 3.42 ERA) will get the start for Tampa Bay, pitching opposite of Aaron Nola (5-4, 3.06 ERA).

Josh Fleming, who was slated to pitch the bulk of the innings on Tuesday, entered the game after Ryan Thompson and got the final out of the third inning. He also allowed just a grounder in the fourth.

Even so, former Ray Guillermo Heredia battled back from an 0-2 count to earn a free pass, while Ramos hit a single to right on the next pitch, putting two on and moving a runner into scoring position. After Nimmo was hit by a pitch, consequently loading the bases, Jeff McNeil hit an infield RBI single that Willy Adames made a diving stop on, scoring Heredia and bringing the Mets within one. But, J.D. Davis lined to right on the very next pitch, keeping the Rays in front.

Fleming came out in the sixth and got the first two batters before Diego Castillo took over with Alonso, whom he quickly put away, stepping into the box.

After a rough start patch in September, Fleming has allowed just one run over 6-2/3 frames encompassing his last two trips to the mound.

Aaron Nola gave up five runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks over six innings on Thursday against Washington. He struck out six. It was Nola’s fourth quality start in his last six outings, a stretch during which he’s posted a 3.03 ERA and 3.85 K/BB across 38-2/3 innings. Nola relies primarily on an 85 mph changeup that dives down out of the zone, a 79 mph curveball with sweeping glove-side movement, a whiffy 93 mph four-seam fastball with obvious tail and some natural sinking action, and a groundball inducing 92 mph sinker with natural sinking action. Key Matchup: Hunter Renfroe (3-7, 2 2B)

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

TNWN: Rays vs. Phillies — a series preview

Rays 9/27/20 Starting Lineup

    null
  1. Wendle SS
  2. B Lowe DH
  3. Arozarena 2B
  4. N Lowe 1B
  5. Brosseau 3B
  6. Renfroe RF
  7. Phillips CF
  8. Margot LF
  9. Perez C

Noteworthiness

— The Rays will rest some of the key relievers this afternoon. Nick Anderson threw in the first game of the series, while Diego Castillo and Pete Fairbanks threw yesterday. Aaron Slegers also worked three innings last night, and John Curtiss pitched the last two games. That leaves Oliver Drake, Aaron Loup, Ryan Sherriff, and Ryan Thompson as options.

— Good news on the with runners in scoring position (wRISP) front. Tampa Bay has had success in this series when it has mattered most, going 7-for-16 wRISP (.438 wRISP BA).

— Ji-Man Choi and Yandy Diaz are expected to work out before the game. According to Neil Solondz (Rays Radio), the Rays have not decided if either or both will make the team’s playoff roster, as each is recovering from a hamstring injury. Rosters do not need to be finalized until Tuesday morning.

— Rays manager Kevin Cash set the pitching rotation in the Wildcard round of the playoffs. The team will go with Blake Snell in the first game, Tyler Glasnow in the second, and Charlie Morton in the third, if necessary.

LBWMF: Rays come from behind to defeat the Phillies, 6-4

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The Maverick not only won a dance-off on Wednesday but he collected 2/3 of his season hits with the Rays last night.

The Tampa Bay Rays came from behind against the Phillies on Friday, and in doing so they notched their American League-leading 19th comeback win of the season.

At 38-20 on the season, the Rays enter play Saturday 18 games over .500 for the first time this season. They also moved one step closer to the top seed in the playoffs with two games left to play. An Oakland loss or a Tampa Bay win next two days of the season will give them the top spot in the AL.

The Rays took the initial lead in the second against Vince Velasquez. Kevin Kiermaier hit a one-out single to center, then got into Velasquez’s head as he jockeyed off first base and then off second when Mike Brosseau walked. After Hunter Renfroe struck out swinging on a fastball well above the zone, Brett Phillips collected the first of two hits, an RBI single to right.

Meanwhile, Charlie Morton got the start and looked dominant from the beginning of his outing, allowing just a walk to Bryce Harper over the first two frames, while striking out four. However, that changed in the third.

Scott Kingery grounded a one-out single to centerfield, then stayed out of an inning-ending double play because he was in motion when Andrew McCutchen hit a grounder to third. Kingery moved up third on a wild pitch before Alec Bohm flicked a single to right, tying the game at one. Harper followed, slashing a ball down the right-field line for a triple/Little League homer. He also crossed the plate when Willy Adames’ relay throw got past Brosseau at third, putting the Phillies up by two.

