X-Rays Spex

A Below Average Rays Fan Blog

Getting to know the Rays new pitching coach, Kyle Snyder

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Kyle Snyder earned a World Series ring with “that team” in 2007. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Times)

Last week the Tampa Bay Rays announced that they would be parting ways with longtime pitching coach Jim Hickey, in what was called a mutual decision. His replacement, Kyle Snyder, has spent the last four seasons as a Minor League pitching coach (or coordinator) within the Rays farm system.

“It was just time” for the Rays to shake up their coaching staff, Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) wrote on Friday. Hickey seemed likely to leave when his contract was up after the 2018 season, said he had a “difference of opinion” about the team’s plan to utilize relievers earlier games. The pitching coach has to sell those strategies to the staff, and with the young talent they have coming down the pike — be them sooner or later — Snyder is better positioned to do that, opined Topkin.

The changes to the coaching staff have resulted in just one coach (bullpen coach Stan Boroski) remaining from the Joe Maddon/Matt Friedman era, so current skipper Kevin Cash now has more of his own people in place.

He connects with pitchers in whatever way is necessary to help them get better, Cash told the Tampa Bay Times on Wednesday. And that has been glaring throughout the last three years of his work.

You may be asking, “who is Kyle Snyder?” Per the Rays press release, under Snyder’s watchful eye, the Triple-A Durham Bulls set a single-season Minor League record with 1,421 strikeouts this season.

Snyder, 40, becomes the eighth pitching coach in franchise history, following Rick Williams (1998-2000), Bill Fischer (2000-01), Jackie Brown (2002), Chris Bosio (2003), Chuck Hernandez (2004-05), Mike Butcher (2006) and Hickey (2007-17). He began his coaching career in 2012 and has spent all six of those seasons in the Rays organization, the last three as the pitching coach for Durham. In 2017, the Bulls pitching staff set a minor league single-season record with 1,421 strikeouts. In three seasons under Snyder, Bulls pitchers combined for a 3.61 ERA. Prior to that, he served as minor league pitching coordinator in 2014, pitching coach for the Class-A Bowling Green Hot Rods in 2013 and pitching coach for Short-A Hudson Valley Renegades in 2012.

Snyder pitched parts of five seasons in the major leagues with the Kansas City Royals (2003, 2005-06) and Boston Red Sox (2006-08), appearing in 93 games with 29 starts. In 2007, his only full major league season, he compiled a 3.81 ERA over 46 relief appearances and was named to Boston’s World Series roster. He was originally drafted by the Rays in the 27th round of the 1996 June Draft out of Riverview High School in Sarasota, but did not sign. After pitching three seasons for the University of North Carolina, he was selected by Kansas City in the first round (seventh overall) in the 1999 June Draft.

For Snyder, the ups and downs of his short lived playing career have proved beneficial in his post-playing career.

I would say to some degree I think it has helped me become the pitching coach that I am, Snyder said. The experiences that I’ve gone through, the frustrations that I’ve dealt with.

It is those experiences that taught Snyder to relate to each pitcher in his charge on a personal basis, “being able to speak their language,” which helps him identify how they need to be handled.

I really try to prioritize the human being, Snyder said. The building of a relationship, understanding that establishing trust takes time. There is an element of trial and error to a lot of what we do as coaches, and without that trust it’s going to be difficult to connect and reach guys and/or influence their careers, which is the common goal.

Players like Brent Honeywell, Jacob Faria, and Ryne Stanek raved about the job he’s done.

It’s simple: look at the numbers, said tHoneywell. Look what he produces. Look at his minor-league career. He knows what he’s doing.

Faria piggybacked on Honeywell.

Everything is individualized for each pitcher he works with. There is nothing cookie-cutter about him.

Stanek also added:

He’s very good at relaying information, and knowing when somebody needs to be left alone. He has a very good feel how to help.

Cash made clear that his comfort factor with Snyder goes back to playing in Boston.

