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The New What Next: Rays vs Phillies — an interleague series preview

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The Rays will choose the contract OF Johnny Field from Triple-A Durham, and a corresponding move is expected on Friday. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays return home from an eight-game, 2-6 road trip, and will welcome the Philadelphia Phillies into the Trop for a three-game series, starting Friday. The Rays took two of three from the Chicago White Sox to cap an otherwise abysmal cold weather trip. Phlly has played better of late, having won three in a row and are currently 6-5 after a sweep of the Reds.

(Stats Credit: ESPN)

Despite a very slow start to the season, Tampa Bay’s offense appears to have turned a corner. The team has improved on its wRISP batting average since the Opening Series, from .176 to .235 against the Yankees, and .240 again vs Boston to .286 vs the South Siders. The Rays look to further continue that trend this weekend.

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

To their credit, the Rays also have reduced their strikeout rate by 2% (give or take) and have increased their walk rate. Of consequence, the team’s on base percentage is now a few ticks over .300. They have shown what they can do by earning a lot of free passes over the last two games, to the tune of +15, while also putting balls in play. They still aren’t a slugging team, nor are they built to be one, yet they have started to figure out a way to plate runs.

Now if only the bullpen could keep it together later in games … I digress.

One caveat: the Rays have left a lot of chicken on the bone over the last few games — especially in the series finale with Chicago, when they scored just one single tally. They must play perfect baseball, and take advantage of any and all scoring opportunities, if they are to win those close affairs. As Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) put it in his “Takeaways” column on Wednesday, if the opposing starter is going to walk five of your first 10, and allow a hit to another, as James Shields did, you have to take advantage. The Rays got nothing, and it cost them because they should’ve had more than a 1-0 lead.

Pitching Matchups

Over the next three days Kevin Cash will lean on Jacob Faria (0-1, 14.29 ERA), Chris Archer (1-0, 5.94 ERA), and the bullpen (1-6, 4.64 ERA). Former friend of the Rays, Gabe Kapler will respond with Vince Velasquez (1-1, 5.19 ERA), Jake Arrieta (0-0, 4.50 ERA), and Ben Lively (0-1, 5.56 ERA).

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

Jacob Faria will try to make amends for his previous disastrous start, in which he finished just 1-2/3 innings and gave up five hits and eight earned runs. He didn’t fan a single batter yet walked five. Since that ill-fated outing, Faria had a long talk with pitching coach Kyle Snyder, and chose to return to the between-starts drills he had gotten away from.

I have a tendency to doubt myself a lot. I’m my own toughest critic, Faria said. That’s the thing Kyle is really good at is reinforcing to everybody really is if you’re here it’s because you belong here. Just go out and do what you know how to do.

He also threw an encouraging bullpen session which has the right-hander feeling better ahead of his next start.

Vince Velasquez looks to go above .500 for the first time this season, after starting 0-1 and then winning his second start to even his record. Velasquez pitched well in the win, allowing just one earned run on four hits over six innings. He walked just one batter and struck out six. The right-hander relies upon a changeup with glove side movement, an 11-5 curveball with eight inches of drop, a “rising” fastball, and a whiffy mid-to-upper 90’s fastball that he uses coax swings and misses from within the zone. To put it another way, plenty of pitchers are able to get swings and misses out of the zone, writes Jeff Sullivan (FanGraphs). Velasquez looks like someone who could be able to get swings and misses in the zone, and that’s tougher. Key matchups: Adeiny Hechavarria (2-7, 2B, RBI, BB), Mallex Smith (1-2), Denard Span (1-2)

Chris Archer gave up four runs (three earned) on six hits and three walks while fanning eight batters over 5-2/3 innings in Monday’s 5-4 victory over the ChiSox. For the second consecutive game, Archer struck out eight batters in less than six innings of work. However, home runs remain an issue for the right-hander, as he gave up a two-run shot to Nicky Delmonico in the fifth inning. Over the first three games (16-2/3 innings) of the season, Archer has surrendered three home runs. It certainly doesn’t help that right-hander has leaned on his changeup just 5.7% of the time, relegating him to, effectively, a two-pitch hurler.

Jake Arrieta allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits and two walks while fanning five in his season debut on Sunday. Arrieta surrendered all of his earned runs in his first inning of work, then allowed just two baserunners thereafter. Thus far, he has relied primarily on a 92 mph sinker with obvious tailing action, while also mixing in a 79 mph biting curveball, and an 89 mph cutter. Key matchups: Matt Duffy (4-9, 3B), Carlos Gomez (3-10, HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB), Adeiny Hechavarria (2-5), Wilson Ramos (3-4, RBI, 2 BB), Mallex Smith (1-3)

The Rays will rely upon the bullpen on Sunday, yet the “starter” has not yet been determined.

Ben Lively allowed five runs on nine hits — including a homer — and a pair of walks while striking out seven over 5-2/3 innings on Monday. He did not factor into the decision. Thus far he has relied primarily on a whiffy 92 mph four-seam fastball and a 76 mph curveball with slight glove side movement, while also mixing in a 92 mph sinker with arm side run and an 84 mph slider.

Noteworthiness

— After Wednesday’s game, the Rays announced that Johnny Field would be called up on Friday. Reliever Ryan Weber, was optioned back to Durham.

To add Field, the Rays will have to make room on the 40-man roster, and that move is expected to be announced on Friday.

In spite of a strong spring campaign, the Rays opted to go outside the organization and acquired Rob Refsnyder. It is not yet clear how Field will be used, although with Mallex Smith struggling defensively, and Rob Refsnyder able to play infield in place of Brad Miller (groin strain), there should be opportunity.

Per a scouting report, Field has the makeup managers look for, is a consistent performer and won’t be outworked. The right-handed hitting outfielder can handle both southpaws (.281 BA/.352 OBP/.453 SLG/.805) and right-handers (.272 BA/.333 OBP/.455 SLG/.788 OPS) while providing defensive depth in the field

LBWMF: Rays win second straight, 6-5; acquire Jeremy Hazelbaker from Arizona

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The Rays walked away with their first series win of the season on Tuesday. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays continued their “winning ways” on Tuesday, edging the Chicago White Sox, 6-5, in what became a ninth-inning nail-biter. Shocker, I know.

What follows are The Good, The Bad, and The Argyle from the matinee ball game.

The Good

— After an unlucky start to the season, with the Rays performing to a .267 BABIP over the first nine games, the luck dragons now appear to be nipping at the heals of opposing pitchers. Tampa Bay put up a .385 BABIP against Boston on Sunday, a .419 BABIP on Monday, and a .400 BABIP Tuesday afternoon. To be certain, gaudy BABIP’s as such are not sustainable. However, a subpar .267 figure also shouldn’t be expected over the long haul.

In the words of our buddy Robert Smith — no, not the singer of the Cure — So many things went wrong during the Yankee and Red Sox series. No way those threads would continue.

This offense isnt great. Many people think it will be worse than last year. But people equate HRs with effectiveness. We were 25th int he league in runs. It was not a good offense.

I think when all is said and done, that this offense will score more runs than we did last year.

— For the second consecutive day, everyone in the lineup reached base. Carlos Gomez crushed a massive 424 foot home run to center (see below) and reached on a single, Mallex Smith reached on a pair of base hits, Daniel Robertson continued to rack up solid OBP figures with two singles and a walk, and Joey Wendle continued his five game hitting streak with a single (also reaching on three walks).

— A mere 10 games after he first strode out onto the field on Opening Day, Wilson Ramos plated his first run of the season, driving in Duffy from second.

— Three hours and 48 minutes makes for a long game, however, the Rays did a good job at being patient at the plate and working good at-bats. Tampa Bay’s batters reached base 22 times on 11 hits, 10 walks, and one hit by pitch. Egad, it’s almost like the Rays of old, under the watchful eye of Joe Maddon, where a walk was as good as a hit!

— The Rays went 5-for-16 with runners in scoring position, good for a .313 wRISP batting average. To that end, those numbers also appear to be improving; Tampa Bay has improved its wRISP batting average over the course of the first three series, from .176 in the Opening Series to .235 against the Yankees, then .240 again vs Boston. They also went 5-15 wRISP on Monday, good for a .333 batter’s average.

— Blake Snell fanned 10, induced seven ground outs, and gave up just one hit and one run. From a boxscore perspective, he looked unflappable. He also finished six innings which put the bullpen in a reasonable position. All that glitters is not gold, however, which I’ll talk about that in the next section.

The Bad

— Snell yielded five walks and got himself into 12 three-ball counts. At points in the game he appeared to get ahead of batters only to fall behind, and admittedly tried to get a little “too nasty” in the hope that he could get Chicago’s free-swinging batters to chase. At other points in the game his command was all but there. 114 pitches (2018 high water mark; 62 strikes) over six innings really isn’t the model of efficiency.

— Oh my, that ninth inning…

With a cushy five run lead in the ninth, Ryan Weber made his first appearance in a Rays uniform. But, Weber promptly allowed a lead off double to Tim Anderson, whose grounder got by Duffy at third and dribbled down the foul line, caroming off the wall. In all fairness, Anderson did not exactly hit a bullet, rather the odd carom factored into the two-base hit. Nevertheless, the shortstop easily swiped third and scored on a sacrifice-fly, drawing Chicago within four.

With the base paths clear, Wendle bobbled a routine grounder which allowed Leury Garcia to reach first base. After Weber walked Yoan Moncada, Cash decided to bring in Alex Colome to what now was a save situation.

Colome coaxed a weak comebacker from the first batter he faced, allowing the base runners to move up 90-feet … albeit with two outs and a four-run lead. Colome jumped out in front of the next batter, Jose Abreu, with an 0-2 count when he went for the game ending punch out. Yet Colome didn’t bury his put-away cutter, and instead of swinging over the off-speed offering, Abreu golf-clubbed a three-run homer to center — bringing the White Sox within one.

Adding insult to injury, Colome walked the next batter, which brought the winning run, represented by Omar Narvaez, to the plate. Narvaez, however, lashed a line drive to Mallex Smith in right for the final out.

The Argyle

— This Leverage Index graph clearly is not as benign as it looks.


Source: FanGraphs

The New What Next

The Rays will try for the sweep on Wednesday with Yonny Chirinos (0-0, 0.00 ERA) on the mound. He’ll be opposed by “Big Game” James Shields (1-0, 5.73 ERA).

Yonny Chirinos was dominant over his five inning, 54-pitch (38 strikes, 70.3% strike ratio) outing, relying primarily on a heavy sinker that coaxed a lot of early in the count ground ball outs. The right-hander didn’t walk a batter and struck out four, giving up just three hits along the way — none of which were struck particularly well by Boston’s lineup.

James Shields, former friends of the Rays, struggled over his first two starts of his 2018 campaign. He has given up seven runs over 11 innings, while walking two and striking out just one. He, however, has been very good against his former team, coasting to a 3-0 record with a 1.35 ERA over three starts. He has fanned 23 along the way. The Rays have not faced Shields since 2016. Key matchups: Carlos Gomez (4-9), Adeiny Hechavarria (3-10), Kevin Kiermaier (1-2, 2B), Brad Miller (4-10, 2B, HR, RBI, BB), Wilson Ramos (1-3, HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB)

You can read about the series in our preview.

The New What Next: Rays vs ChiSox — a series preview

Rays 4/11/18 Starting Lineup

Span DH
Kiermaier CF
Gomez RF
Cron 1B
Wendle 2B
Duffy 3B
Smith LF
Hechavarria SS
Sucre C
Chirinos RHP

Noteworthiness

— Following the game Tuesday, the Rays acquired outfielder Jeremy Hazelbaker from Arizona in exchange for cash considerations. To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, Tampa Bay transferred RHP Jose De Leon to the 60-day disabled list.

Steve Adams (MLB Trade Rumors) wrote about the deal, saying:

Hazelbaker, whom the D-backs designated for assignment late last week, will head to Triple-A Durham. De Leon underwent Tommy John surgery during Spring Training, so he’ll be out for the entirety of the 2018 season.

The 30-year-old Hazelbaker will give the Rays some depth across the board in the outfield, as he’s plenty experienced in center and in both outfield corners. The left-handed-hitting Hazelbaker was the talk of MLB two years ago when he broke camp with the Cardinals and posted an absurd .317/.357/.683 slash in the month of April. However, he cooled off considerably over the remainder of the season and was ultimately waived by St. Louis and claimed by Arizona.

Last year with the D-backs, Hazelbaker logged 61 plate appearances and again posted some eye-popping numbers, hitting .346/.443/.577 with two doubles, two homers and two triples. In all, Hazelbaker is a .258/.327/.500 hitter in in 285 MLB plate appearances, and he owns a .277/.336/.452 slash in parts of seven Triple-A seasons.

The New What Next: Rays vs ChiSox — a series preview

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Centerfielder Kevin Kiermaier retrieves a fly ball that Mallex Smith missed for a go-ahead double by Andrew Benintendi. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

It’s deja vu all over again for the Tampa Bay Rays. Allow me take you back to the 2011 season — the miracle campaign that gave birth to Game 162, arguably the single greatest day in baseball history. The Rays got off to an 0-6 start that season, having been out scored by the Orioles, Angels and White Sox a combined 27-8.

In the second game of the aforementioned series on the south side of Chicago, Tampa Bay’s offense finally sparked to life, putting nine runs on the board against the tandem of John Danks and Matt Thornton. Even though they dropped the next two games ugly fashion, and subsequently the four-game set against the ChiSox, the Rays followed with a 14-4 tear to finish out the month of April with a 15-12 record, three games over .500. Enter the current squad that has gotten off to an equally bad, if not possibly worse, start to the 2018 campaign.

On the heals of a three-game sweep at the hands of the Boston Red Sox — one in which Tampa Bay should have walked away with its first series win of the season — the Rays, ironically enough, will walk into Guaranteed Rate Field on the south side of Chicago for a three-game series against the White Sox, starting Monday.

Far be it from me to say that this is where the Rays next miracle run begins. However, this series does present the slumping team with an opportunity to get off the schneid, after all the ChiSox aren’t nearly the same caliber ball club that Tampa Bay has faced already three times this season.

(Stats credit: FanGraphs)

Two of Tampa Bay’s last three losses have come by one run. The Rays current eight-game losing streak is worse than any stretch of 2017, when the team never lost more than five games in a row. Meanwhile, Chicago was doomed by its own weekend sweep by the Detroit Tigers. The White Sox managed just one run over the last two contests, including a shutout loss on Sunday.

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

The two teams won three games apiece against each other last season. The White Sox finished with a narrow 22-21 advantage in runs, while both teams won two of three games on their home turf.

Pitching Matchups

Over the next three games, Kevin Cash will lean on Chris Archer (0-0, 6.55 ERA), Blake Snell (0-1, 5.00 ERA) and the bullpen (1-4, 3.86 ERA). Rick Renteria will counter with Miguel Gonzalez (0-1, 9.00 ERA), Carson Fulmer (0-0, 5.40 ERA) and James Shields (1-0, 5.73 ERA).

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

Chris Archer is looking to shape up after giving up four earned runs apiece against the Red Sox and the York Yankees. He has 14 strikeouts in 11 innings this season, but he has allowed a fair share of baserunners with 12 hits and four walks during that span. In eight career games against the ChiSox, Archer is 3-2 with a 4.29 ERA. He went 0-2 against Chicago last season and is looking for his first victory over the team since Sept. 29, 2016.

Miguel Gonzalez looks to bounce back from a disappointing season debut against the Blue Jays. The 33-year-old gave up five runs on eight hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out four. Gonzalez has been very good against the Rays over his career, culling a 7-4 record with a 2.76 ERA in 16 starts. That includes a pristine 8-1/3 shutout outing with five strikeouts in his most recent appearance last season. Key matchups: CJ Cron (2-6, BB), Carlos Gomez (1-3, HR, 2 RBI), Adeiny Hechavarria (2-5, RBI), Wilson Ramos (1-2, BB)

Blake Snell was tagged with a loss after he allowed five runs on four hits and three walks over 3-1/3 innings Wednesday. He struck out five. Snell allowed a leadoff single to Brett Gardner, then served up a mammoth two-run homer to Giancarlo Stanton two batters later. The southpaw allowed another two-run shot in the third inning — this time to Gary Sanchez — before he was chased after recording just 10 outs on 90 pitches.

Carson Fulmer was impressive in his season debut last Wednesday, giving up three runs in five innings while walking just one. He struck out five. Fulmer has above-average arm speed and relies primarily on a 91 mph fastball with modest arm-side run and late life, a big breaking 11-5 curveball with significant depth, an 87 mph cutter with average movement and average control, and a show me changeup that he throws to lefties. He does have occasional inconsistency at release, and sometimes over-throws. This will be Fulmers first start against Tampa Bay.

The Rays will close out the series with a bullpen day.

James Shields, former friends of the Rays, struggled over his first two starts of his 2018 campaign. He has given up seven runs over 11 innings, while walking two and striking out just one. He, however, has been very good against his former team, coasting to a 3-0 record with a 1.35 ERA over three starts. He has fanned 23 along the way. The Rays have not faced Shields since 2016. Key matchups: Carlos Gomez (4-9), Adeiny Hechavarria (3-10), Kevin Kiermaier (1-2, 2B), Brad Miller (4-10, 2B, HR, RBI, BB), Wilson Ramos (1-3, HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB)

Noteworthiness

— Following the series finale with Boston on Sunday, the Rays placed INF Brad Miller on the 10-day DL with a left groin strain. He has replaced by RHP Ryan Weber (a 10th pitcher tin the ‘pen) at least temporarily. With Miller out, C.J. Cron will play more first base, while lefty OF/DH Denard Span is likely to be in the lineup more against southpaw starters.

Miller said he tweaked something while running the bases on a fifth-inning single.

I tried for a couple innings to shake it off or whatever, but I knew it wasn’t going to be smart to stay in there, he said.

However, as Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) opined, the injury to Miller is more concerning since he had surgery in October after dealing with similar issues last season. He missed time during spring training for what he said were “lower body” issues related to his gait after first breaking a toe.

Meanwhile, Ryan Weber, 27, is a St. Petersburg native who signed as a minor-league free agent last winter. He is only the fourth Burger to play on the Rays, joining Bobby Wilson, Casey Kotchman, and Doug Waechter.

Weber has big-league experience with the Braves and Mariners, and will join the crew of multi-inning relievers working in support of what is currently a three-man rotation.

 

Rays acquire Rob Refsnyder from Cleveland; new food and fun options at Tropicana Field

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The Tampa Bay Rays acquired UTL Rob Refsnyder from Cleveland for cash considerations on Tuesday. (Photo Credit: Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)

The Tampa Bay Rays came one step closer to solidifying their Opening Day roster on Tuesday, acquiring utility-player Rob Refsnyder from Cleveland for cash considerations.

Out of options and holding a needed spot on Cleveland’s 40-man roster, Refsnyder has played parts of three seasons in the big leagues with the Yankees and Blue Jays in right and left field, as well as first and second base.

The 27 year-old Refsnyder once was a well-regarded prospect in New York’s farm system, although he hasn’t produced at the Major League level, performing to just a .233 BA/.306 OBP/.311 SLG/.617 OPS line over 320 career plate appearances. More recently, he had a rough spring, slashing .191 BA/.298 OBP/.362 SLG/.660 OPS in 58 plate appearances.

Refsnyder, however, offers the Rays a versatile glove and gives them another multi-position bench option next to Daniel Robertson. Tampa Bay had been looking for a right-handed outfield bat, so Refsnyder fills that need (by definition, of course) even if his offensive peripherals have lagged.

After the Grapefruit League finale, the Rays reassigned to minor-league camp the other two outfield candidates, Brandon Snyder and Johnny Field, alongside Curt Casali.

Tampa Bay’s roster now sits at 27 pending a trade or release of RHP Daniel Hudson and putting RHP Jose De Leon on the 60-day DL. The Rays have until 11:30 Thursday morning to submit a complete 25-man roster.

What’s new at the Trop this season?

Fans attending Thursday’s home opener against those Massholes will find plenty of new stuff at the Trop. As St. Petersburg’s mayor Rick Kriseman put it, the food offerings at the Trop this year are very St. Pete…(a) nice showcase of just some of what we offer in the Sunshine City!

What follows are Marc Topkin and Christopher Spata’s (Tampa Bay Times) tweeted dispatches of the new what next from the official unveiling on Tuesday.

Dan Jennings released, and other Rays centric roster notes

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Nathan Eovaldi, the starter for Tampa Bay in Lakeland, hit the upper 90’s with his fastball in his final tuneup before the regular season on Monday. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

A few Tampa Bay Rays centric notes with just three-days left until Opening Day of the 2018 season.

— During the their final spring road contest against the Tigers on Monday, the Rays formally released LOOGY Dan Jennings. In doing so, they will pay the reliever $574,597 — one fourth of his $2.375-million non-guaranteed salary.

I said it to him, I’ll say it to you guys — he’s a big-league pitcher, manager Kevin Cash said. I’ll be very surprised if he doesn’t find himself on a big-league roster here soon.

His release had more to do with the team’s plan to carry four multi-inning relievers to support a four-man rotation; Jose Alvarado won the left-handed short relief job.

Jennings will be free to sign elsewhere after he clears release waivers on Wednesday.

It wasn’t a slight to DJ at all, said Cash. The way we’re set up with four guys that we need to go longer we’ve got confidence those guys can do it. And Jose Alvarado belongs on our team.

— The Rays have yet to make a transaction regarding RHP Daniel Hudson, who was also told on Sunday that he would not break camp with the team. They hope to find a trade parter for the hurler to avoid paying $4.5-million to release him.

— LHP Jonny Venters was formally reassigned to minor-league camp on Monday in spite an impressive spring. Venters collected eight scoreless frames in his bid to return to the big leagues for the first time since 2012 after sustaining multiple elbow injuries.

The Rays would like to have Venters at Durham for a potential call-up and/or pitching depth, although they are reportedly willing to trade him as a courtesy if another team was to offer a Major League spot.

— Chris Archer, who was hit by a comebacker on Friday, threw his previously scheduled bullpen session on Monday. Kevin Cash said Archer threw 30 pitches and had no issues from the right forearm bruise he sustained from the one hopper in his final spring tuneup before the regular season. Cash has “no concern whatsoever” about his availability to pitch on Opening Day.

— Nathan Eovaldi completed his solid spring campaign on a high note, going six innings against the Tigers in which he allowed seven hits, walked one and fanned four on 89 pitches (60 strikes). Eovaldi’s fastball reached 99 miles per hour (98 in his final inning of work).

The right-hander was pleased with how the day went and his Spring overall after rehabbing last season from Tommy John surgery:

I expected it to go well, Eovaldi said. But I was a little bit more pleased with how everything went, how I was able to bounce back from all the outings and go out there every five or six days.

Cash told Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) Eovaldi has done well enough that the Rays may occasionally relax their plans to limit and manage his workload.

— There was a slight scare in the ninth inning of Monday’s contest as Jesus Sucre was removed after taking back-to-back foul balls off the mask. Cash said Sucre is fine, and was removed for precautionary reasons.

— The decision between Johnny Field and Brandon Snyder (or bringing in an outside player) for the fifth outfield spot won’t be made until after Tuesday’s game at the earliest. In fact, Cash said the final roster spot decision could come down to Thursday morning at 11:30 when the rosters have to be set.

— Thanks to Steve Carney (WDAE), we get a first look at the new turf at Tropicana Field. Other changes: the Seminole Hard Rock Casino is sponsoring the Game 162 Landing in left field, and a rather large Coke bottle looming over right-center field, just above the ray tank.

(Photo Credit: Steve Carney)

— “Yonny Chirinos said after he was told he had made the team, he tried to call his parents, but they were in church, writes Carney. So he called his brother to get the message to his parents, then called his girlfriend who is also still in Venezuela.”

Chirinos also said he’s been to just one Major League Baseball game in his life. After he signed with Tampa Bay, the team brought him to Tropicana Field to see a game. Suffice it to say, his next big league game will be from a much different perspective.