Kingery struck again in the fifth. The infielder hit a one-out double to left-center before Bohm lined a single to right, moving Kingery up 90 feet. Harper plated a run on a single, his tenth consecutive plate appearance in which he had reached. Morton retired J.T. Realmuto on a groundout to end his outing. All told, Morton was charged with four runs (three earned) on seven hits and a walk while striking out eight on 93 pitches (64 strikes, 69% strike rate, 22% SwStr%).

Down by three, the Rays began their comeback in the home half of the inning against Velasquez. Joey Wendle reached on an infield hit before Randy Arozarena lined a double to left, moving Wendle to third. After Nate Lowe struck out, Adames singled to center, scoring Wendle and chasing Philadelphia’s starter after 92 pitches. Former Ray Tommy Hunter came on and got Kevin Kiermaier to ground into a fielder’s choice, scoring Arozarena and cutting the lead to just a run.

After Morton, Oliver Drake threw a scoreless sixth, allowing just a walk. In the bottom of the frame, Phillips collected his second hit of the night, punching a homer to straightaway centerfield, his first homer in a Rays uniform, tying the game at four. Phillips was on base in all four plate appearances.

Ryan Thompson pitched the seventh, striking out a pair and setting the stage for one last rally.

Left-hander Adam Morgan took the mound in the bottom of the eighth with the game tied at four. Pinch-hitter Manuel Margot lined to left to start the frame, however, Yoshi Tsutsugo singled to center before Renfroe and Phillips walked to load the bases. Joe Girardi had seen enough of Morgan and called upon Hector Neris. After pinch-hitter, Brandon Lowe popped out, Wendle lined a two-RBI single to right for a 6-4 lead.

That made a winner out of Nick Anderson, who worked the top of the eighth and allowed a two-out walk to Didi Gregorius — just his third walk of the season. Jean Segura hit a pop fly toward the right-field line, and Wendle, playing second, made an incredible over the shoulder catch to prevent a hit and likely a two-out run. John Curtiss followed in the ninth and struck out the side to earn the save.

The New What Next

After closing out Friday night’s contest, Curtiss will open the middle game of the set on Saturday. He will be followed by Ryan Yarbrough (1-4, 3.78 ERA). They’ll be opposed by Zack Wheeler (4-1, 2.67 ERA).

Ryan Yarbrough allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out eight over seven innings on Sunday against the Orioles. Yarbrough gave up two runs in the first inning, yet he settled in and finished his outing with six scoreless frames. Unfortunately, the two runs proved to be the difference in the game as the Orioles’ pitching staff put forth a dominant showing. The left-hander now maintains a 3.78 ERA and 3.33 K/BB over 52-1/3 innings.

Zack Wheeler gave up three runs (two earned) on five hits and three walks while striking out seven across 5-2/3 innings Monday against the Nationals. Wheeler got into early trouble, allowing two runs in the first inning followed by one in the sixth. He didn’t receive much run support, which resulted in the right-hander’s first loss of the 2020 season. Wheeler owns a 2.67 ERA and 1.13 WHIP with a 3.75 K/BB across 64 innings. He relies primarily on a 97 mph four-seam fastball, while also mixing in a 97 mph worm-killer sinker with natural sinking action, a hard 90 mph slider, a whiffy 80 mph curveball with sharp downward bite, and a hard 90 mph changeup with a ton of backspin. Key Matchups: Manuel Margot (2-6), Brett Phillips (1-2)

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

TNWN: Rays vs. Phillies — a series preview

Rays 9/26/20 Starting Lineup

  1. Arozarena DH
  2. B. Lowe 2B
  3. Adames SS
  4. Tsutsugo 3B
  5. Brosseau 1B
  6. Kiermaier CF
  7. Margot LF
  8. Phillips RF
  9. Zunino C

TNWN: Rays look to clinch the division title, take two

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Blake Snell gave up three runs in 5-2/3 innings on Tuesday.

After a 5-2 loss to the New York Mets on Tuesday, the Tampa Bay Rays look to get back on the winning side of the ledger, take the series, and clinch the AL East title on Wednesday, in New York.