There’s a history there, and fortunately for me coming into the organization (in 2015) I felt like we kind of picked up right where we left off, Cash said. Throughout the last three years Kyle and I have had countless conversations talking about young pitchers coming up,” many of whom will be part of the staff in 2018.

The changes made for a special episode of This Week in Rays Baseball. Neil Solondz talked to GM Erik Neander, Snyder and Topkin, and you can stream that episode below.

Rays and Jim Hickey mutually part ways; team announces coaching staff moves

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New broke Tuesday afternoon that the Rays have parted ways with longtime pitching coach Jim Hickey in a move that has been called mutual. (Photo Credit: Gary Shelton Sports)

The Tampa Bay Rays announced several changes to Manager Kevin Cash’s coaching staff Tuesday afternoon. Former third base coach — and former manager of the Triple-A Durham Bulls — Charlie Montoyo will take over the role of bench coach, replacing Tom Foley, who will transition to a new, unspecified position with the club. Assistant hitting coach Jamie Nelson will not return to his role as a Major League coach, and a new role for him within the organization is being explored. Finally, the biggest news of the day, the Rays and pitching coach Jim Hickey have decided to part ways after 11 seasons. Former Durham Bulls pitching coach Kyle Snyder has been promoted to Major League pitching coach in Hickey’s wake.

I am so grateful to Fo, Hick and Nelly for all of their contributions to our major league club. They are tremendous coaches and even better people, and they’ve had such positive impact throughout the Rays organization, said Cash. I’m glad that Fo and Nelly will have new opportunities to help the Rays, and I will always appreciate my time with Hick and wish him the best. At the same time, I’m excited for what Kyle will contribute to our staff, and for the wealth of experience that Charlie will bring to his new role.

This decision came as a shock to many fans, who believed that — in spite of the Rays third consecutive losing season under the tutelage of Cash — much of the coaching staff would remain unchanged going into the upcoming season.

With a year remaining on Hickey’s contract, it felt like foregone conclusion that he would return next season. Not only is he considered to be one of the best pitching coaches in baseball, but Hickey also has been with the team for over a decade. The decision was said to be mutual, and as Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) — who broke the story this afternoon — put it, the likely spin will be that both sides felt it was time for a change.

The team and Hickey had a difference of opinion on the direction the team was going, one that could not be resolved.

Going forward we probably had a little bit of a difference of opinion on the strategies employed to get the most out of our pitchers, Hickey told Topkin on Tuesday. I only had one year left on my contract and I wasn’t 100 percent on board with the direction, so we simply agreed to mutually part ways one year prior than we probably would have anyway.

If body language in the dugout speaks to anything, Cash and Hickey’s relationship appeared to be tense at best, and acrimonious at worst … although that is an matter of opinion, based on the few mid-game broadcast shots of the two of them together.

Hickey, 56, joined the organization in 2007, and led the Rays pitching staff to the playoffs four times in six years. He is known for his ability to resuscitate the career of veteran relievers — such as Fernando Rodney (who performed to a 0.60 ERA in 2012 under Hick’s watchful eye), Joaquin Benoit, Rafael Soriano, and most recently Sergio Romo to name a few — as well as his impressive work to help acclimate young pitchers to the big leagues.

Many of the Rays starters had nothing but complimentary words for Hickey:

Hickey is one of the most intellectual people I know. He’s also one of the best people persons I know. The combination of his ability to analyze and apply information, as well as communicate to his players is what causes him to enhance pitchers careers, young and old, said Chris Archer.

From him helping me prepare prior to every major-league start I’ve made to our wide ranging chats after practice, on the plane, over a meal, I’m going to miss many many things about Hickey and his influence on our organization.

Odorizzi made note of his appreciation for Hickey:

Hick was the best pitching coach I have ever been around. He helped me grow a lot as a pitcher over the time I was fortunate to work with him. So a lot of the pitcher I am today is because of him and the work he put in with me. … I know wherever he goes next that team will be getting a great leader to their pitching staff.

Free-agent Alex Cobb was effusive in his praise for the mutually ousted coach:

I’m not going to try to explain how great Jim Hickey is. There’s really nothing I can say that would speak louder than his track record. All I can say is how fortunate I was to have him when I got to the big leagues. No one could have prepared me better.

In a late afternoon conference call, Kevin Cash lauded Hickey, but also acknowledged that with the influx of young pitchers in the Rays system, he felt Snyder “could make a huge impact” on them.

Topkin reached out to the new pitching coach, Kyle Snyder, who said it’s been a whirlwind day but he’s extremely grateful and excited by the challenge. Snyder also called it “a daunting task” to replace Hickey, and he hopes to build on his success and philosophies.

As for the other moves, Cash said that Foley was “invaluable to the organization and instrumental to me as a manager,” however, he felt that Montoyo will be an asset with in-game decision-making as the bench coach .

The Rays PR Department wrote about all the moving pieces in a press release, which you can read below:

Foley will step into a new role in 2018-his 23rd season in the organization-and remain heavily engaged with the major league team. In doing so he concludes a 16-year tenure on the Rays major league coaching staff, the longest in franchise history. Foley served as bench coach for the last three seasons (2015-17) following 13 seasons (2002-14) as the third base coach. Only three other coaches in the majors have a longer tenure with their current team than Foley did: San Francisco’s Ron Wotus (since 1998) and Dave Righetti (since 2000), and Alfredo Griffin (since 2000) of the Los Angeles Angels.

Hickey served as the Rays pitching coach for 11 seasons (2007-17), more than half of the franchise’s existence. Only one American League pitching coach had been at his post as long: Chicago’s Don Cooper (since 2002). During Hickey’s tenure, the Rays led the AL with 127 shutouts (tied with the Angels), .247 opponents’ batting average and 1.28 WHIP, and ranked second with a 3.95 ERA and 13,988 strikeouts. Meanwhile, 96 percent of those games (1,709 of 1,783) were started by pitchers under the age of 30. The Rays have had at least one pitcher make the All-Star Team in each of the past eight seasons, and none of those eight pitchers had ever been an All-Star prior to working with Hickey.

Nelson spent the last five seasons (2013-17) as a major league coach. He began his professional coaching career in the Rays organization in 2000, and that time includes five seasons (2003-07) managing Rookie-level Princeton.

Montoyo, who turns 52 later this month, enters his 22nd season in the Rays organization. He becomes the ninth bench coach in club history, following Frank Howard (1998-99), Bill Russell (2000), Hal McRae (2001), Billy Hatcher (2001-02), John McLaren (2003-05), Bill Evers (2006-07), Dave Martinez (2008-14) and Foley (2015-17). He served the last three seasons as the Rays third base coach after 18 seasons managing Rays affiliates at every level in the minor league system. He compiled a 1,266-1,142 (.526) record as a minor league manager, including a 633-515 (.551) mark at Durham. In eight years (2007-14) as the manager at Durham, he guided the Bulls to seven International League South Division titles, a league-record six trips to the International League finals and two Governors’ Cup championships (2009 and 2013).

Montoyo played 10 seasons (1987-96) professionally as an infielder in the Milwaukee Brewers, Montreal Expos and Philadelphia Phillies organizations, and spent 27 days in the majors with Montreal in 1993.

Snyder, 40, becomes the eighth pitching coach in franchise history, following Rick Williams (1998-2000), Bill Fischer (2000-01), Jackie Brown (2002), Chris Bosio (2003), Chuck Hernandez (2004-05), Mike Butcher (2006) and Hickey (2007-17). He began his coaching career in 2012 and has spent all six of those seasons in the Rays organization, the last three as the pitching coach for Durham. In 2017, the Bulls pitching staff set a minor league single-season record with 1,421 strikeouts. In three seasons under Snyder, Bulls pitchers combined for a 3.61 ERA. Prior to that, he served as minor league pitching coordinator in 2014, pitching coach for the Class-A Bowling Green Hot Rods in 2013 and pitching coach for Short-A Hudson Valley Renegades in 2012.

Snyder pitched parts of five seasons in the major leagues with the Kansas City Royals (2003, 2005-06) and Boston Red Sox (2006-08), appearing in 93 games with 29 starts. In 2007, his only full major league season, he compiled a 3.81 ERA over 46 relief appearances and was named to Boston’s World Series roster. He was originally drafted by the Rays in the 27th round of the 1996 June Draft out of Riverview High School in Sarasota, but did not sign. After pitching three seasons for the University of North Carolina, he was selected by Kansas City in the first round (seventh overall) in the 1999 June Draft.

The New What Next: Rays Vs. Orioles — the penultimate series preview

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The Tampa Bay Rays split the season series with the reigning World Series champs after they beat the Cubs 8-1 on Wednesday. (Photo Credit: Anthony Ateek/X-Rays Spex)

After beating the reigning World Series champs Wednesday night, 8-1, the Tampa Bay Rays will duel it out with the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, in Baltimore. The Rays have won two of the last three, but just four of the last 10. The Orioles have lost three straight and six of the last seven. The season series is tied at six apiece.

(Stats: MLB.com)

The governor has yet to sign the Rays’ death warrant.

Tampa Bay’s offensive outburst Wednesday night kept the team’s improbable postseason* hopes alive going into this four-game set. Their attack was three-fold, and something they must continue to hone over the waning schedule, starting a month ago … erm, now.

First, say what you will about Chris Archer, however, he limited the mighty Chicago Cubs — a team that had averaged 5.33 runs per game in the previous series against the Cardinals — to just two runs. Furthermore, the pitching staff as a whole gave up only three combined runs over the last two games.

Simply put, the Rays pitching staff must continue to keep its team in ball games.

(Stats: FanGraphs)

Second, Tampa Bay’s defense has been solid of late, punctuated by the play of Kevin Kiermaier and Adeiny Hechavarria. The Orioles may be a shadow of their former selves, however, they can and will punish mistakes. In short, pitching and defense are critically important.

Finally, the offense must perform as it had on Wednesday and Friday (September 15), when the Rays plated at least four runs in each game. Two and three run games likely won’t cut it, as evidenced by the fact that Tampa Bay had won just four of the last 11 games when the team scored three runs or fewer.

We gotta get back to doing that a little more often than maybe once every so often.
— Kevin Cash, on the Rays’ offense breaking loose to score some runs Wednesday night

(Stats: FanGraphs)

Over the next four days Kevin Cash will lean on Matt Andriese (5-3, 4.63 ERA, 5.05 FIP), Alex Cobb (11-10, 3.63 ERA, 4.15 FIP), Jake Odorizzi (9-8, 4.46 ERA, 5.72 FIP), and Chris Archer (9-11, 4.02 ERA, 3.38 FIP). Buck Showalter will counter with Gabriel Ynoa (0-2, 5.00 ERA, 2.27 FIP) and Ubaldo Jimenez (6-10, 6.93 ERA, 5.89 FIP), and also likely with former Ray Jeremy Hellickson (2-5, 7.29 ERA, 6.57 FIP) and Dylan Bundy (13-9, 4.24 ERA, 4.38 FIP).

Asterisk denotes assumed starters. (Stats: FanGraphs)

Pitching Matchups

Andriese lasted 4-1/3 innings in his last start Friday vs. Boston, the fifth time in 15 starts this season he did not finish five innings (two were injury-shortened starts). He, however, yielded two earned runs or fewer for the ninth time in 15 starts. Andriese is 1-3 with a 7.50 ERA in three games (two starts) against Baltimore. He has not faced the Orioles this season.

Ynoa is winless in two starts since joining the starting rotation in early September, and has yet to pitch into the sixth inning. He is aiming for his second win of the season against the Rays. This season he has relied primarily on an 85mph 12-6 slider, a 94 mph four-seam fastball with depth, and a 95mph sinker with run. The right-hander also has mixed in an 86mph changeup with arm side fade. Key Matchups: Adeiny Hechavarria (1-1, RBI), Wilson Ramos (1-1, RBI, BB)

Cobb took a loss to Boston on Saturday, in a 5.1 IP/3 ER outing. That prevented him from becoming the first Rays pitcher with four wins over the Red Sox in a single season. Nevertheless, the right-hander he has a 2.98 ERA in 16 starts since June 9, allowing three earned runs or fewer in 14 of those 16 starts.

Jimenez fanned 10 batters and allowed just one earned run over five solid innings in his last turn. It was the second-most strikeouts he’s had in a game this season. He, however, is 0-2 with a 10.80 ERA in three starts against Tampa Bay this season, while averaging under four innings of work in each outing. Key Matchups: Adeiny Hechvarria (4-7, 2B, RBI), Kevin Kiermaier (3-12, 2B, HR, 2 RBI), Evan Longoria (7-22, 2 HR, 8 RBI), Logan Morrison (6-14, 2 2B, 3B, HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB), Wilson Ramos (1-2, 2B), Daniel Robertson (1-2)

Odorizzi no-hit the Red Sox into the sixth inning on Sunday before he allowed a walk and a two-run homer to Jackie Bradley Jr. The right-hander had a live fastball, coaxing 15 swings-and-misses on his 96 pitches, including 10 on his 61 fastballs. Odorizzi has now allowed just three earned runs across 16-1/3 innings in his last three starts.

Hellickson, in his last start against the New York Yankees on Sunday, was shelled for six runs on four hits (including two home runs) and four walks over just three innings of work. The former Ray has given up three runs or fewer in only four of his nine starts as an Oriole, while performing to a 7.28 ERA/6.16 FIP since the All-Star break. Suffice it to say, the right-hander hasn’t looked nearly as good as he did in his year and a half stint with the Phillies. Key Matchups: Lucas Duda (7-14, 4 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, BB), Wilson Ramos (3-10, HR, 3 RBI)

Archer went six innings Tuesday against the Cubs, his longest start since August 27 (vs. St. Louis) — snapping a streak of three consecutive starts of four innings pitched or fewer. He has lost four straight decisions for the third time in his career, although considering that Archer’s last three appearances had seen him give up 13 runs (11 earned) in a grand total of seven innings, this represents a big leap forward.

Bundy, like Hellickson before him, was lambasted in his last start, allowing six runs on seven hits and a walk over 4-1/3 innings, while fanning just a pair. The right-hander is 1-1 but with a 5.19 ERA in three starts against the Rays this season. Key Matchups: Kevin Kiermaier (2-7, HR, 3 RBI, BB), Evan Longoria (5-15, 2 HR, 3 RBI), Brad Miller (2-8, HR, RBI), Logan Morrison (5-12, 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, BB), Mallex Smith (2-5, BB), Steven Souza Jr. (3-10, 2B, HR, RBI)

Noteworthiness

— *Adam Sanford (DRaysBay) writes that there are a few scenarios which could net an AL Wildcard berth for the Rays, one of which involves a six-way tie between the other contenders.

— Former Ray (and current Oriole) Tim Beckham told Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) he’s more focused on the “start of a new journey” with Baltimore, and that his career with Tampa Bay is “in the past.”

— The Rays activated Xavier Cedeño from the 60 day-DL Thursday afternoon.

Rays remain optimistic, Cubs fans turn the Trop into Wrigley south, and roster moves

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The quiet before the rather tepid offensive storm Tuesday night. (Photo Credit: Anthony Ateek/X-Rays Spex)

After a 2-1 loss to the reigning World Series champions on Tuesday, the Tampa Bay Rays will look to rebound and split the short two-game set, and the season series, with the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs have won seven straight, while the Rays have won just one game in each of the last three series. They would need to go 8-3 over the final 11 games to finish at .500, while their postseason hopes are all but nonexistent at this point.

Optimism will make you suffer fools gladly.
I’m holding out for you to do the right thing,
Emphatically.

— American Steel

In spite of the monumental odds against them, Rays’ players, like Blake Snell and Steven Souza Jr., remain optimistic that they can salvage the season. Optimism is an intoxicating drug.

I feel all of us still think there’s a shot, said Snell. We all want to do it. We’re all in this together. We always felt there was a shot from the start and all the way to the end.

Souza was a bit more realistic:

We’re running out of time.

Of course Tampa Bay’s playoffs chances have all but evaporated — they start the day five games out of the final Wilcard spot with just 12 games left to play. It certainly doesn’t help that the offense has been all but nonexistent in three of the last four games.

What also doesn’t help, which Chris Archer pointed out last night, is the glaring lack of support from the Rays’ loyal fanbase.

Having 25,000 Cub fans here, wasn’t very fun either.

It’s weird, I didn’t know we had that many mid-western people in Tampa, but I guess we do. It’s just weird for their players to come out and get announced and just get so much love.

It felt like we were at Citi Field, playing the Yankees. Honestly, it felt very similar to that…and I’m not being critical it was just crazy how much royal blue there was out there.

When Wilson Contreras ran out to warm up the pitcher…like he got a standing o.

I’ve been here for however long, I’ve seen some really, really good players come and I’ve never seen anybody get as much love when they go to warm up then some of their players did.

It was definitely more of a road environment as opposed to a home environment tonight.

Granted there are myriad reasons why Rays’ fans skipped out of Tuesday night’s ball game. Although in all fairness, if that was just the second largest crowd of the season, that’s pretty sad. It is clearly evident that there is stadium saga induced PTSD which has affected the attendance all season long. Pair that with an ownership that apparently does not possess the want or the desire to stop being cheap, and start spending money to compete.

The effect on the players has become palpable, and now they — by way of the more vocal players, like Chris Archer — are letting us know how the lack of fans impacts the collective psyche of the team. If we fans want to see a diminished presence from the visiting team’s fan base, then it is up to all of us to purchase those tickets and plant our bottoms into those seats first and foremost.

The New What Next

Blake Snell (3-6, 4.25 ERA, 4.36 FIP) will start for the Rays, pitching opposite of Jon Lester (11-7, 4.30 ERA, 4.05 FIP).

Snell allowed just a run on two hits against the Yankees on Tuesday, yet he walked away with a no decision. The southpaw threw 51/83 pitches for strikes, although he didn’t stick around long enough to benefit from Adeiny Hechavarria’s game-winning solo homer in the bottom of the eighth inning. He now is 3-1 with a 3.75 ERA in 11 post-All-Star Game starts, and has given up two runs or fewer in four of his last five outings — performing to a 2.73 ERA with a 28/8 K/BB over that 29-2/3 inning stretch. Snell faced the Cubs on July 5 but took a no-decision after tossing five scoreless frames.

Lester is no stranger to beginning games slowly. He threw 78 pitches over the first three innings against the Mets in his last start, yet needed just 36 over the final three innings. In spite of that, he’s won each of his last two outing, allowing just three runs over 12 total innings of work. Lester is 13-10 with a 4.22 ERA in 29 games against the Rays, including a five inning loss on July 4 when he allowed six runs (five earned) on nine hits including a homer. Key Matchups: Peter Bourjos (7-17, 2B, BB), Danny Espinosa (2-3, 2 2B, 2 RBI, BB, Adeiny Hechavarria (3-10, HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB), Evan Longoria (14-58, 3 2B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 7 BB), Brad Miller (1-3), Steven Souza Jr. (2-3, 2B, 2 RBI)

You can read more about the series in our preview.

Rays 9/20/17 Starting Lineup

Kiermaier CF
Souza Jr. RF
Longoria 3B
Morrison 1B
Ramos C
Hechavarria SS
Puello DH
Miller 2B
Bourjos LF
Snell LHP

Noteworthiness

— The Rays added two players to the roster this afternoon. INF Daniel Robertson will rejoin the Rays, as will RHP Chih-Wei Hu. Additionally, Xavier Cedeno will be activated from the 60-day DL, after rehabbing with Durham. A corresponding move will need to be made to make room for Cedeno.

Rays 9/15/17 pregame notes, Faria activated, Hurricane Irma food drive

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Corey Dickerson and the Rays provided first responders with food this afternoon for their long hours on the beat following Hurricane Irma. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)


The Tampa Bay Rays will begin a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox tonight at Tropicana Field.

Matt Andriese (5-3, 4.66 ERA, 5.02 FIP) will get the start for the Rays, pitching opposite of Chris Sale (16-7, 2.76 ERA, 2.20 FIP).

Andriese was knocked out in the second inning after he allowed eight runs (six earned) in his last start against the Red Sox. One had to question his sequence of pitches in the first inning at-bat vs. Dustin Pedroia. He followed a dust-off pitch with a heater that was up and over the inner third of the plate — right in Pedroia’s juice zone. From there, things spiraled out of control for the Rays, who appeared to be no match for the very aggressive Red Sox. Expect Andriese to be on a very short leash Friday night.

Sale will face the Rays for the sixth and final time this season. Boston took a lead in the first inning last weekend against Tampa Bay, which was more run support than Sale would need — allowing him to easily collect his 16th victory of the season. The southpaw has fared well against Tampa Bay thus far, going 4-1 with a 2.06 ERA in 2017, although he’s pitched even better Tropicana Field over his career, going 3-3 with a 1.75 ERA. Sale is 9-5 with a 2.72 ERA in 17 road starts this season. Key Matchups: Curt Casali (3-7, 2B, HR, RBI), Danny Espinosa (2-5), Kevin Kiermaier (4-11, HR, 3 RBI, BB), Logan Morrison (5-15, HR, RBI, 2 BB), Trevor Plouffe (15-52, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 4 BB), Wilson Ramos (3-8, 2B, HR, 3 RBI)

You can read about the series in our preview.

Don’t forget to bring some donations for those effected by Hurricane Irma. The Rays will host a food drive all weekend. Per the team’s press release: 

The Tampa Bay Rays and Rays players are asking fans to help with hurricane relief efforts. You can donate by going to youcaring.com/raysirmarelief. To continue Roberto Clemente’s legacy of care and compassion, the Rays will be hosting the Feeding Tampa Bay Food Drive, supported by First Class Moving, all weekend long. All fans who donate unopened cans and non-perishable food items will receive a voucher for two complimentary tickets to a 2018 Rays home game (some exclusions apply).

Items of greatest need include canned, ready-to-eat items with pull-tops (e.g. vegetables, fruit); protein in pouches or pull-top cans (e.g. tuna, beef stew, chili, canned chicken); snacks (e.g. protein bars, granola bars, etc.); peanut butter; toiletries, paper goods, diapers; and cleaning supplies (e.g. mops, mop buckets, brooms, bleach wipes, bleach, garbage bags, bug spray). Donations can be dropped off to collection areas outside of Gate 1, inside Gate 1 and inside Gate 3. Rays Season Ticket Holders will also have a special collection area inside the Republic Bank Draft Room. Season Ticket Holders who donate in the Draft Room will receive Rays Rewards Points. Thank you for your support – together, we can make a difference.

Rays 9/15/17 Starting Lineup

Kiermaier CF
Souza Jr. RF
Longoria 3B
Plouffe 1B
Hechavarria SS
Ramos C
Bourjos LF
Puello DH
Espinosa 2B
Andriese RHP

Noteworthiness

— The Rays have activated RHP Jake Faria activated from the 10-day DL. He will be available tonight out of bullpen, likely pitching behind Matt Andriese who will be on a short leash.

— After making a rather distasteful jab at the Rays and Logan Morrison, the New York Yankees will donate $500,000 to Hurricane Irma relief efforts, with $250,000 going to Red Cross, and $250,000 to Salvation Army. Being someone effected by Irma, I can safely say that the Yankees can shove their money up their own asses.