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Rays 3/7/21 pregame notes and starting lineup

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Inclement weather put the hope of a Spring ball-game to bed on Saturday. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

After an unplanned off-day due to inclement weather, the Tampa Bay Rays will be back at it on Sunday, in Ft. Myers. Michael Wacha will make his second appearance in a Rays uniform, while Collin McHugh will make his Tampa Bay debut.

In spite of the weather, the Rays still got in some work in the batting cages. Tyler Glasnow threw three simulated frames while Trevor Richards got in a pair. Glasnow, who faced Ji-Man Choi, Yandy Diaz, and Joey Wendle, still pumped a 99 mph fastball after hitting the century mark in his Grapefruit League debut.

It was kind of unfair to do it in a cage setting. He was probably one of the few guys we don’t need to worry about. … He was throwing 99 miles (per) hour. It was fun to watch when he is in the zone, throwing strikes.

— Kevin Cash

Prior to that, Chris Archer pitched in an intrasquad game on the backfields — focusing heavily on his slider and changeup. Rays skipper Cash said the shape of Archer’s slider was as good as it’s been, while his changeup was effective. Hunter Strickland, Phoenix Sanders, Jefffrey Springs, Yacksel Rios, and Andrew Kittredge also threw, with Strickland standing out. Cash said Strickland was really quick to the plate, and he significantly altered the hitter’s timing.

McHugh, Pete Fairbanks, Shane Baz, and Cody Reed were slated to pitch on Saturday although they now will pitch against the Twins this afternoon.

Rays 3/7/21 Starting Lineup

  1. Adames SS
  2. Meadows LF
  3. Arozarena RF
  4. B. Lowe 2B
  5. Choi 1B
  6. Margot CF
  7. Tsutsugo 3B
  8. Mejia C
  9. Brosseau DH
  10. Wacha RHP

Rays 3/6/21 pre-game notes

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Ji-Man Choi got in some early work on Saturday. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

After a 6-5 loss to Boston on Friday, the Tampa Bay Rays are scheduled to take on Atlanta this afternoon — weather permitting — in Port Charlotte. Tyler Glasnow will get the start for the Rays, making his second appearance of the Spring.

On Friday, Rich Hill walked two and threw 15 of 27 pitches for strikes (56% strike rate). He didn’t retire a batter during his time on the mound and, even though it was his first Spring outing, the southpaw was frustrated by his inability to throw strikes consistently.

That sucked. I think that’s one thing that I hold myself to a higher standard. For me every time I have an outing like that it’s frustrating.

— Rich Hill

While he threw plenty of strikes in his pre-game bullpen, Hill said he wasn’t able to get the ball down during the game.

Lack of driving the ball downhill, getting on top, throwing the ball downhill. I think it’s a simple fix. It’s just also something of getting out there and facing more hitters.

— Rich Hill

Meanwhile, Diego Castillo made his Spring debut and threw a scoreless second inning. The right-hander is the first of Tampa Bay’s back-end relievers to throw in a Grapefruit League contest and said he feels good mentally and physically, and if the season started today he’d be ready to go.

The New What Next

Glasnow, Trevor Richards, Cody Reed, Pete Fairbanks, and Shane Baz are scheduled to pitch this afternoon. However, with rain in the forecast, if the game was to be rained out, they would do some work instead.

I think we will get work in (if it rains). It’s not ideal. I don’t think anyone likes going in there. They like to get their work in, but they don’t like going in there and compete.

— Kevin Cash

Glasnow hit 100 mph multiple times in his first start of the Spring.

Rays 3/6/21 Starting Lineup

  1. Diaz 1B
  2. Meadows LF
  3. Arozarena RF
  4. Choi DH
  5. Tsutsugo 3B
  6. Adames SS
  7. Wendle 2B
  8. Margot CF
  9. Zunino C
  10. Glasnow RHP

LBWMF: Rays are 1-1 in the 2021 Knutson Cup Challenge after defeating the Twins on Thursday, 5-2

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Ji-Man Choi went 1-2 with a walk and a run on Thursday. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays evened up their 2021 Knutson Cup record to 1-1 on the season when they defeated the Minnesota Twins, 5-2, in Port Charlotte. Ryan Yarbrough and Luis Patiño — who made his Rays debut — teamed up for a pair of scoreless frames, while Tampa Bay scored four of their five runs on outs, thus doing a good job moving the ball.