Tampa Bay enters play 16 games over .500 and with a 3-1/2 game lead over the Yankees with four games left to play. They also boast a magic number of one. As Neil Solondz (Rays Radio) writes, “the Rays lead Chicago by 1-1/2 games for the best record in the American League, and Tampa Bay has lost just one of the team’s last 14 series.”

This will be Tampa Bay’s last regular-season road game of the 2020 season. The Rays, who are 5-2 on the current road trip, could end the season with a 20-11 road record.

The Rays have struggled offensively of late, which is due in part to the absence of three of the team’s top four hitters — Ji-Man Choi and Yandy Diaz (hamstring injuries), and Austin Meadows (oblique strain) — due to injury. Choi and Diaz got reps yesterday in Port Charlotte, although Rays skipper Kevin Cash said they still need to improve significantly to even be included on the team’s playoff roster.

The injuries have dealt the Rays a tough hand, as the have scored three runs or fewer in five consecutive games and seven of eight contests. There’s another reason they are scuffling though: Tampa Bay hasn’t been able to get timely hits. The team is currently in an 0-22 wRISP. With Mike Brosseau getting a few days off, as he deals with overall body soreness, the Rays only really have two hot hitters in the lineup tonight; Willy Adames, who scored twice on Tuesday and has three homers on the road trip, and Joey Wendle, who collected two hits yesterday and is 7-for-13 in the last four games.

The New What Next

Tyler Glasnow (4-1, 4.21 ERA) will get the start for the Rays tonight, pitching opposite of former Cardinal hurler Michael Wacha (1-3, 6.75 ERA).

Tyler Glasnow got the start Friday against former Ray Alex Cobb and battled, allowing one run on four hits (one home run) and two walks while fanning 10 across five innings on 95 pitches (64 strikes, 67% strike rate, 20% SwStr%) en route to his fourth win of the season.

Glasnow, however, really had to work for his outs, using 50 pitches over the first two frames. The right-hander had a runner at second with one out in the first inning, then really did some heavy lifting in the second. He loaded the bases on a walk sandwiched around a pair of singles. However, Glasnow struck out Bryan Holaday and Andrew Velazquez, then got Cedric Mullins to fly to left, keeping Baltimore off the board.

Getting out of the second inning was a big step from me. Good growth moment, like Kyle would say. I felt, like, calm … nothing sped up.

— Tyler Glasnow

The right-hander’s only mistake of the night came in the bottom of the fourth when he allowed an Austin Hays solo shot to begin the frame. Yet, Glasnow struck out the side afterward (as well as in the first) and surrendered nothing else. Glasnow came into Friday’s contest averaging 14.2 K/9 and raised it to 14.6 by the time his night was over. He again lowered his ERA, this time to 4.21 (3.47 FIP), and maintains an impressive 3.95 K/BB across 51-1/3 innings this season. Glasnow is 0-2 with a 7.07 ERA in five career outings (two starts) against the Mets.

Michael Wacha was moved into the rotation for left-hander Steven Matz. Wacha gave up a run in four innings a week ago against Philadelphia. He has not thrown more than 71 pitches in a game since August 7th. Wacha is 0-2 with a 9.72 ERA in two career starts for the Rays. However, only four current Rays have ever faced Wacha. Key Matchup: Hunter Renfroe (1-1, 2B)

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

TNWN: Rays vs. Mets — a series preview

Rays 9/23/20 Starting Lineup

  1. Tsutsugo DH
  2. B. Lowe 2B
  3. Arozarena LF
  4. N. Lowe 1B
  5. Renfroe RF
  6. Wendle 3B
  7. Adames SS
  8. Margot CF
  9. Zunino C

Noteworthiness

— Jose Alvarado (lat strain) will throw in a simulated game on Thursday and another over the weekend. From there, it will be determined whether he will be able to rejoin the Rays for the first round of the playoffs.

LBWMF: Rays on the cusp of a division title after defeating the Mets, 2-1

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Nate Lowe plated the deciding run on a homer to center off Jacob deGrom.

Jacob deGrom was fantastic against Tampa Bay on Monday night, yet the Rays pitching staff was able to outpitch both him and the Mets, allowing them to edge out New York, 2-1. Nate Lowe scored both runs in the victory.

With Tampa Bay’s win and the Yankees 11-5 loss in Buffalo, the Rays end the night 17 games over .500 on the season and with a magic number of one to clinch the division. What’s more, given the White Sox loss to Cleveland, the Rays lead the South-Siders by 1-1/2 games for the top record in the American League with five games left to play.

After abruptly leaving his previous start after two innings and three runs with a right hamstring spasm, Jacob deGrom was absolutely dominant, striking out 14 (tying a career-high) over seven frames, while walking two and scattering four hits. Tampa Bay, however, made those hits count.

deGrom struck out the side in the first inning on 10 pitches, although Nate Lowe earned a full-count walk to begin the second. Lowe moved up to third on Joey Wendle’s first-pitch double to the left-center gap before Manuel Margot hit a two-strike sacrifice-fly to center, scoring Lowe for a 1-0 lead.

Two innings later, Lowe blasted a 1-0 solo solo shot to center for a two-run lead. It was Lowe’s fourth homer in 11 games.

On the mound for Tampa Bay, Pete Fairbanks opened his second game of the season and threw 1-2/3 scoreless innings. The right-hander walked Brandon Nimmo to start the first, yet he was erased when he was caught stealing. All told, Fairbanks struck out two and threw 15 of 25 pitches for strikes (60% strike rate).

Ryan Thompson followed Fairbanks and struck out Pete Alonso to get the final out of the second. He took the mound again in the third inning and got the first two batters of the frame before former Rays backstop Wilson Ramos hit a single to right, signaling the end of Thompson’s night. Josh Fleming — who was slated to pitch the bulk of the innings — came in and got the final out of the third and allowed just a grounder in the fourth.

Even so, former Ray Guillermo Heredia battled back from an 0-2 count to earn a free pass, while Ramos hit a single to right on the next pitch, putting two on and moving a runner into scoring position. After Nimmo was hit by a pitch, consequently loading the bases, Jeff McNeil hit an infield RBI single that Willy Adames made a diving stop on, scoring Heredia and bringing the Mets within one. But, J.D. Davis lined to right on the very next pitch, keeping the Rays in front.

Fleming came out in the sixth and got the first two batters before Diego Castillo took over with Alonso, whom he quickly put away, stepping into the box. Castillo came out in the seventh and put down all three batters (all right-handers) in order. Ryan Sherriff worked around a two-out walk for a scoreless eighth, preserving the one-run lead.

Finally, Nick Anderson battled in the ninth to earn the save. The right-hander started the frame with an 11-pitch at-bat against Robinson Cano which resulted in a fly-ball out to deep centerfield. Alonso followed and got ahead of Anderson 3-0 before he struck out. Finally, Andrés Giménez popped out, ending the ball game.

The New What Next

The Rays will look to clinch the AL East title in game two of the series against the Mets on Tuesday. Blake Snell (4-1, 3.05 ERA) will get the start pitching opposite of right-hander Seth Lugo (2-3, 4.34 ERA).

Blake Snell allowed one run on two hits and a walk over 5-1/3 innings against the Orioles on Thursday. He struck out four. Snell was in line for his fifth win of the season in an eventual 3-1 victory, but after he exited the game with a runner on second and one out, Diego Castillo allowed the inherited runner to score. Snell tossed 73 pitches (47 strikes, 64% strike rate) in the strong outing, and carries a 3.05 ERA and a 3.6 K/BB through 44-1/3 innings into his final start of the regular season, on Tuesday. Snell is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in one career start (7-1/3 IP) against the Mets.

Seth Lugo allowed six runs on eight hits and no walks across 1-2/3 innings against the Phillies on Thursday. He struck out three. Lugo entered the game having posted a 2.65 ERA over 17 innings since joining the starting rotation on August 25, although he was unable to tame Philadelphia’s bats. The right-hander surrendered four home runs in the brutal outing, two of which came against Bryce Harper. In only 1-2/3 innings of work, Lugo yielded a season-worst eight hits and saw his season ERA balloon to 4.34. He relies primarily on a whiffy 94 mph four-seam fastball and a 94 mph sinker with slight arm-side run and slightly above average velocity, while also mixing in a 79 mph curveball with slight glove-side movement, an 88 mph slider with less than expected depth, and an extremely hard ground ball inducing 88 mph changeup. He has never faced the Rays. Key Matchup: Manuel Margot (5-6, 2B)

