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Tampa Bay Rays agree to a long-term contract with Kevin Cash

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The extension to Kevin Cash’s contract will make him the longest-tenured manager in franchise history.

The Tampa Bay Rays have agreed to a long-term contract extension with manager Kevin Cash. The lengthy commitment runs through the 2024 season, however, it also includes an option for another year. As of now, the financial details are unknown. This agreement replaces the prior deal which included one more season and a two-year option.

In spite of the odds placed against them, Cash guided the Rays to a 90-72 record this season, using a variety of unorthodox methods of utilizing the roster. And though 90 wins weren’t enough to earn the team a spot in the 2018 postseason, the strong showing, after a 1-8 (and 4-13) start to the season, generated optimism and enthusiasm for the team in the near future. Moreover, it demonstrated to the front office that Cash is the right person to translate their theories into action.

We put a lot on his plate, Rays GM Erik Neander said. When it comes to managing effectively, leading a club effectively, frankly, I don’t know how much more one could have demonstrated over the course of a season than what he did.

… Under Kevin’s leadership, our teams have always played hard. They’ve played with energy, and by and large, they’ve played the game the right way. In our opinion, taking a look at this thing, the way that our teams have played has a lot to do with the example Kevin sets and the consistency which he approaches day to day.

The energy, the competitiveness. There’s a certain authenticity that we’ve spoken to over time here, that makes him real and allows him to motivate and to relate to a wide assortment of people. … Our players want to play for him, and he’s just created a wonderful culture for our group.

Cash was initially hired in a 2014-15 offseason that saw the massive organizational overhaul — Andrew Friedman and manager Joe Maddon both departed for Los Angeles and Chicago, respectively. The former backstop oversaw a pair of middling 80-82 seasons sandwiched around a brutal 68-94 2016 campaign.

Even before the start of the 2018 season, Tampa Bay was under an immense amount of pressure. The MLBPA filed a formal complaint against the team because of their cost-cutting roster decision. The club then shipped away even more veterans, with Chris Archer following catcher Wilson Ramos, starter Nathan Eovaldi, closer Alex Colome, and outfielder Denard Span out the door during the course of the season.

Yet the young squad performed admirably, improving from a .500 record at the start of August to finish the season on a 34-16 tear. Cash, aided by the data-driven front office, maximized the emerging player’s talent to great effect.

When the season closed, the Rays were left looking at an intriguing depth chart, largely blank future balance sheet, and lauded farm system, writes Jeff Todd (MLB Trade Rumors).

There also is a renewed hope of bolstered future revenues, as the organization is expected to officially announce its, as of now, generous new TV deal prior to the start of the 2019 season.

Cash enters this new phase of his term with a vote of confidence from the front office and more job security than, well … the former skipper, Joe Maddon.

I’m incredibly appreciative of the opportunity that was presented four years ago, and now, Cash said. I’m thankful for the support of Stu and the ownership group. From Matt and Brian to Erik and Chaim, all of our baseball ops people, our fans and the players.

I think this game has always been about the players and will always be about the players. But any positive impact myself, my staff, our front office can do to help lead them in the right direction is a huge benefit.

If Cash stays through 2024, he will become the longest-tenured manager in franchise history. He, too, would lead the Rays into a new stadium, be that in Ybor City or in Pinellas County.

Expectations have been raised, and it will be interesting to see what sort of additional tinkering is pursued over the 2018 offseason.

Rays offseason plans

The Rays enter the offseason with a committed payroll of around $32-million. Neither free-agents OF Carlos Gomez nor RHP Sergio Romo are expected to return. As Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) writes, upgrades seem likely for arbitration-eligible 1B/DH C.J. Cron (despite 30 homers) and C Jesus Sucre. A glut of lefty-hitting outfielders (and overall) creates the potential to trade Mallex Smith or, less likely, Kevin Kiermaier.

The expectations are up, Neander said. We go into next year off the season we had, we want to improve. And to improve on the number of wins we had this year should put us in the territory where we’re expecting playoffs.

How to go about doing that? How to achieve it? How to balance the depth that we have? We have a lot of puzzle pieces, now it’s a matter of which ones fit and which ones can be repurposed.

I don’t think we’re forecasting an active winter, so to speak. But there’s a lot that we need to think through to make sure we’re as competitive as we can be and as functional as we can be, and not just a young, talented team.

Trading for an impact player or two, or signing a few free agents — while different, given the team’s previous offseason moves — seem to be a given.

The New What Next: Rays vs Blue Jays — the penultimate series preview

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Tommy Pham hit two homers in the series finale against the Rangers on Wednesday. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

After sweeping the Texas Rangers in Arlington, the Tampa Bay Rays will continue their final road series of the season in Toronto, where they are set to start a four-game set against the Blue Jays on Thursday. Toronto is coming off a series win against Baltimore, although they dropped the series finale on Wednesday.

(Stats Credit: ESPN)

The Rays steamrolled over Texas in the span of the series, outscoring the Rangers 16-3, impressively driving in six two-out runs and going 10-for-36 wRISP (.278 BA). They also clubbed four home runs, including a pair from Tommy Pham on Wednesday.

Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) surmised things well on Wednesday, writing:

The Rays still have a long way to go, and they are going to need a lot of help to get there.

But they continue to do their part to try to make it a race for the final American League playoff spot, beating the Rangers 9-3 Wednesday for their fifth straight win, 14th in 17 September games, and 23rd in their past 28 overall improving to 85-66.

More importantly, they crept within five games of the second wild-card-holding A’s, who hosted the Angels late Wednesday, having gained 3½ games in the previous four days.

Meanwhile, just when it looked like Toronto could string together a successful end of the season run, winning two consecutive series against the Yankees and Orioles (respectively), the Blue Jays were limited to one run on Wednesday.

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

Tampa Bay’s most recent wins have allowed the Rays to keep the pressure on the Athletics and Yankees. These next four games are no different. That is to say, there is no time to take the foot off the gas. Toronto has a fully capable lineup that can levy damage on opposing pitchers, and it will be incumbent on the Rays pitching staff to keep the ball in the yard, as they’ve done all season.

Pitching Probables

Kevin Cash has named just one pitcher in the series — Thursday’s opener, Ryne Stanek (2-3, 2.49 ERA), so it’s a bit difficult to project who will be pitching. Moreover, I’m rolling with the assumption that Cash will push Blake Snell’s start back a day so he can open the series against the Yankees. That being said, it seems reasonable the Rays will employ the bullpen on Thursday and Friday, while Tyler Glasnow (2-6, 4.22 ERA) and Jalen Beeks (4-1, 5.32 ERA) should see the bulk of the innings on Saturday and Sunday. John Gibbons will counter with Sam Gaviglio (2-8, 5.38 ERA), Sean Reid-Foley (2-3, 5.54 ERA), Thomas Pannone (3-1, 4.18 ERA), and Ryan Borucki (4-4, 3.86 ERA).

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

Ryne Stanek has opened 26 games this season, compiling a 2.50 ERA and 1.06 WHIP with 47 strikeouts across 36 innings in those appearances. He’ll pitch one or two innings before giving way to a long reliever.

Sam Gaviglio settled for a no-decision last Thursday, allowing two earned runs on six hits and one walk while striking out one across 3-1/3 innings. Gaviglio was pulled with one out in the fourth inning after throwing 53 pitches. He gave up a homer to J.D. Martinez in the second inning, now allowing at least one home run in five consecutive starts. Gaviglio’s ERA stands at a disappointing 5.25 for the season, along with a 3.03 K/BB ratio over 108 innings. The right-hander is 0-2 with a 6.32 ERA in two starts against Tampa Bay this season (eight innings of work). Key Matchups: Willy Adames (1-3, 2 RBI), Jake Bauers (2-2, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, BB), Ji-Man Choi (1-2, 2B), CJ Cron (1-4), Matt Duffy (2-6), Kevin Kiermaier (1-4), Mallex Smith (2-5, 2B, RBI), Joey Wendle (3-4, 2B, 2 RBI)

Jalen Beeks pitched two shutout innings of relief on Tuesday, allowing just two hits and no walks. It will be interesting to see if Kevin Cash lengthens his leash since Beeks has allowed just one run across four combined appearances spanning 10 innings.

Sean Reid-Foley earned a win against the Yankees on Saturday, striking out 10 and allowing two hits and four walks across five scoreless innings. Reid-Foley totaled 92 pitches (55 strikes, 60% K/BB) as the walks inflated his pitch count a bit. He, however, was fantastic against a playoff-caliber offense. The right-hander was about 10 innings away from his limit for the season entering Saturday, so his start Friday will likely be the last of the season. This season he has relied primarily on his 94 mph four-seam fastball and an 84 mph slider, while also mixing in an 86 mph changeup and an 82 mph curveball.

Tyler Glasnow allowed the only hits on the night and struck out six over six scoreless innings, allowing the right-hander to pick up his first victory with Tampa Bay in nine starts. The only other baserunner against Glasnow came on a one-out hit by pitch of Rougned Odor in the first inning. Odor later swiped second base and moved up 90 feet on a wild pitch. He, however, struck out Adrian Beltre with two outs to escape the threat.

After the rough first inning, Glasnow found a rhythm on the mound and retired the next 11 batters he faced — taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning.

But with two outs In the bottom of the fifth, the right-hander allowed an infield single to Isiah Kiner-Falefa for Texas’ first hit on the night.

Be that as it may, outside of a bad start against the Toronto Blue Jays on September 5, in which he allowed seven runs and lasted just two-thirds of an inning, Glasnow has been strong for the Rays, allowing one run or fewer in five of his nine starts, and yielding two hits or fewer in five starts.

He was outstanding. I liked everything, Rays manager Kevin Cash said. I thought he was out of rhythm in the first inning, and I thought he did a nice job of kind of calming the situation down, getting the ball over the plate. He had the breaking balls, the fastballs going, and he threw some changeups. … He’s done just outstanding. The runs he’s given up, it seems like they come off solo home runs a lot, which is fine. Keeping guys off base, and if they’re going to get you, you’d rather it be a solo shot. With the exception of Toronto, we’ve been in every single game. He’s given us an opportunity to win every single game that he’s been out there.

Thomas Pannone allowed two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out six across seven innings on Sunday. Pannone got off to a shaky start after giving up two runs in the first inning, though he managed to bounce back and finish his day with six consecutive scoreless frames. The 24-year-old has appeared in just 10 games this season for Toronto (four starts) and owns a 3.77 ERA and 1.06 WHIP with 21 punchouts through 31 innings. Pannone has appeared in two games against the Rays this season, allowing two runs on four hits across 2-2/3 innings. Key Matchups: Willy Adames (1-2), Joey Wendle (1-2, 2B)

TBA

Ryan Borucki threw eight scoreless innings on Monday, allowing three hits and one walk while striking out seven across eight innings. Borucki kept the Orioles off the board, eventually exiting the game after throwing 105 pitches (67 strikes, 64% K/BB). He’s been a reliable starter in 15 starts this season, owning a 3.86 ERA and 1.33 WHIP with 57 strikeouts across 84 innings. The right-hander allowed two runs on three hits on two walks in his last start against the Rays. Key Matchups: Carlos Gomez (1-2), Kevin Kiermaier (1-2), Mallex Smith (1-3, RBI)

Noteworthiness

— Rookie outfielder Austin Meadows will be among Tampa Bay’s four additional call-ups from Triple-A Durham the club plans to make on Thursday.

The Bulls’ season ended after Tuesday night’s 14-4 loss to Memphis in the Triple-A National Championship Game.

Meadows batted .302 with 10 home runs and 25 RBI in 36 games for Durham this season. He also played in 49 games for the Pirates earlier this season, slashing .292 BA/.327 OBP/.468 SLG/.795 OPS with five home runs and 13 RBI during his first stint in the big leagues.

Very excited to see him, Kevin Cash said. I know what our staff feels about him, and the impact that he had down there in Durham for the month and a half that he was there. Excited to get him up here.

Meadows, however, may face limited playing time due to the logjam in the outfield.

It’ll be challenging, there’s no doubt, Cash said. We’ll just see how these next couple games shake out and go from there.

The team is also expected to recall LHP Hoby Milner, RHP Austin Pruitt, and RHP Chih-Wei Hu.

Tampa Bay Rays 9/4/18 pregame notes, etc

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Joey Wendle collected three more hits last night, helping to bolster his Rookie of the Year campaign. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

A day after the Tampa Bay Rays came out swinging against Jays starter Marcus Stroman, scoring four early runs on six hits in just 1-2/3 innings, they look to win the series against the Blue Jays on Tuesday night in Toronto. The Rays start the day 11 games over .500 for the first time since 2013 (and for the first time in Kevin Cash’s tenure) and eight games back of the Oakland Athletics in the AL Wildcard race.

Last night Yonny Chirinos had another one of those spotty nights where he looked both terrible and terrific. His first inning was so bad, laboring through 25 pitches including back to back walks — and forcing Rays skipper Kevin Cash to get the bullpen warmed up early — then, with a refocused verve, zipped through the next six innings on just 47 pitches. When all was said and done, Chirinos threw seven innings of one-run ball, allowing just four hits, but three walks, on 72 efficient pitches (42 strikes, 58% strikes, 10.3 pitches per inning). The right-hander coaxed 12 ground balls, including three double plays.

Joey Wendle put on another show defensively, but this time at shortstop. Wendle started the above mentioned three double plays, also collecting three more hits to help bolster his Rookie of the Year campaign — pushing his batting average to .302.

Catcher Nick Ciuffo played well in his big league debut, looking comfortable behind the plate Monday night. Even so, Adam Moore, who was placed on the restricted list due to a passport issue, will rejoin the team this evening. To make room for Moore, Daniel Robertson was placed on the 60-day DL, ending any hope of he rejoining the team this season.

Jake Faria was also activated from the taxi squad.

The New What Next

Ryne Stanek (2-3, 2.72 ERA) will open his second game in as many days and will be followed by Jalen Beeks (4-1, 6.08 ERA), who will pitch the bulk of the innings. They’ll be opposed by Sam Gaviglio (2-7, 5.16).

Stanek tossed a 1-2-3 first inning before giving way to Yonny Chirinos for the next seven frames. It’s expected that Stanek will be capped at around one inning again tonight.

Beeks got the win Wednesday, pitching three shutout — and rain-shortened — innings with two strikeouts while allowing four hits and three walks against Atlanta. An hour and six-minute rain delay limited his outing to just three innings and 49 pitches (26 strikes, 53% strike rate, 9/15 first-pitch strikes) — both of which were season-low totals since joining Tampa Bay — although it was still enough to pick up the win for a third straight outing. The rookie southpaw has a 2.63 ERA with a 2/1 K/BB in 27-1/3 innings since the start of August.

Gaviglio allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out two across 5-2/3 innings on Monday against Baltimore. Gaviglio sailed through the front five scoreless innings before the wheels fell off in the sixth. He gave up a run on a fielder’s choice, which was followed by a three-run blast to cap off the four-run frame. Meanwhile, Toronto’s offense was unable to muster a single run, so the right-hander was hit with his seventh loss of the season. Gaviglio owns a 5.02 ERA and 1.43 WHIP with 92 punch-outs over 100-1/3 innings. He is 1-2 with a 4.61 ERA in three career starts against the Rays, including 0-2 in two starts this season. Key Matchups: Willy Adames (1-3, RBI, BB), Jake Bauers (2-2, 2B, HR, 2 RBI), Ji-Man Choi (1-2, 2B), CJ Cron (1-4), Matt Duffy (2-6), Kevin Kiermaier (1-4), Mallex Smith (2-5, 2B, RBI), Joey Wendle (3-4, 2B, 2 RBI)

Rays 9/4/18 Starting Lineup

Smith LF
Pham DH
Duffy 3B
Cron 1B
Wendle 2B
Adames SS
Kiermaier CF
Gomez RF
Sucre C
Stanek RHP

You can read about the series in our preview.

The New What Next: Rays vs Blue Jays, part four — a series preview

Rays Roster Moves: C Nick Ciuffo promoted, Mallex Smith reinstated from the DL

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Another day, another September roster promotion. This time the Rays have called up C Nick Ciuffo.

The Tampa Bay Rays continue to bolster their roster, announcing Monday they would call up Nick Ciuffo, their most advanced catching prospect. The team also announced that right-hander Jake Faria has been added to the taxi squad, while OF Mallex Smith has been reinstated from the 10-day DL.

The Rays will need to make a corresponding 40-man move to create room for Ciuffo, and that corresponding move is expected later today.

Ciuffo was the 21st overall pick in 2013 and currently ranks as Tampa Bay’s 25th-best prospect according to MLB.com, which had been complimentary of his defense — among other metrics, the newest Ray has thrown out 43.2% of would be base stealers. Ciuffo, who has posted slightly below-average offensive numbers this season at Durham — slashing .262 BA/.301 OBP/.380 SLG/.681 OPS with a 90 wRC+ — with five homers in 236 plate appearances, represents a much better option behind the plate than Adam Moore, who was promoted for the second time this season when Michael Perez hit the DL with a hamstring strain.

Ciuffo does come with some negative off-field baggage, testing positive for the use of marijuana on two occasions, including the last offseason. The latest occurrence led to a 50-game suspension which kept Ciuffo out of action for the first several weeks of the 2018 campaign.

It’s been a long year, Ciuffo said. It’s been a really long year. Starting off February with the news (of the suspension) being released. I think as a person, I’ve grown a lot. As a player, I’ve grown a lot over the past however many months. A lot of that had to do with some of the stuff I was mandated to do by MLB as far as seeing people and talking about what was going on in the personal life. Learn how to handle off-the-field stress.

I’ve always been good at handling on-the-field stuff. But off the field, I kind of just pushed it aside. Addressing those issues has been really good, along with having a good group of guys in Durham accepting me, and me putting the past in the past.

Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) writes the decision to promote Ciuffo is a bit curious:

Though most teams add a third catcher to have more flexibility for in-game moves in September, the Rays indicated when they called up Adam Moore last week to replace injured C Michael Perez they would initially stay with two.

Whether today’s move is a sign that Perez won’t be back as soon as expected, or that Jesus Sucre’s sore wrist is bothering him or that they just wanted to add Ciuffo’s defensive prowess is not yet known.

This was the second surprise move in the last two days as the Rays promoted INF/OF Andrew Velazquez to add depth, versatility and speed off the bench.

Should the team eke out a postseason berth, neither Ciuffo nor Valazquez will be available as neither were on the 40-man roster prior to the August 31 roster deadline.

The 25-year-old Smith had been dealing with a viral infection which required a short stay in a bay area hospital. He has otherwise enjoyed a breakout season, slashing .307 BA/.377 OBO/.433 SLG/.813 OPS with a 126 wRC+, 27 stolen bases and a 3.1 fWAR in a career-high 426 plate appearances.

The New What Next: Rays vs Blue Jays, part four — a series preview

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Tampa Bay completed an impressive 6-2 run in three consecutive series against division leaders, sweeping Boston at home, splitting a pair in Atlanta, and taking two of three in Cleveland. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays look to cap what has been a successful road trip with a few more wins when they start a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday night. Tampa Bay prevailed against Cleveland on Sunday, 6-4, taking two of three from the top team in the AL Central. Toronto took two of three on the road from the Marlins in Miami, winning the rubber game 6-1 Sunday afternoon.

The Rays took two of three in the last series against the Jays, which was in Toronto from August 10-12, and are 7-2 this season overall.

(Stats Credit: ESPN)

With the win Sunday, the Rays improved to 73-63, moving 10 games over .500 for the first time since June 2015 — Kevin Cash’s first season — and this late in a season since 2013, the last time they made the playoffs.

They have also stayed within sight of the final Wildcard spot, starting the series with Toronto eight games back of the Athletics, who they will face September 14-16 at Tropicana Field.

It’s one of those things where everybody in this clubhouse feels like we have a chance to be in the race and that we’re not out of it yet. So, we’re definitely going for it. And we’re having a lot of fun doing it, Ryan Yarbrough said after the series finale on Sunday.

This should make for a compelling week of baseball as Oakland plays host to the Yankees, who then will face the Mariners, who are also in the Rays’ way. Dare I say let’s go Yankees?

I digress.

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

The Blue Jays aren’t an awful team offensively speaking, although the pitching staff leaves a lot to be desired — ranking 12 out of 15 in the American League, and 27 out of 30 overall. Toronto’s hurlers have actually been worse in the month of August, combining for a 5.64 ERA/4.94 FIP/.287 BAA line. Meanwhile, the Rays offense has not hit a lot of homers, although CJ Cron and company have been mightily productive, with the team averaging 4.5 runs per game over the last 14 days.

As they have done all season, it will be incumbent upon the Rays to limit the long-ball, Toronto’s main facet of run production. Also, expect Tampa Bay to put the ball in play, then run all over Russell Martin and Luke Maile.

Pitching Probables

With the exception of Tyler Glasnow (1-4, 3.95 ERA), who is slated to pitch in the finale on Wednesday, Kevin Cash has not set the openers/starters for the first and second games of the series. Even so, Ryne Stanek (2-3, 2.77 ERA) will likely open the game on Monday, while Yonny Chirinos (2-5, 4.05 ERA) should see the most mound time. Jalen Beeks (4-1, 6.08 ERA) will, presumably, pitch the bulk of the innings on Tuesday. John Gibbons will counter with Marcus Stroman (4-8, 5.27 ERA), Sam Gaviglio (2-7, 5.16), and Ryan Borucki (3-3, 4.52 ERA).

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

Ryne Stanek worked around a hit with one strikeout in a scoreless inning of work Tuesday as the opener in Atlanta. The right-hander threw seven of 11 pitches for strikes as he faced the minimum three batters in his inning of work, thanks to a caught stealing of Ender Inciarte.

Yonny Chirinos was hit hard following Stanek, tossing five innings and allowing five runs (two earned) on seven hits and three walks. He struck out three in the 81-pitch outing (51 strikes, 63% strike rate, 17/25 first-pitch strikes). Chirinos wasn’t particularly sharp and was on track to take the loss after departing with the Rays trailing 5-4, but Tampa Bay ended up tying the game in the eighth inning to take the right-hander off the hook.

Marcus Stroman threw a bullpen session Saturday and should get the start Monday. Stroman, who landed on the disabled list August 19 with a nagging blister issue, has been dealing with the affliction for much of the season which helps explain his 5.27 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in what amounts to the worst season of his big league career. Stroman spun off one of Toronto’s two wins against the Tampa Bay this season on August 12, limiting the Rays to one run on five hits and a walk. He struck out two. Even So, he is 5-4 with a 4.20 ERA in 12 career starts against Tampa Bay. Key Matchups: Willy Adames (2-2, RBI), Ji-Man Choi (1-2), CJ Cron (3-8), Matt Duffy (2-7, 2B, 2 BB), Carlos Gomez (2-2, HR, 3 RBI), Joey Wendle (1-2) 

Jalen Beeks got the win Wednesday, pitching three shutout — and rain-shortened — innings with two strikeouts while allowing four hits and three walks against Atlanta. An hour and six-minute rain delay limited his outing to just three innings and 49 pitches (26 strikes, 53% strike rate, 9/15 first-pitch strikes) — both of which were season-low totals since joining Tampa Bay — although it was still enough to pick up the win for a third straight outing. The rookie southpaw has a 2.63 ERA with a 2/1 K/BB in 27-1/3 innings since the start of August.

Sam Gaviglio allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out two across 5-2/3 innings on Monday against Baltimore. Gaviglio sailed through the front five scoreless innings before the wheels fell off in the sixth. He gave up a run on a fielder’s choice, which was followed by a three-run blast to cap off the four-run frame. Meanwhile, Toronto’s offense was unable to muster a single run, so the right-hander was hit with his seventh loss of the season. Gaviglio owns a 5.02 ERA and 1.43 WHIP with 92 punch-outs over 100-1/3 innings. He is 1-2 with a 4.61 ERA in three career starts against the Rays, including 0-2 in two starts this season. Key Matchups: Willy Adames (1-3, RBI, BB), Jake Bauers (2-2, 2B, HR, 2 RBI), Ji-Man Choi (1-2, 2B), CJ Cron (1-4), Matt Duffy (2-6), Kevin Kiermaier (1-4), Mallex Smith (2-5, 2B, RBI), Joey Wendle (3-4, 2B, 2 RBI)

Tyler Glasnow was excellent on Friday, throwing seven innings of one-run ball while allowing two hits (including a homer) and one walk on an efficient 76 pitches (56 strikes, 74% strike rate, 19/24 first-pitch strikes). He struck out six.

Glasnow pounded the top of the zone with his upper 90’s four-seam fastball before working over the edges of the plate. Then, he would drop in a low-80s curveball, with 7-to-8 inches of depth, over the heart of the plate, resulting in a good number of taken strikes. On occasion he would drop in a mid-80s slider, that fell right off the table and onto home plate, resulting in a 16.7% SwStr rate. The depth he got on his offspeed stuff was unreal, thanks in part to his release point which mimicked that of his four-seamer.

Ryan Borucki coughed up five runs on eight hits across 4-2/3 innings while striking out two. The rookie was staked to an early four-run lead, yet Baltimore quickly stormed back while an Adam Jones grand slam in the fifth inning helped chase Borucki from the game. He has relied primarily on a heavy sinking 92 mph four-seam fastball and a firm 84 mph changeup with a ton of backspin, while also mixing in a 79 mph slider with exceptional depth and short glove-side cutting movement.

Noteworthiness

— Mallex Smith, who was seen in uniform in the background of a Willy Adames Instagram story yesterday, should be reinstated from the 10-day DL on Monday.

— The Rays made a surprise roster move on Sunday, promoting INF/OF Andrew Velazquez from Triple-A Durham to provide depth at several positions. The move was made in part because CF Kevin Kiermaier remains sidelined due to a sore back and Velazquez can play centerfield.

To make room on the 40-man roster for Velasquez, the Rays put injured RHP Jose Mujica on the big-league roster and then on the 60-day DL.

So why Velazquez over Austin Meadows, the prospect acquired from the Pirates who is tearing it up at Durham? Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) wrote Sunday:

Meadows hasn’t played since Wednesday when he was hit on the left hand in the at-bat after his third homer of the game.

And why Velazquez over Kean Wong, who also plays infield and outfield and is having a great year? Because Velazquez is better and has more experience in center, can play short which Wong doesn’t, is a faster runner which makes him a potential pinch-runner, and is a switch-hitter while Wong is a lefty, of which the Rays have plenty.