Yarbrough got the start and allowed a two-out walk to Jorge Polanco before he punched out Miguel Sano on three pitches. As with live batting practice, the left-hander threw to newcomer Francisco Mejía, who also collected a hit and an RBI.

Obviously, different intensity facing a different team. When you face your own hitters there’s some semblance of it, but it’s kind of up a notch when you get to live games.

— Ryan Yarbrough

Rays manager Kevin Cash said aside from the walk, Yarbrough looked sharp.

Nice to see one of our guys start the buildup. He was kidding that he walked a guy — normally doesn’t walk too many guys — so I’m sure he’s got plenty of reps to fine-tune that. But he looks really crisp.

— Kevin Cash

Patiño followed Yarbrough and, well … threw gas.

It’s a good feeling. I got to pitch for the first time with a Rays jersey. I feel excited. I feel happy to do my job and come in here to do my job and help the team. I’m feeling very happy to be here.

— Luis Patiño

The right-hander gave up some loud contact, yet he threw seven of his 10 pitches for strikes and boasted a 94-96 mph fastball to go along with a slider and a couple of changeups.

Mejía, who was a teammate with Patiño in San Diego, said he thought Patiño pitched with control and confidence on Thursday.

I don’t think he’s really changed too much. I just think coming here helped him with his confidence and allows him to just be the guy he wants to be.

— Francisco Mejía

Cash was pleased with Patiño’s ability to throw strikes, which has been a focal point for Tampa Bay this Spring. Patiño coaxed three swinging strikes on Thursday with “rising” fastballs at the top of the zone.

Yeah, 95- to 100-(mph fastballs), whatever it is on that given day, that’s going to be just fine.

— Kevin Cash

Mejía caught four innings and pulled a 99.9 mph single to right off of Hansel Robles. The Rays expect Mejía to rediscover the form at the plate that made him a highly-touted prospect. So far, he has received strong reviews from the established hurlers that have worked with him.

We’ve already started to get on point, get some chemistry going. I feel like he’s a great target behind the plate, especially for me with how I throw, so I’m looking forward to throwing to him a lot this year.

— Ryan Yarbrough

Ji-Man Choi got the start at first for the first time this Spring and went 1-for-2 with a walk and a run. Choi sat out the last few days due to a sore knee and made his Spring debut as the Rays’ DH on Wednesday. Per Cash, he’s progressing without any restrictions.

Just took a few days off, but he’ll be right back into the routine, the schedule of getting in the flow with the rest of the first basemen.

— Kevin Cash

The New What Next

The Rays will visit the Red Sox in Fort Myers for the second time in three days, on Friday. Rich Hill will make his Rays’ debut and will be followed by Joe Ryan, Drew Strotman, Ryan Sherriff, and Ryan Thompson (in no specific order). I will update this piece with the starting lineup upon availability.

Rays 3/5/21 Starting Lineup

  1. Wendle SS
  2. Mejía DH
  3. B. Lowe 2B
  4. Brosseau 3B
  5. Phillips CF
  6. Smith C
  7. Gomez LF
  8. Whitley RF
  9. Gray 1B
  10. Hill LHP

Noteworthiness

— Chris Archer is slated to pitch on Saturday morning in an intrasquad game, while Tyler Glasnow scheduled to start a contest that afternoon against the Braves. If it rains on Saturday, Archer could instead start on Sunday. Collin McHugh is expected to throw one last batting practice session before appearing in games.

— Speaking of Archer, it would appear that the right-hander is refining his changeup which, ideally, would keep batters off his fastball. The other day, Archer posted a video overlay of his fastball and changeup on Instagram. I got to talk with the hurler about the pitch, which I initially thought was a slider. However, he confirmed the offspeed pitch was, indeed, a changeup with two-plane movement. It will be interesting to see how much he utilizes the offering during Grapefruit League contests.

— Outfielder Kevin Kiermaier (hip tightness) is scheduled to make his Spring debut on Tuesday, in Port Charlotte.

LBWMF: McClanahan and Fleming in their Spring debuts, Franco and Meadows hit moon-shots

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Wander Franco hit a massive home run to right-field on Wednesday, in Port Charlotte. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

Wander Franco and Austin Meadows went yard on Wednesday, while Josh Fleming, Shane McClanahan, and a handful of others limited Pittsburgh to just a run as the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Pirates, 4-1, in Port Charlotte.