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

TNWN: Rays vs. Mets — a series preview

Rays 9/22/20 Starting Lineup

  1. Tsutsugo DH
  2. B. Lowe 2B
  3. Arozarena LF
  4. N. Lowe 1B
  5. Wendle 3B
  6. Adames SS
  7. Kiermaier CF
  8. Phillips RF
  9. Perez C

Noteworthiness

— The Rays unveiled the 40-man player pool for the 2020 postseason. Below, you will find the player pool, including top overall prospect Wander Franco:

Catchers (4): Mike Zunino, Michael Perez, Kevan Smith, Ronaldo Hernández

Infielders (9): Willy Adames, Mike Brosseau, Vidal Bruján, Ji-Man Choi, Yandy Díaz, Wander Franco, Brandon Lowe, Nate Lowe, Joey Wendle

Outfielders (8): Randy Arozarena, Kevin Kiermaier, Manuel Margot, Austin Meadows, Brian O’Grady, Brett Phillips, Hunter Renfroe, Yoshi Tsutsugo

Pitchers (19): José Alvarado, Nick Anderson, Diego Castillo, John Curtiss, Oliver Drake, Pete Fairbanks, Josh Fleming, Sean Gilmartin, Tyler Glasnow, Brent Honeywell Jr., Aaron Loup, Shane McClanahan, Charlie Morton, Trevor Richards, Ryan Sherriff, Aaron Slegers, Blake Snell, Ryan Thompson, Ryan Yarbrough

TNWN: Rays look to cap the season finale against Baltimore with a win

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Charlie Morton earned a W last night even though things did not look good at the start.

After earning their fourth consecutive win against the Orioles on Saturday, 3-1, the Tampa Bay Rays look to do something rare and unusual this afternoon: sweep a five-game set.

At 35-18 on the season, the Rays enter play with the best record in the American League, while their magic number to clinch the division over the Yankees, who have won 10 straight, is down to four with seven games left to play. According to FanGraphs, the Rays have a 96% chance of winning the division.

Charlie Morton got off to an inauspicious start Saturday — getting into a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the first inning — yet he limited the damage and battled his way to a win over Baltimore, allowing one run on five hits and two walks and two hit batters while striking out six across five innings of work on 94 pitches (61% strike rate, 26% SwStr%). For only the second time since returning from the Injured List on September 2, Morton was able to make it through five innings, surrendering a lone tally to pick up his first win since August 4. Morton’s final pitch count of 94 bodes well for his ability to throw without limitations in the postseason. Between a shoulder injury that cost him nearly three weeks and an uncharacteristic 4.64 ERA (albeit reduced from 5.13), the 2020 campaign has been somewhat disappointing for the right-hander, he could provide a significant boost to the Rays’ rotation if he’s able to peak heading into the postseason. He’ll get one last tuneup on Friday against Philadelphia.

He settled in and did a really nice job of competing, making pitches, and getting a feel for everything that he had. But most of all encouraged that we got him to that 95-pitch mark and throughout that the velocity stayed consistent.

— Kevin Cash
https://twitter.com/RaysBaseball/status/1307479334756798465?s=20

Meanwhile, Yoshi Tsutsugo and Randy Arozarena provided some thunder, both of which hit right-field blasts, accounting for all three of the Rays runs.

Ryan Thompson helped the Rays tie a big-league record yesterday. The right-hander earned his first major league save and became the 12th different Tampa Bay player to collect a save this season. That’s something only the Texas Rangers have accomplished, and that was in 1973. In that particular season, the Rangers went 59-103 and saw three different managers (Whitey Herzon, Del Wilber, and Billy Martin) in all.

Tampa Bay has leaned heavily on the ‘pen over the last four days. As Neil Solondz (Rays Radio) noted, the pen worked 6-2/3 innings around Josh Fleming working as a bulk pitcher Wednesday, then 5-1/3 innings on Thursday in a doubleheader, and four more on Friday and Saturday.

Because of it, Ryan Yarbrough will get the start in the series finale against the Orioles, rather than pitch behind an opener as he did in his last outing.

The Rays are expected to get a roster boost, as Mike Zunino (oblique strain) is expected to be activated this afternoon. Zunino has been out since August 26th, a span of nearly four weeks.

