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

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  • Ryne Stanek and Ryan Yarbrough took a perfect game into the ninth inning of the series finale in Baltimore, on Sunday. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The top two teams in the AL East will kick off a four-game series in the Bronx, Monday night. The Tampa Bay Rays look to gain ground in the division, while the Yankees set their focus on extending their lead. Tampa Bay closed a four-game, three-day series against Baltimore on Sunday, winning 4-1 and taking three of four in the series. New York finished its three-game home set against Toronto on Sunday afternoon, winning the rubber match 4-2.

(Stats Credit: ESPN)

The Rays bounced back from a loss in the first game of a day-night doubleheader Saturday to win the nightcap and followed it up with a win to close the set Sunday behind a strong pitching performance from the tandem of Ryne Stanek and Ryan Yarbrough. The Rays enter the current series second in the AL East, six games behind New York in the standings. They currently hold the first Wildcard spot.

New York bounced back from a tough, low-scoring loss on Saturday to prevail in the rubber game against Toronto. As a result of the loss, the Yankees let the Rays to gain 1/2 game.

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

The Rays have not fared well against the Yankees this season, having won just four of their 13 previous meetings, and just one at Yankee Stadium. What’s more, New York has a +33 run differential against Tampa Bay. Yet, there’s no time like the present for the Rays to flip the script on the Evil Empire. Over the last 14 days, the Rays have outperformed the Yanks in every important offensive category including OPS (.812 vs .741), ISO (.203 vs .173), wOBA (.342 vs .316), wRC+ (117 vs 94), and wRAA (8.6 vs -1.0).

These are a big four games. We’re going to try to close that gap on them. They’ve been playing great baseball all year and obviously, we’ve had our trouble with them this whole year.

— Kevin Kiermaier

Rays hitters — namely Nate Lowe, Mike Brosseau, Tommy Pham, and Austin Meadows — have gotten toasty, and the starters tasked with taking on this formidable opponent have pitched well of late. Expect fireworks in this all-important series.

The teams split a four-game set at the Trop from July 4-7.

Pitching Probables

Over the next four days, Kevin Cash will throw Blake Snell (5-7, 4.70 ERA), a pitcher to be named before Tuesday’s contest, Yonny Chirinos (8-4, 3.11 ERA), and Charlie Morton (11-2, 2.35 ERA). Aaron Boone will counter with James Paxton (5-4, 4.01 ERA), C.C. Sabathia (5-4, 4.03 ERA), Diego German (10-2, 3.49 ERA), and J.A. Happ (7-5, 4.93 ERA).

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

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. 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.

James Paxton fanned 11 while allowing two runs on seven hits and no walks through against the Rays on Sunday. Paxton allowed a hit to each of the first three batters he faced and surrendered both runs in the first inning, but afterward, he effectively shut down the Rays coaxing 20 swinging strikes (15 of which came on his fastball). The southpaw has allowed just three runs and has 14 strikeouts in his last two starts. Look for the Rays to pounce on mistakes early; Paxton has a reputation for trouble at the beginning of games with a 10.20 ERA in the first inning and a 2.49 ERA in all other frames. He now is 3-1 with a 3.24 ERA in four career starts against the Rays. Key Matchups: Yandy Diaz (2-3, 2B), Avisail Garcia (4-8, 2 RBI), Kevin Kiermaier (1-2), Tommy Pham (2-6, 2 2B, RBI)

TBA

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)

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.

Domingo German tossed six scoreless frames against the Blue Jays on Friday, fanning seven and walking none while allowing just three hits. He coaxed 13 whiffs on his curveball in the outing. German’s breaking ball may not have a reputation yet, but it is one of baseballs best curves. He hit a bit of a rough patch in four starts from the middle of May to the beginning of June (7.32 ERA, 1.53 WHIP), but has pitched well otherwise this season. German is 2-0 with a 6.75 ERA in four career outings (three starts) against the Rays. Key Matchups: Willy Adames (2-7, 2B, BB), Ji-Man Choi (1-2, HR, RBI, BB), Avisail Garcia (1-2), Brandon Lowe (1-3), Austin Meadows (2-3, 2B, HR, 2 RBI)

Charlie Morton gave up two runs on six hits over six innings on Saturday. He struck out six and walked one. Morton got into a bases-loaded jam in the fourth inning, consequently allowing a two-run single, yet he kept the Orioles in check otherwise. The 35-year-old has allowed up 10 runs (eight earned) total and has a 6.83 K/BB in his last five starts (31-1/3 innings).

J.A. Happ allowed two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out five across 5-1/3 innings on Saturday. Happ has now dropped his last two turns after winning six consecutive decisions from May 9 to June 18. That streak ended with a thud, as the Astros hung an eight-spot on Happ in his final start of June. He is now 5-4 with a 4.15 ERA in 18 career starts against the Rays. Key Matchups: Travis d’Arnaud (1-4, BB), Avisail Garcia (5-14, 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI), Austin Meadows (1-3), Tommy Pham (3-5, 2B, BB), Mike Zunino (3-11, RBI, BB)

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.

