X-Rays Spex

A Below Average Rays Fan Blog

d’Arnaud, Rays come from behind to defeat New York, 5-4; Glasnow update

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  • Move over Dan Johnson, there’s a new legend in town, Travis d’Arnaud. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

If the Tampa Bay Rays make the playoffs this season, Monday’s late-inning, come from behind victory will be a ballgame that will be looked back upon with great reverie. Travis d’Arnaud hit three big home runs ⁠— tying a franchise record originally set by Evan Longoria ⁠— in the Bronx, the last of which gave Tampa Bay the go-ahead lead with two outs in the ninth. The Rays snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, beating the first-place Yankees, 5-4.


Source: FanGraphs

Blake Snell got the start and allowed one run on three hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out four. Snell threw an inefficient 93 pitches (56 strikes, 60% strike rate) and did not have a clean inning in his first three frames, yet his only real mistake resulted in an Edwin Encarnacion solo shot in the fourth inning. Snell exited the contest in line for his sixth win of the season. The southpaw lowered his ERA by 15 points to 4.55 and has managed a 3.82 K/BB across 95 innings on the season.

Meanwhile, d’Arnaud gave the Rays a first-inning lead when he hit a solo homer to right on a 3-2 pitch off starter James Paxton to start the game.

d’Arnaud hit another solo shot in the third inning on a 1-0 pitch for a two-run lead.

The backstop now has two multi-home run games with Tampa Bay, and eight homers on the season, three of which have come against New York.

Yet for the second consecutive game against Paxton, the Rays were unable to tack on any runs in spite of numerous opportunities.

In the fourth inning, Avisail Garcia hit a one-out infield hit but was thrown out trying to go first to third on Kevin Kiermaier’s single to right. Then in the fifth inning, Willy Adames singled to left and swiped second, although he was picked off second when Joey Wendle squared around to bunt.

An inning later, Garcia walked after an infield single by Yandy Diaz. However, Kiermaier struck out and Guillermo Heredia hit a soft liner to short, ending the threat. The Rays ultimately went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position. Yankee starters have posted a 2.49 ERA (22 earned runs across 79-2/3 IP) against Tampa Bay this season.

Down by a run in the seventh, New York tied the game on a two-out, 0-2 homer by Gio Urshela off Emilio Pagan. Pagan followed by allowing a walk and a hit before he struck out Aaron Judge on a high, 96 mph fastball to keep the game knotted up at two apiece.

Andrew Kittredge followed Pagan in the eighth inning and struck out Luke Voit and Gary Sanchez. However, Aaron Hicks singled to right before Edwin Encarnacion worked a nine-pitch at-bat, consequently resulting in a two-run homer to left, giving the Yankees a 4-2 lead.

Down by a pair in the ninth, Kiermaier and Heredia singled to start the frame against All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman. However, Adames and Wendle struck out giving the Rays one last shot. With two on and two out, d’Arnaud worked an eight-pitch at-bat before homered into the short porch in right on a hanging slider.

Kittredge, who put the Rays behind in the eighth, got the first two outs in the bottom of the ninth before he walked Aaron Judge to extend the frame. At 38 pitches (29 strikes, 76% strike rate), Kittredge was lifted in favor of The Drake. Voit worked a full count before he struck out looking to end the game.

It was Tampa Bay’s first win this season when trailing after eight innings (1-32), and New York’s first loss when leading after eight (49-1). After winning just one ballgame against the Yankees all season, Tampa Bay has won the last three meetings against New York.

Noteworthiness

Ryne Stanek (0-2, 3.14 ERA) will open for the Rays and will be followed by left-hander Jalen Beeks (5-0, 2.79 ERA), who will be recalled before the game. They’ll be opposed by C.C. Sabathia (5-4, 4.03 ERA).

In 26 opens this season, Ryne Stanek has a 1.98 ERA and has struck out 46 across 41 innings. The Rays are 17-9 in games started by Stanek this season. The right-hander threw two perfect frames on Sunday, although he gave up four runs in one inning the last time he faced the Yankees.

Jalen Beeks was initially optioned to Triple-A Durham at the end of June, but he’ll return to the big league roster for the second game of the series. Beeks has managed a 2.79 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP across 61-1/3 innings this season, with 51 punchouts. Beeks was stretched out to 80 pitches at Triple-A.