Rays skipper Kevin Cash said it was the best-pitched contests of the Spring, as six pitchers threw an inning apiece, and gave up just one run and a walk with five strikeouts. However, a pair of hurlers — McClanahan and Fleming — were stellar. The former threw 10 pitches (eight strikes) in a scoreless first, boasting a nasty slider and hitting 101 mph on the in-house radar gun.

There was also a lot of strikes, which I’m more happy about. I’ve been feeling good. The guys here put me in a good position to be healthy and to be ready to compete, day in and day out, so I think that’s just the result of being prepared.

— Shane McClanahan

Fleming followed McClanahan and quickly worked a clean frame, coaxing a popout and a groundout, and punching out a batter while leaning on a sinker full of verticle movement.

They were coming out swinging the bat, being ultra-aggressive, but he was able to throw that sinker into lefties and jam them,” catcher Mike Zunino said. “He naturally fills the strike zone up but misses barrels. We’re right where he left last season, which is a great spot.

— Mike Zunino

Cash said both McClanahan and Fleming will be built up as starters this Spring and are “very much in the mix” to play roles with the big league squad this season.

Those aren’t fun at-bats. When you’ve that kind of movement or that kind of velocity behind it. They both get there different ways but they’re both very talented and they’re going to play big roles for us.

— Kevin Cash

Hunter Strickland, Andrew Kittredge, Jeffrey Springs, and Joey Krehbiel followed the above-mentioned duo.

Meanwhile, Franco hit a mammoth homer on the first pitch of the second inning that either hit off the top of the office building beyond the walkway in right-field or completely cleared it — no one is entirely sure, including Franco.

That one went into the parking lot, I think. Everyone’s saying that it went over the building. I didn’t see it.

— Wander Franco, through team translator Manny Navarro

Wherever it landed, the number one prospect in baseball said he couldn’t recall ever hitting a ball that far in a ball-game.

Meadows drove in the Rays’ final two runs of the contest on a two-run moon-shot to right-center, landing on the bottom of the aforementioned building.

Middle infielder Vidal Brujan proved his utility worth by making his first start with Tampa Bay in centerfield. Cash noted that they would have explored the possibility of testing Brujan’s flexibility last season, however, the pandemic prevented that.

He’s a pretty electric player. Physically with the speed, the arm, all of those things. We all know how much we value versatility. To have a guy that can come in and play center field, shortstop, second base, that’s pretty special.

— Kevin Cash

A sign of things to come? Brujan was excited about the opportunity to play in the outfield, something he hopes to continue in the future.

Mentally I was able to get a lot more calm and a lot more relaxed. Especially being around a lot more veteran players and some more guys in the big leagues. When I was around in the playoffs and all that, it helped me get a little more experience and learn a lot more. … Hopefully I can be the next Kiermaier, or even better,” said Brujan through Navarro.

— Vidal Brujan, through team translator Manny Navarro

The New What Next

The Rays look to avenge their loss to the Twins when they head to Ft. Myers on Thursday. Ryan Yarbrough and Luis Patino are scheduled to pitch, and I’ll update this piece with the other hurlers that are slated take the mound.

Rays 3/4/21 Starting Lineup

TBA

Noteworthiness

— Ji-Man Choi is scheduled to play his first game of the Spring at first base.

LBWMF: Glasnow hits the century mark in his first Spring start, while Joey Wendle avoided serious injury

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Tyler Glasnow leaned heavily on his triple-digit fastball on Monday.

Tyler Glasnow hit the century mark with his fastball in his first start of the Spring, while Joey Wendle avoided injury on Monday, as the Tampa Bay Rays fell to 0-1 in the 2021 Knutson Cup, losing to the Minnesota Twins, 6-5.

Wendle walked off the field with just a facial contusion after he was beaned in the helmet by a Lewis Thorpe fastball in the first inning. After he was hit, the infielder stumbled out of the batter’s box and doubled over near the dugout, where he was checked by manager Kevin Cash and the Rays training staff. Wendle said he was checked over again after he exited the game and doesn’t have any further testing scheduled.

It was pretty close. Probably more scary than anything. I wasn’t sure immediately where it had hit, but I’m pretty confident it got all helmet and then the helmet just kind of whacked my face pretty good. But everything feels good, thankfully. … There’s nothing too tender. It just kind of feels like I got punched, not necessarily got hit by a baseball, so I’ll take the former of those two. Everything feels fine. Might have some bruising or might not, but overall, I think I lucked out big time. … Thankful, honestly. It was a close call, and (I’m) glad it was nothing more.

— Joey Wendle

Rays manager Kevin Cash said that Wendle was already scheduled to sit out Tuesday’s contest, and if he’s cleared to play Wednesday, he’ll return to the lineup against the Pirates. He was thankful that they, presumably, avoided the worst possible outcome.

We were all scared. Hopefully, we avoided something. We’ll check on him this afternoon, throughout the day, throughout the night. But Joe popped back down after Joey went up and said that he thinks he’s going to be all right.

— Kevin Cash

Meanwhile, Glasnow hit triple digits four times in a 10-pitch first inning, including seven strikes. Then in the second, he allowed a first-pitch home run to Brent Rooker and got the next two outs before he walked three of his final four batters. Overall, he was charged with two runs on two hits and three walks with three strikeouts across 1-2/3 frames. Most of his pitches were close, throwing 20 of 35 pitches for strikes (57% strike rate). He was pleased by his first outing of the Spring.

I’m a relatively slow starter. I just think it’s more of getting a rhythm and getting back to that competition aspect. It was honestly just really good to be out there again, to feel that again and then kind of figure out what you need to build on and then just go out and do it again in five, six days. … I think especially for the first one of Spring as long as I can go out and like have some good quality reps I’m good to go. Second inning didn’t go as planned but I feel very good, and I’m happy with where I am right now.

— Tyler Glasnow

Glasnow mostly threw heaters against the Twins, although he also mixed in three curveballs, a 92-mph changeup (taken for a called strike), and a few of the cutter/slider breaking pitch he’s been working on, which clocked in around 86-87 mph. The right-hander said that he doesn’t need his new toy to be “devastating” per se, rather he was pleased by the shape, velocity, and that he could throw it for strikes.

Cash mimicked those thoughts, saying:

I know he’s pretty excited about it, and he should be because he feels like he can land that pitch (for strikes) fairly consistently,. With Glas, it’s a lot of fastballs at the top of the zone [and] featuring that snap curveball right off that fastball. … A slider has a little bit more shape, a little bit more tilt to it, and something that he can harness in the zone a little bit better.

— Kevin Cash

The New What Next

Michael Wacha will get the start on Tuesday against Boston. Right-handers Odom, Gomez and Hunt, and southpaws Gray, Quroz, Lukes, Boldt, and Mastrobuoni are also available to pitch in relief of Wacha.

Rays 3/2/21 Starting Lineup

  1. Adames SS
  2. Mejia C
  3. Arozarena LF
  4. Franco DH
  5. Margot RF
  6. Phillips CF
  7. Walls 2B
  8. Padlo 3B
  9. Kelly 1B
  10. Wacha RHP

Noteworthiness

— Because they will play a nine-inning contest which will air on ESPN Tuesday afternoon, Monday’s game was called after six innings at the Rays’ request.

— Right-hander Chris Archer and southpaws Rich Hill and Cody Reed faced hitters in live batting practice on Sunday. Archer’s fastball velocity (clocking in between 91-94 mph) and the slider were both where the team expected them to be. Meanwhile, Hill spun his breaking balls from different arm angles.

Cash said while they all looked “totally game-ready,” they could throw one more live batting practice session before getting into Grapefruit League games. All three are on different timelines in order to be ready for Opening Day.

— Ji-Man Choi (right knee soreness) is expected to DH on Wednesday and if all goes well, would do the same on Thursday.

Kevin Kiermaier (hip tightness) took batting practice on Monday and will take live batting practice again on Tuesday. He was also in centerfield for pre-game cut-off/relay drills. Hitting coach Chad Mottola said the team was “probably going a little slow intentionally.”

Rather be sure than test it, and we have to protect him against himself sometimes. There’s plenty of time left. Six weeks (of Spring Training])is for the pitchers. It’s not for the hitters. … As far as functional movement, yeah, he’s full-go.

— Chad Mottola