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

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  • Right-hander Emilio Pagan was fired up in the series finale against the New York Yankees last Sunday. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays0

After splitting their series against the New York Yankees, which was followed by the 2019 All-Star Break, the Tampa Bay Rays look to continue their winning streak when they start a four-game/three-day series against the Baltimore Orioles, on Friday. Meanwhile, in spite of a pretty lackluster first half, the Orioles, winners three of their last four games, are looking to continue a hot spate of play.

(Stats Credit: ESPN)

The second-place Rays enter play 6-1/2 games behind the Yankees and led the AL East through June 14. Yet, Tampa Bay is 10-12 since and retain a slender 1/2 game edge over Cleveland for the top AL wildcard spot.

Whether we’re 6 back, 2, 10, we just know each and every day we control our own destiny. We have to beat the teams we’re supposed to beat and we also have to beat the teams that are really good.

— Kevin Kiermaier

To Kiermaier’s point, Baltimore is one of those teams they’re supposed to beat, and the Rays have done just that to a large extent this season, going 5-3 over the first eight games of the season series, and outscoring them 42-27 (+15 run differential).

After traveling to Charm City, beginning a stretch in which Tampa Bay will play just 10 of its next 41 games against teams that currently have winning records, the Rays head to the Bronx for a four-game set against New York. The Rays need to use this series to increase the win/loss buffer and get on a hot streak ahead of that important series, which starts Monday.

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

Pitching Probables

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

Over the next three days, Kevin Cash will throw Yonny Chirinos (4-4, 3.15 ERA), Charlie Morton (10-2, 2.32 ERA), Brendan McKay (1-0, 2.45 ERA), and a pitcher to be named before the series finale. Brandon Hyde will counter with Dylan Bundy (4-10, 4.65 ERA), a pitcher to be named before the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader, John Means (5-4, 2.64 ERA), and Andrew Cashner (9-3, 3.83 ERA).

Yonny Chirinos gave up three earned runs on five hits across seven innings, while striking out five and walking one against the Yankees. The right-hander continued his strong first half of the season with a sixth straight quality start, needing 101 pitches (66 strikes, 65% strike rate) to make it through seven frames against a tough Yankees lineup. Over 100 innings this season, Chirinos has emerged as a key component of the Rays’ pitching staff, and now boasts a 3.15 ERA, an impressive 0.99 WHIP, and a 3.68 K/BB.

Dylan Bundy allowed one run on three hits with two walks and six strikeouts over 6-2/3 against the Blue Jays on Friday. Bundy gave up a homer for the ninth time in the last eight games (a solo homer) but allowed just two other hits as he posted his lowest hit total since May 17. Bundy improved to 4-10 with a 4.65 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and 96 strikeouts across 91 innings this season. He is 4-5 with a 5.49 ERA in 11 career starts against the Rays, and 18-22 with a 4.45 ERA in 50 starts at Camden Yards. Key Matchups: Avisail Garcia (6-12, 2B, HR, 2 RBI), Kevin Kiermaier (4-14, 2 HR, 6 RBI, BB), Austin Meadows (1-3)

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.T

TBA

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)

TBA

Andrew Cashner pitched seven innings against the Blue Jays on Saturday, allowing just one run on three hits with four strikeouts and no walks. Cashner was nicked by Cavan Biggio for an RBI single in the fourth inning but otherwise was in complete control. Over his last five starts, Cashner has allowed only four earned runs over 32 innings, lowering his ERA to 3.83 and his WHIP to 1.19. He has a 2.28 K/BB overall. Cashner is 2-1 with a 4.03 ERA in five career starts against Tampa Bay. Key Matchups: Guillermo Heredia (2-8, 2B, 2 BB), Kevin Kiermaier (2-8), Austin Meadows (2-3, 2B), Tommy Pham (3-11, HR, 2 RBI), Joey Wendle (3-8, 3B, 2 RBI, BB)

Noteworthiness

— Diego Castillo (shoulder soreness) has been activated from the 10-day IL, while Hunter Wood will be recalled before Saturday’s game against the Orioles. In order to make room for them on the active roster, Chaz Roe has been placed on the 10-day IL with a right flexor strain, while Jose Alvarado has been on the IL with a right oblique strain.

— The Rays have promoted outfielder Jesus Sanchez to Triple-A Durham.

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

Rays look for a sweep in the series against Baltimore; on the decent crowds the last few nights

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The Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Baltimore Orioles for the second consecutive day, 6-3, in front of 20,945 fans. (Photo Credit: X-Rays Spex)

After winning their second consecutive game against the Baltimore Orioles, each by a 6-3 margin, the Tampa Bay Rays look to sweep the series on Wednesday. A win would allow the Rays to earn their second home sweep of the season, and a fifth straight win overall, ahead of their huge four-game weekender leading into the All-Star Break.

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.

Brandon Lowe, who exited the game with a lower leg injury, had three hits on the night (including a first-inning home run), and drove in a pair of runs.

https://twitter.com/FOXSportsFL/status/1146197860003639297

In the sixth inning, Lowe twice fouled a ball off his right leg — once below his shin-guard and once above. Thankfully the X-rays came back negative, and he was diagnosed with a lower leg contusion. He, however, was on crutches after the game. Lowe is listed as day-to-day and will be re-evaluated before this evening’s contest.