C.C. Sabathia allowed three runs on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts across seven innings in a no-decision against Tampa Bay on Saturday. Even though he didn’t capture his third consecutive win, Sabathia did post his third straight quality start. He’s pitched fairly well since the beginning of June, although a couple of bad outings have bloated his ERA to 4.67 in his last six starts. He now is 18-16 with a 3.59 ERA in 52 career starts against the Rays. Key Matchups: Micheal Brosseau (1-2, BB), Travis d’Arnaud (5-15, RBI, 2 BB), Kevin Kiermaier (6-19, 2 HR, 2 RBI), Nate Lowe (1-2, HR, 2 RBI), Tommy Pham (4-13, RBI, BB), Joey Wendle (1-2)

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

TNWN: Rays vs Yankees — a series preview, part five

Rays 7/16/19 Starting Lineup

    null
  1. d’Arnaud 1B
  2. Pham DH
  3. Brosseau 2B
  4. Diaz 3B
  5. Garcia RF
  6. Meadows LF
  7. Adames SS
  8. Kiermaier CF
  9. Zunino C

Noteworthiness

— In order to make room for Beeks on the 25-man roster, the Rays optioned outfielder Guillermo Heredia.

— Tyler Glasnow, who has been on the shelf with a flexor strain since the beginning of May, will not be allowed to begin his throwing program for at least two weeks after his latest MRI, which came back clean.

The Rays are taking a cautious approach with Glasnow, who is an important piece in the long-term puzzle

Rays manager Kevin Cash announced Monday that the right-hander may not make it back this season, which could intensify the team’s efforts to acquire pitching before the July 31 trade deadline.

— Anthony Bemboom, who the Rays activated from the IL then designated for assignment Monday afternoon, has been acquired by the Los Angeles Angels for cash considerations. The move frees up a spot on the 40-man roster ahead of the pending activation of Matt Duffy from the IL.

Rays 7/14/19 pregame notes; injury updates

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Friend of the blog, Michael Nazarro, grabbed this photo from last night’s ballgame. (Photo Credit: Michael Nazarro)

After splitting a doubleheader against Baltimore on Saturday, the Tampa Bay Rays look to take three of four from the Orioles this afternoon. Tampa Bay hit six homers and won 12-4 in the nightcap after being held to just one run on three hits by Baltimore in the opener.

Following the nightcap, Tampa Bay optioned Jake Faria and recalled Ryan Yarbrough (7-3, 4.55 ERA), who will act as the bulk inning guy this afternoon. Ryne Stanek (0-2, 3.26 ERA) will open for Tampa Bay. Tom Eshelman (0-0, 3.60 ERA), who takes the place of Andrew Cashner, will pitch in opposition.

Ryne Stanek will open for the 26th time this season. He last pitched on July 5th, when he allowed four extra-inning runs to New York in an 8-4 loss, with all of the runs coming via the long ball. Stanek has much better opening games, logging a 2.08 ERA as compared to a 7.59 ERA out of the pen. The right-hander has thrown four scoreless frames in three prior appearances against the Orioles.

Ryan Yarbrough last pitched for Durham on July 6th and allowed six runs across five innings against Gwinnett, allowing all but one run in his final inning of work. The lefty gave up one run in three innings in his last big league appearance (July 1) against Baltimore in a 6-3 Rays win.

Tom Eshelman had a promising big league debut against Tampa Bay on July 1, limiting the Rays to two runs on six hits and a walk across five innings, although he failed to fan a batter. The soft-tossing right-hander could be in danger of a demotion back to Triple-A if he turns in a poor outing. Key Matchups: Ji-Man Choi (1-2, RBI), Yandy Diaz (1-3), Avisail Garcia (1-2, RBI), Kevin Kiermaier (1-2), Austin Meadows (1-3), Mike Zunino (1-2)

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

TNWN: Rays vs Orioles — a series preview, part four

Rays 7/14/19 Starting Lineup

  1. Meadows RF
  2. Pham LF
  3. Kiermaier CF
  4. Lowe DH
  5. Brosseau 3B
  6. Choi 1B
  7. Adames SS
  8. Wendle 2B
  9. Zunino C

Noteworthiness

— In spite of the 2-1 loss in the opening game of the doubleheader yesterday, Rays starters have pitched deep in each of the last three games. Because of it, the bullpen should be rested; only Colin Poche has worked more than an inning out of the ‘pen. Neither Oliver Drake nor Hunter Wood has pitched in the series.

— Matt Duffy (hamstring, back) played in a third straight ballgame for Durham yesterday. The injured third-baseman played all nine innings in the field and went 1-for-5 with a double and three RBI. Duffy will have an off-day today. Rays skipper Kevin Cash said Duffy is “champing at the bit” since he has yet to appear in a big league game this season. He will most likely see 25-30 rehab at-bats before being re-evaluated.

When he is eventually activated from the IL, the Rays will have to make another roster move, as the 40-man is full after Peter Fairbanks was acquired from Texas yesterday.

— Daniel Robertson’s rehabilitation from right knee surgery is progressing quickly. Cash said Robertson, who has been out since June 19th, could move onto a rehab assignment in the next week or so.

Rays pound Orioles, 16-4; look to continue win streak in the doubleheader Saturday

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The Orioles may have provided the fireworks outside Camden Yards, however, the Rays provided them inside the ballpark. (Photo Credit: Baltimore Orioles)

After setting season highs in runs and hits Friday night — as the Rays exploded for 16 runs on 20 hits — Tampa Bay is set for a day-night doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles today.

Source: FanGraphs

The Rays put up seven runs in the first inning and never looked back. Tommy Pham blasted a home run to right off Dylan Bundy with one out, starting the seven-run outburst.

Kevin Kiermaier doubled and scored on a Yandy Diaz single to center, then Nate Lowe doubled to right, putting runners at second and third. After Diaz scored on a wild pitch, Joey Wendle hit an RBI single and swiped second, putting himself into scoring position. Wendle scored on a Travis d’Arnaud base hit to left before Willy Adames and Austin Meadows each doubled, giving Tampa Bay a seven-run frame, and spelling the end of Dylan Bundy’s night.

In the second inning, Diaz singled against Gabriel Ynoa before Lowe launched a two-run homer to center, putting the Rays up by nine.

Tampa Bay went on to score seven more runs. Offensively, Lowe led the attack with four of the team’s 20 hits, three of the 16 runs batted in, and two runs scored. Seven different players had multiple hits, while all nine starters had a hit before the second inning was complete. They scored five two-out runs, while five of the Rays eight first-inning hits came with two strikes.

Yonny Chirinos allowed just two runs on four hits with no walks and eight strikeouts across seven innings. The Orioles scored two-out runs in the third and fourth innings, their only tallies against the Rays starter. The 25-year-old turned in his best outing since June 7, although he has pitched well over the last month plus. Overall, Chirinos is 8-4 with a 3.11 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and 89 punch outs across 107 innings this season.

The New What Next

It’s a beautiful day for a ballgame. Let’s play two today!

— Ernie Banks

Brendan McKay (1-0, 2.45 ERA) and Charlie Morton (10-2, 2.32 ERA) will get the start for Tampa Bay, while Baltimore will counter with Aaron Brooks (2-3, 5.01 ERA) and John Means (7-4, 2.50 ERA).

Brendan McKay allowed three runs over five innings on Friday against the Yankees, fanning three while walking none and allowing six hits. McKay gave up a solo homer to Aaron Judge in the first inning and a two-run single to Mike Tauchmann in the fifth. He now owns a strong 2.45 ERA through his first two big-league starts, although his 15.0% strikeout rate is nothing close to the 35.3% mark he managed in Triple-A this season. McKay will be the 26th man and will be recalled on Saturday for the doubleheader. 

Aaron Brooks was claimed off waivers from Oakland and will start game one, his first start since April 30th. As Neil Solondz (Rays Radio) noted, David Hess is the 26th man, so he could provide some length.

Charlie Morton punched out 10 while allowing one run on five hits and one walk across 5-2/3 innings on Sunday. Morton found himself in a pitching duel with James Paxton and prevailed by only allowing a solo home run and generating 13 swinging strikes. Morton has back-to-back starts with 10 or more strikeouts and has a league-leading 83 punch outs on his curveball. Morton’s 2.32 ERA is the best in the American League heading into the second half of the season.

John Means allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits and no walks while striking out five across seven innings Wednesday against Tampa Bay. Means pounded the strike zone, with 71 of his 98 pitches going for strikes (72% strike rate). After throwing only 84 pitches and working five innings in his first start after being activated off the injured list on June 28, Means posted his longest start since May 6. While his 7.5 K/9 isn’t particularly impressive, Means maintains a 1.0 HR/9 and 2.4 BB/9 across 82-2/3 innings this season. As a result, he currently holds a 2.50 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 2019. Key Matchups: Michael Brosseau (1-3, HR, RBI), Yandy Diaz (1-4, 2B), Avisail Garcia (1-4, RBI), Guillermo Heredia (2-3, 3B), Joey Wendle (1-3)

You can read about the series in our preview, and I’ll post both starting lineups upon availability.

TNWN: Rays vs Orioles — a series preview, part four

Rays 7/13/19 Starting Lineup (Game 1)

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

Rays 7/13/19 Starting Lineup (Game 2)

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

Noteworthiness

— 1B/DH Ji-Man Choi (left ankle strain) has been activated from the 10-day DL. Ian Gibaut, who pitched two innings on Friday left and was the only reliever used in the game, has been optioned to Triple-A Durham. That gives the Rays 13 position players to use for the doubleheader.

Rays look to cap homestand with a win; on attendance, Alvarado, Castillo, and Duffy

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The Rays have seen big crowds at the old big top the last six days, and another is expected this afternoon. (Photo Credit: X-Rays Spex)

After a magnificent, 4-3 walk-off win over New York, the Tampa Bay Rays will look to gain another game on the AL East-leading Yankees before the All-Star Break this afternoon. A victory would give the Rays a series split and a winning homestand.

The walk-off win was the second for Tampa Bay this season and the third victory for the Rays in 12 tries against New York. A few key events led up to the Rays win.

Blake Snell allowed one run on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts across five innings of work. Even though he didn’t get the win, Snell followed his 12-strikeout performance from his last start with another stellar, albeit labor intensive, outing. The Yankees worked the hurler over his 93 pitch (62 strikes, 67% strike rate) outing, yet Snell certainly didn’t get any help from the home plate umpire, who made more than a few egregious calls.

(vs. RHH; green dots are balls, red are strikes)
(vs. LHH; green dots are balls, red are strikes)

For the fifth time in his last seven appearances, Snell averaged more than a strikeout per inning, as he lowered his ERA to 4.70 ERA with 122 strikeouts across 90 innings.

Chaz Rowe, doppelgänger of the singer for System of a Down, actually pitched well in the sixth inning. He notched three strikeouts (two swinging) while walking one on a beefy, yet effective, 24 pitches (13 strikes, 54% strike rate). Why? Because “he wanted too.”

https://twitter.com/RaysBaseball/status/1147630350908215297

I guess you could say that Roe had his slider working on Saturday.

Down by one in the seventh inning, Nate Lowe hit his second homer of the season, a two-run blast to right field, giving the Rays a 3-2 lead.

https://twitter.com/FOXSportsFL/status/1147640208663257088
https://twitter.com/DingerTracker/status/1147639152885850113

Colin Poche got within a strike of his first big league save, yet Aaron Hicks spoiled the occasion, hitting a two-out, 0-2 solo shot in the top of the ninth. However, Travis d’Arnaud ultimately had the last laugh, hitting his own two-strike, two-out solo homer into the first row of the right-field seats — capping the ballgame with Dan Johnson-like heroics.

https://twitter.com/FOXSportsFL/status/1147652586037624832
https://twitter.com/DingerTracker/status/1147651416464461826

On Attendance

Tropicana Field has now played host to six consecutive games of 20-thousand plus baseball fans (yesterday’s attendance: 21,477), allowing the Rays to increase their per game attendance average to 15,385 — a difference of 802 fans per game over this time last season. They are one of just thirteen teams in the league whose attendance has increased over last season. In fact, the Yankees have seen their average attendance drop by 2,923 fans per game. A modest increase? Absolutely, but positive change is positive change, and I’ll take it.

Furthermore, Tampa Bay hit the 20-thousand home attendance mark for the time this season with another big crowd is expected this afternoon. For context, 20-thousand plus fans attended just nine of the 81 home ballgames last season. Tampa Bay IS a big league market…thank you fans for proving that point. Now, let’s keep things going after the All-Star Break.

The New What Next

All-Star Charlie Morton (9-2, 2.35 ERA) will start for the Rays in the series finale against New York, pitching opposite of James Paxton (5-3, 4.09 ERA).

Charlie Morton was dominant in his outing against Baltimore, allowing one earned run on four hits and a walk while striking out 12 across seven innings. Morton’s sole blemish of the contest came on a third-inning solo homer by Chris Davis, otherwise, he held the Orioles without an extra-base hit and didn’t allow a baserunner into scoring position until his final inning of work. It was his second double-digit strikeout performance of the season, and he’s now racked up 132 strikeouts across 107 innings of work. Morton has also supplied All-Star ratios, managing a 2.36 ERA and 1.03 WHIP.

James Paxton allowed one earned run on eight hits and two walks while striking out three across six innings on Tuesday. Paxton surrendered just a solo home run to J.D. Davis in his outing — only his second quality start in seven chances since coming off the IL in late May. Paxton was unable to generate much deception with his pitches, recording just 12 swinging strikes on 103 total pitches (12% SwStr). The left-hander is 3-0 with a 3.32 ERA in three career starts against the Rays, and 2-0 with a 4.15 ERA in two starts at the Trop. Key Matchup: Avisail Garcia (3-5, RBI)

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

TNWN: Rays vs Yankees — a series preview, part four

Rays 7/7/19 Starting Lineup

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

Noteworthiness

— The Rays are expected to place Jose Alvarado on the injured list today with a right oblique strain. The left-hander could be out two to six weeks depending upon the results of an MRI scheduled for today. Alvarado would be the 18th different player on the IL for Tampa Bay this season.

— Matt Duffy (hamstring) played five innings for the Gulf Coast League Rays on Friday and went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI. After an off-day today, Duffy will likely play seven innings on Monday with the Charlotte Stone Crabs.

What he’s said to me is he feels the best he has all season long, so hopefully no setbacks, get him off and get him running. Let’s see how these first three, four games go before we start thinking when it’s time. He still has work to do timing-wise, but we’re thrilled he’s feeling better.

— Kevin Cash

— High leverage reliever Diego Castillo threw a 15-pitch live bullpen session with third baseman Matt Duffy standing in prior to Saturday’s contest against the Yankees.

Castillo, who has been sidelined with right shoulder inflammation since June 23, hit 98-100 mph on the radar gun with his fastball. He will pitch on Tuesday for the Stone Crabs and could rejoin Tampa Bay on Friday, in Baltimore.

He’s going to take a couple of days off and will throw an inning on Tuesday, and if all goes well, we’ll anticipate him being activated for Friday in Baltimore.

— Kevin Cash


Rays look to snap skid against Yankees; McKay optioned back to Durham

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The Rays dropped another 8-4 ballgame in front of 22,182 fans. (Photo Credit: X-Rays Spex)

If you’re a fan of deja vu, then you’ll truly appreciate the last two ballgames by the Tampa Bay Rays. On Friday, as with Thursday, the Rays fell to the New York Yankees by a score of 8-4 in extra innings.

On the bright side, 22,182 fans attended last night’s contest — if you’re counting, that’s five consecutive games with 20,000-plus fans in attendance at Tropicana Field. You have to go back to 2017 for a comparable stretch of four consecutive games with 20,000 fans or more in attendance (July 6 – 9 vs. Boston). The Rays start the day with an average home attendance of 15,253 per game — up 670 per game from this point last season. If at least 21,000 fans attend the final two games of the homestand, Tampa Bay will end the ceremonial first half of the season with an average attendance of 16,500 (give or take). As I said before, moderate gains are still gains.

The Rays bullpen left a smudge on the night for Nate Lowe, who hit his first big league homer in the fourth inning. After working a 10-pitch at-bat against Masahiro Tanaka, Lowe drove the last offering 417.62 feet into the left-center seats, tying the game at one.

https://twitter.com/DingerTracker/status/1147299296825548803

Lowe wasn’t the only one to hit a no-doubter Friday night. Mike Zunino, with the power of Mary J. Blige — whose music he walked up to — unleashed a massive 455.4-foot blast into left-field, bringing the Rays within a run of the Yankees in the fifth inning.

https://twitter.com/FOXSportsFL/status/1147305969233231872
https://twitter.com/DingerTracker/status/1147305390738235392

That snapped a 25-game (88 plate appearance) homerless streak for Zunino.

Yet, after the Rays took a very brief lead in the home half of the seventh, pinch-hitter Aaron Hicks tied it on the second pitch of his at-bat against Emilio Pagan. The right-hander was able to bounce back and throw scoreless ball the rest of the eighth and the ninth, keeping the game even.

Tampa Bay had an opportunity to end it in the ninth against David Hale. Joey Wendle singled to center and moved into second on a grounder to first by Mike Brosseau. Guillermo Heredia grounded out to third before Travis d’Arnaud walked on four pitches with Wendle advancing to third on a passed ball. However, Tommy Pham, who went 0-6 with three strikeouts, bounced out to short, ending the threat.

After Colin Poche worked a scoreless tenth, Ryne Stanek took the mound in the top of the eleventh inning. Aaron Judge welcomed Stanek rather rudely, drilling a first-pitch fastball over the wall in center, putting New York up by a run. The right-hander was able to bounce back and get the next two batters before Gleyber Torres hit a bullet line drive to left for a single. Gio Urshela followed with a double off the wall in left before Brett Gardner hit a three-run homer to centerfield.

Over the last seven days, Tampa Bay’s relief corps has performed to a combined 7.03 ERA and 4.11 FIP, and have given up 25 earned runs and seven homers. Because of the need for a fresh arm in the ‘pen, the Rays optioned Brendan McKay back to Durham and promoted southpaw reliever Ian Gibaut.

Gibaut entered Spring Training with a chance to make the big league squad thanks to a strong 2018 campaign in Durham, where he collected 14 saves while posting a 2.09 ERA with 75 strikeouts across 56 innings of work. A right lat strain set him back before the start of the season, however. The left-hander made his season debut on June 4 for the Class-A Stone Crabs, then moved up to Durham nine days later. In 11 minor-league games across two levels, Gibaut is 1-1 with a 1.59 ERA, with four saves and 17 strikeouts over 11-1/3 innings.

The New What Next

The Rays will look to get off the schneid Saturday afternoon with Blake Snell (5-7, 4.87 ERA) on the mound. He’ll pitch opposite of Grimmace lookalike, C.C. Sabathia (5-4, 4.04 ERA).

Blake Snell struck out 12 and allowed two runs on three hits over six innings in a win over Texas on Sunday. Snell was desperate for a good outing after lasting just seven innings in his previous three starts combined. He got exactly what he needed Sunday. The 26-year-old lefty flattened the Rangers’ lineup with Joey Gallo’s two-run blast being the only significant damage he allowed. It was his first start with double-digit strikeouts since May 12 and he lowered his season ERA to 4.87 in the process.

C.C. Sabathia gave up two runs on six hits and two walks over six innings while striking out nine on Monday. The Grimmace like southpaw did give allow some hard contact although his control was decent, throwing 64 of 104 pitches for strikes (62% strike rate) en route to his fourth quality start of the season. Sabathia will take a 4.04 ERA and 2.54 K/BB through 69 innings into his start on Saturday. Sabathia is 1-0 with a 2.12 ERA in three starts (17 innings) against the Rays this season. Key Matchups: Willy Adames (4-14, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB), Travis d’Arnaud (3-12), Kevin Kiermaier (5-16, 2 HR, 2 RBI), Tommy Pham (3-10, 2 2B, RBI), Joey Wendle (1-2), Mike Zunino (5-11, HR, RBI, BB)

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

TNWN: Rays vs Yankees — a series preview, part four

Rays 7/6/19 Starting Lineup

  1. Heredia LF
  2. Pham DH
  3. Diaz 2B
  4. Garcia RF
  5. Brosseau 3B
  6. Kiermaier CF
  7. Adames SS
  8. d’Arnaud C
  9. N. Lowe 1B