He’s taken (batting practice), he’s faced some live pitching. It’s not the most ideal buildup, but that’s what’s at stake right now. With no (minor-league) games for him to go play in, but we feel he’s in a good spot and should be 100 percent good to go.

— Kevin Cash

With Zunino’s return, the Rays seem likely to drop a reliever (presumably Sean Gilmartin) and keep three catchers since Kevan Smith is out of options.

The New What Next

The season finale between the two ball clubs will pit Ryan Yarbrough (0-3, 4.31 ERA) against fellow southpaw John Means (1-3, 5.63 ERA).

Ryan Yarbrough took over with one out in the second and quickly went to work against the Nationals, working around a Carter Kieboom single and striking out two to get out of the frame unscathed. Even though Yarbrough went just 2-2/3 innings against the Nationals in his last start, the lefty posted 5-2/3 frames of one-run ball on this night, allowing five hits, and hitting a batter while striking out five. He threw 52 of 86 pitches for strikes (60% strike rate, 17% SwStr%). Yarbrough allowed just four hard-hit balls and kept the Nationals off-balance throughout the night.

Yarbrough’s biggest frame came in the fifth inning. After he allowed back-to-back hits with just a 2-0 lead, Victor Robles laid down a sacrifice bunt, moving the runners up to second and third. But Adam Eaton grounded to third with the infield in, and Trea Turner popped to first to end the threat.

Washington was able to get run off Yarbrough in the sixth inning when Juan Soto doubled then came around to score on a pair of groundouts. Even so, Yarbrough held the Nationals to 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position. Yarbrough is 3-0 with a 3.38 ERA in seven games (two starts) against Baltimore.

John Means allowed one run on five hits and one walk while striking out four across six innings on Sunday against the Yankees. After posting shaky results to start the season, Means has settled into a groove over his past two outings, allowing one run over six innings in each appearance. While he was rewarded with the win his last time around, he had to settle for a no-decision Sunday as Baltimore mustered only one run. Means has had a rough time at home (9.00 ERA), allowing six of his homers at Camden Yards while giving up 16 runs in 16 innings. The right-hander relies primarily on a whiffy 94 mph four-seam fastball that has some added backspin, and an 85 mph changeup, while also mixing in a hard 87 mph slider and an 80 mph curveball with sweeping glove-side movement. Means is 2-1 with a 3.68 ERA in four games against Tampa Bay. Key Matchups: Michael Brosseau (4-9, 3 HR), Nate Lowe (1-3, HR), Kevan Smith (1-3, 2B)

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

TNWN: Rays vs Orioles — a series preview

Rays 9/20/20 Starting Lineup

  1. Margot CF
  2. Arozarena LF
  3. Tsutsugo 3B
  4. Smith DH
  5. Adames SS
  6. N. Lowe 1B
  7. Renfroe RF
  8. Zunino C
  9. Wendle 2B

Noteworthiness

— The possibility of a return for the playoffs for infielders Yandy Diaz and Ji-Man Choi, both sidelined with hamstring strains, is uncertain. Diaz has been out since September 1, while Choi was hurt on September 12. Both have taken swings off a tee and tossed balls in Port Charlotte, and on Sunday and Monday, they will take live batting practice on the field.

Yet both have to make a lot more progress to be ready for the postseason opener.

Taking BP is still a fairly long way away from actually being in a game. We’ll see where they’re at on Tuesday.

— Kevin Cash

— Jose Alvarado, who started throwing off the mound in Port Charlotte, is another option. The left-hander has been out since mid-August with a shoulder issue.

— As Marc Topkin writes, the Rays have some decisions to make by today. “By noon Sunday, the Rays and other teams must submit a list of the 40 players — 28 active, 12 from the injured list/alternate site camps — who will be eligible during the postseason. Because that group will enter a quarantine starting Tuesday in St. Petersburg for those local and the rest of the team after returning from New York after Wednesday’s game, changes can only be made due to “exceptional circumstances,” requiring league and player union approval. The Rays figure to go heavy with pitchers, including Edgar Garcia and Trevor Richards, who are on the 40-man roster. An interesting possibility is Brent Honeywell, who continues to progress in working back from his latest arm issues.”