After Lowe was replaced by pinch runner Yandy Diaz, Tommy Pham came up big, driving in a pair of insurance runs on an RBI double.

https://twitter.com/FOXSportsFL/status/1146228458403463168

The extra runs were important, as Chaz Roe, who closed out the game, was Chaz Roe — allowing a pair of runs to score on a two-run, ninth-inning blast. I know…I also don’t understand why Cash continues to roll him out.

The New What Next

Ryne Stanek (0-1, 2.64 ERA), who threw two scoreless innings in the first game of this series, will open the game, pitching opposite of John Means (7-4, 2.50 ERA).

Stanek will either be followed by Yonny Chirinos (7-4, 3.10 ERA), or Kevin Cash has a full complement of relievers in the ‘pen, as Colin Poche, Andrew Kittredge and Austin Pruitt have not pitched in this set.

Assuming it’s Chirinos…

Yonny Chirinos allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits and four walks over six innings while striking out five on Friday. It was far from a sharp outing by Chirinos even though he, technically, tossed a quality start. The error that led to the unearned run was his own, while Chirinos threw only 59 of 105 pitches for strikes (56% strike rate) en route to a season-high four walks — for context, he hadn’t walked more than two batters in any previous outing. The right-hander still maintains a 3.10 ERA and 3.62 K/BB across 93 innings on the season. Chirinos is 3-2 with a 3.38 ERA in five career outings (two starts) against Baltimore.

John Means tossed five scoreless innings on Friday, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out five. This was his first start off the injured list after not having pitched since June 16, which speaks to why he was not allowed to go deeper into the outing while sitting at 84 pitches (53 strikes, 63% strike rate). Means now has a 2.50 ERA that ranks fifth in the majors behind only Hyun-Jin Ryu, Mike Soroka, Mike Minor, and Charlie Morton. However, his 3.94 FIP illustrates the fact that he may be pitching a little over his head. The right-hander has allowed more than three earned runs just once, although he hasn’t pitched more than six innings since the beginning of May. Either way, he has been extremely effective across 75-2/3 innings this season. Means is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in one outing against the Rays this season (2 IP).

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

Rays vs Orioles — a series preview, hey now you’re an All-Star, on attendance

Rays 7/3/19 Starting Lineup

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

Noteworthiness

— 1B Ji-Man Choi has been placed on the 10-day Injured List with a left ankle strain, while rookie infielder Mike Brosseau has been recalled to replace him.

Brosseau went 3-for-8 with three runs batted in during his first Major League stint and hit his 15th home run last night for Durham.

Choi has struggled of late, hitting .152 with a .568 OPS over his last 15 games. The move to the IL comes at a good time in that he could miss just six games — the final five contests before the All-Star Break and the first one after. Overall, Choi is hitting .266 with nine homers, 33 RBI and a .774 OPS.

— More roster moves: Tampa Bay sent INF/OF Andrew Velazquez to Cleveland for international bonus pool money, a move to clear space on the 40-man roster. As Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) writes, the Rays have five players on the 60-day DL they potentially will need space for, starting with pitcher Jose De Leon, whose thrice-extended rehab assignment from Tommy John surgery is about to end.

Jose De Leon was activated off the 60-day IL and optioned to Triple-A Durham, where he had been pitching in his thrice-extended rehab stint. He is 0-1 with a 3.99 ERA in nine games, (29-1/3 innings).

Casey Sadler, who was designated for assignment on Saturday, was traded to the Dodgers for minor-league right-hander Nathan Witt. The hurler was 1-2 with a 5.32 ERA in 22 games at Class-A Great Lakes and will join Class A Bowling Green.

Nick Ciuffo, who was designated for assignment, has gone through release waivers and is now a free agent.

— Decent +20-thousand crowds have shown up to the ole ballpark the last two nights, with a third large crowd expected tonight as well. The same is anticipated this weekend with the Yankees coming into town.

I know, what you’re thinking, “…but that’s only because the Rays sold out of the 30-thousand $2.00 tickets that were made available prior to the start of this series.” That is undoubtedly true. And it should not be forgotten that a good number of fans came through the turnstiles when the Rays had a $5.00 flash sale a few weeks back, which led into a successful day/night doubleheader with the Rowdies. To the naysayers, I posit this: 10-thousand fans per night, at $2.00 a pop, is far better than 30-thousand (overall) empty seats. The team made a moderate revenue on the ticket sales and even more money when you factor in concessions and team merchandise — cash they wouldn’t have generated otherwise.

To Stu Sternberg and the Rays front office, fans have shown that they will attend games when family-friendly and affordable ticket options are offered. Instead of bashing the market and the fan-base, saying things like an 81-game season is untenable in Tampa Bay (and yes, most of us know that’s a rhetorical leverage ploy), how about continuing to roll out ticket specials throughout the balance of the season? The Rays have hit the 20-thousand mark 11 times in 2019, and we aren’t at the halfway point yet. For context, 20-thousand fans (or more) attended just nine ballgames last season. We love the love Rays in Tampa Bay. You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar.