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TNWN: Rays look to keep it rolling in Cleveland tonight

May 24, 2019 By Schmitty Leave a Comment

Kevin Kiermaier hit one of four homers last night — a three-run inside the park home run to the left-center gap. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

After a 7-2 win over Cleveland on Thursday, the Tampa Bay Rays have a chance to win their third consecutive game tonight. The Rays have not won or lost any more than two consecutive games in the month of May with seven games left to play. They could also move to 12 games over .500 for the first time this season.

Tampa Bay has scored 15 runs in the past two games. Of note, Tommy Pham, Avisail Garcia, and Kevin Kiermaier homered in each of those contests and accounted for five of the seven runs last night.

Three homers went over the fence.
One homer didn’t go over 300 feet.#RaysUp pic.twitter.com/VQJ3viOImD
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) May 24, 2019

Per Neil Solondz (Rays Radio), it’s the first time three Rays players have done that in back-to-back contests.

Willy Adames appears to be heating up. The shortstop has hit three homers in a 20-at-bat span and has batted .316 in the month of May with a .934 OPS.

The New What Next

The Rays will start Blake Snell (3-4, 3.31 ERA) tonight, pitching opposite of Shane Bieber (3-2, 3.22 ERA).

Blake Snell allowed one run on six hits and a walk across six innings in a no-decision against New York on Saturday. He struck out nine. Snell scattered six singles throughout his six-inning stint, pitching very well along the way. His only blemish: a third-inning run on two singles, a walk, and a wild pitch. Snell has a 3.31 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP this season

Shane Bieber was dominant in a complete game shutout against the Orioles, scattering five hits while fanning 15 on 107 pitches (75 strikes, 65% strike rate). The 23-year-old has allowed three-plus runs in four of his 10 starts, but he is still 3-2 with a 3.22 ERA. He has punched out 69 in 58-2/3 innings this season. Bieber relies primarily on a 94 mph four-seam fastball with added backspin and an 85 mph 12-6 slider, while also mixing in a whiffy 82 mph curveball with exceptional bite, and a firm 88 mph changeup with arm-side fade and natural sink. Key Matchups: Ji-Man Choi (3-6, 2 2B), Brandon Lowe (1-4, BB), Tommy Pham (2-8, 2B, RBI, BB)

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

TNWN: Rays vs Cleveland — a series preview

Rays 5/24/19 Starting Lineup

Meadows DH
Pham LF
Choi 1B
Garcia RF
B. Lowe 2B
Adames SS
Kiermaier CF
d’Arnaud C
Velazquez 3B
Snell LHP

Noteworthiness

— Next stop: St. Petersburg! Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) reports that two-way prospect Brendan McKay has been promoted to Triple-A, and will start on Tuesday for the Durham Bulls.

The 23-year-old tossed six shutout innings on Wednesday — bringing his scoreless streak to 20 innings — while fanning nine to give him 62 strikeouts in 41-2/3 innings of work (13.41 K/9). He is 3-0 with a 1.30 ERA in eight games.

With Brent Honeywell still working his way back from Tommy John surgery, McKay becomes the top healthy pitching prospect in the organization. And though he is still working on being a two-way player, he has hit just .167 with two extra-base hits and a .448 OPS thus far.

— With a win tonight, Kevin Cash will have a .500 record with Tampa Bay as a big league manager over four-plus seasons.

Rays Injury Update: Diaz and Duffy; Yarbrough recalled from Durham

May 23, 2019 By Schmitty Leave a Comment

Left-hander Ryan Yarbrough was recalled from Triple-A Durham on Thursday. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

After missing the past two games due to a left-hand contusion, Yandy Diaz was placed on the 10-day Injured List retroactive to Monday, May 20. Taking his spot on the 25-man roster, the Tampa Bay Rays recalled left-hander Ryan Yarbrough from Triple-A Durham.

Diaz left the game Sunday against the Yankees after being hit by a pitch. He was initially classified as day-to-day after X-Rays and CT scans came back negative.

Diaz — who is slashing .256 BA/.339 OBP/.500 SLG/.839 OPS this season with nine home runs, 22 RBI, and 26 runs scored — said he didn’t expect to end up on the IL and obviously is disappointed that he won’t get to play against his former teammates. He is eligible to return from the IL on May 30.

Meanwhile, Yarbrough spent the entire month of May in Durham after posting an 8.10 ERA in his first five appearances of the season with the big league squad. He posted a 2.14 ERA in 21 innings at Triple-A following the demotion, while fanning 30 and walking just three over his four appearances with the Bulls.

Yarbrough will start Thursday night for the Rays.

Finally, third baseman Matt Duffy (hamstring, back) re-aggravated a left hamstring injury in the third inning of a rehab game with Durham on Wednesday. He returned to St. Petersburg for further examination.

Stricken with injuries since Spring Training, Duffy finally appeared to make progress and was slated to return to the lineup as early as Memorial Day, when he was eligible to be activated from the 60-day IL. The infielder completed a pair of rehab games with the Class-A Charlotte Stone Crabs last week and played seven innings in left field for Durham on Tuesday.

While Duffy would have been a welcome addition to a Rays lineup, especially against left-handed pitching, it appears he will be sidelined for a couple more weeks in the very least.

TNWN: Rays vs Cleveland — a series preview

May 23, 2019 By Schmitty Leave a Comment

Avisail Garcia helped break open the floodgates in the series finale against the Dodgers. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

After a brief two-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Tampa Bay Rays set their sights on the mid-west when they head to Cleveland for a four-game set, starting Thursday. Tampa Bay split its series against Los Angeles while Cleveland is coming off a three-game sweep by the Athletics.

Tampa Bay bounced back from a pair of ugly losses with an 8-1 win against the best team in the National League. Prior to the series finale, the Rays allowed 14 walks and 20 runs across 18 innings, but they cleaned things up and walked a total of batters on Wednesday. Rays pitchers didn’t tap dance around the zone, rather they attacked an aggressive hitting team and coaxed 10 grounders and 10 fly balls.

Even though Cleveland has gone 8-6 over a two-week stretch,
they have been especially tough to strikeout, striking out just 19.4% of the time. Compare that to Tampa Bay which has struck out twice as many times over the same stretch. Still, Cleveland hasn’t been able to consistently string together hits and drive in runs, which became glaringly obvious in the three-game series loss to the Athletics. Be that as it may, they still have outperformed Tampa Bay in almost every offensive category over that stretch. Rays hitters will have to do what they did in the latter portion of the game against Clayton Kershaw, as well as the contest against Rich Hill, and pounce on any mistakes that may come their way.

Meanwhile, if Rays hurlers can perform as they had in four of the last six days, they could make it very difficult on a Cleveland team that is reeling from a string of unsteady play.

The Rays went 4-2 against Cleveland last season, including 2-1 at Progressive Field.

Pitching Probables

Over the next four days Kevin Cash will lean on an opener/bulk guy combo to be announced before the series opener, Blake Snell (3-4, 3.31 ERA), Charlie Morton (4-0, 2.65 ERA), and probably Jalen Beeks (3-0, 3.19 ERA) who will follow an opener in the series finale. Terry Francona will counter with Adam Plutko (1-0, 1.50 ERA), Shane Bieber (3-2, 3.22 ERA), Carlos Carrasco (4-4, 4.30 ERA), and Trevor Bauer (4-3, 3.95 ERA).

TBA

Adam Plutko allowed one run on one hit across six innings. He struck out four and walked two. The right-hander missed the beginning of the season with a right forearm strain but showed no rust Saturday as the only hit he allowed was a solo home run to Trey Mancini. Plutko finished at 83 pitches, although it makes sense the team took it slow in his first big league start of the season. He relies primarily on a 91 mph four-seam fastball and a whiffy 86 mph 12-6 slider, while also mixing in an 83 mph changeup and a 76 mph curveball.

Chalie Morton gave up five uncharacteristic runs (three earned) on four hits and four walks while striking out six over four innings of work on Sunday. Morton was ineffective and inefficient, throwing 88 pitches (56 strikes, 64% strike rate) in his turn. Walks continue to be a problem: Over the last month, he has an impressive 10.5 K/9, yet a 3.7 BB/9 (2.84 K/BB).

Carlos Carrasco allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out four across five innings on Monday. Carrasco worked in and out of trouble constantly, allowing nine base runners. Beware the long ball: Home runs continue to plague the right-hander, as he carries a 1.7 HR/9 this season and gave up two solo shots in his last start. He has a 4-4 record with a 4.30 ERA in 10 starts this season. Key Matchups: Willy Adames (2-3), Erik Kratz (2-4), Brandon Lowe (2-6, 3B, HR, RBI), Tommy Pham (3-6, HR, RBI, BB), Andrew Velasquez (1-3)

Jalen Beeks put together an uncharacteristically bad outing on Tuesday, although he was BABIP’d to a large extent. In the fifth inning, after retiring seven batters in a row, Beeks allowed a one-out walk to Max Muncy, a stolen base, and a fly out to right — putting a runner at third with two outs. After Cody Bellinger walked, and Kike Hernandez rolled an RBI single to right, Corey Seager singled to right-center, making it 5-0 and chasing the left-hander. Even so, Beeks has a 3.13 ERA, 2.64 FIP, and a 9.08 K/9 on the season.

Trevor Bauer allowed four runs on four hits across six innings on Tuesday. He struck out five and walked four. Bauer struggled with his command for the second consecutive outing as he needed a season-high 123 pitches (73 strikes, 59% strike rate) to work through six frames. The right-hander has given up 11 earned runs — including three homers — and has a 1/1 K/BB in his last two outings. Bauer relies primarily on a whiffy 95 mph four-seam fastball, while also mixing in an 80 mph curveball with exceptional bite, a firm 87 mph changeup with arm-side fade, a whiffy 85 mph cutter with sink, and an 81 mph sweeping slider. Key Matchups: Ji-Man Choi (1-2, HR, 2 RBI, BB), Avisail Garcia (9-28, 3B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2 BB)

Rays look to split series with Dodgers; IL updates

May 22, 2019 By Schmitty Leave a Comment

Hopefully you enjoyed the light show last night if not the outcome. (Photo Credit: X-Rays Spex)

After a 7-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers Tuesday night, the Tampa Bay Rays look for a series split tonight. Tampa Bay is in the midst of a two-game losing streak, falling two games behind the Yankees in the American League East.

In the last two games, the Rays have allowed 14 walks and 20 runs. Compare that to the previous two contests, when they had the lowest walk percentage in the American League. Per Neil Solondz (Rays Radio), of the 20 runs allowed, 13 have come with two out.

For the second consecutive day, Yandy Diaz will be out of the lineup after being hit on the hand by a pitch in Sunday’s game in New York. Diaz was a late scratch last night because of discomfort in his injured hand.

His hand is still bothering him. He tried to swing; obviously, it hurt him enough to take him out of the lineup. It’s unfortunate.
— Kevin Cash

Rays manager Kevin Cash said the team has done “a good degree of testing” on the injury, and he doesn’t expect Diaz to go on the injured list (IL).

X-rays, CT scans, everything is negative. It just got him in that boxer’s area where you see a lot of broken bones, but it got him on the fatty part of the palm. It’s just really sore. It’s the bottom hand, [and] it pinched everything there with the knob and all that.
— Kevin Cash

Daniel Robertson will play in his place for the second straight day. More Rays IL news can be in Noteworthiness.

The New What Next

Ryne Stanek (0-1, 3.70 ERA) will open for the Rays, while Yonny Chirinos (5-1, 3.26 ERA) is expected to get the bulk of the work. They’ll be opposed by Rich Hill (1-1, 3.00 ERA)

Ryane Stanek struggled on Sunday in his last outing in relief. Yet, as an opener, he’s given up just four runs over 18-2/3 innings, allowing a run in just two of those 12 outings.

Yonny Chirinos allowed four hits and struck out two over 4-2/3 shutout innings Friday night. Chirinos did his part after Ryne Stanek tossed the first two frames, as he nearly blanked the Yankees for five innings. The right-hander has allowed three runs or fewer in each of his past six appearances, allowing him to carry a 3.26 ERA with a 4.125 K/BB across 47 frames.

Rich Hill tossed six shutout innings while fanning 10 with no walks and two hits on Friday. The veteran southpaw needed just 84 pitches to record 18 outs, which is a pretty incredible seeing that 10 of those outs were punchouts. Through four starts, he is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA, with a 1.05 WHIP, and 24 strikeouts across 21 innings. Hill relies primarily on a whiffy 91 mph four-seam fastball and a 75 mph curveball with exceptional bite and sweeping glove-side movement. He is 2-0 with a 4.82 ERA in 11 career outings (two starts) against the Rays. Key Matchups: Travis d’Arnaud (1-3), Guillermo Heredia (1-2)

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

TNWN: Rays vs Dodgers — an Interleague series preview

Rays 5/22/19 Starting Lineup

Garcia DH
Pham LF
Choi 1B
Adames SS
Robertson 3B
Kiermaier CF
d’Arnaud C
Heredia RF
Lowe 2B
Stanek RHP

Noteworthiness

— Matt Duffy (hamstring, back) played seven innings last night for the Durham Bulls in left field, going 0-for-4. Duffy is eligible to come off the IL on Monday. He has played third base, shortstop and left field during his rehab assignment to add to his versatility.

He’s getting closer. I’m really encouraged by his last couple days in Port Charlotte. Starting to see the timing at the plate. [He] hit a home run, couple of singles; moving him all over the diamond and playing different spots.
He can’t come off until the 27th at the soonest. Get him a couple of games, get him some reps out there and see how he fits our roster when it’s time for him to come off (the IL).
— Kevin Cash

— Jose De Leon (Tommy John surgery) threw 2-2/3 scoreless innings in Durham last night, allowing one hit and two walks while striking out two. 28 of his 52 pitches went for strikes (54% strike rate).

— Joey Wendle (wrist fracture) received a follow-up X-Ray on his fractured right wrist this afternoon and received good news — the cast is off (and thrown away).

Free to move forward as I can tolerate.
— Joey Wendle

Wendle could start swinging soon.

— Though Tyler Glasnow (forearm strain) hasn’t thrown a baseball since landing on the IL May 11, he did progress to tossing a tennis ball. The right-hander told Juan Toribio (MLB.com) he feels like he has “progressed a lot faster than I thought it would.”

I feel really good. I’ve tested it and thrown a tennis ball. It feels really good. I’m thankful for the trainers. I’ve progressed really fast.
— Juan Toribio

Glasnow is expected to play catch next week, with another test in his recovery expected thereafter.

— Brent Honeywell (Tommy John surgery, nerve issue) was checked again by a team doctor and will rest another week. If all goes well, he will resume throwing next week. Honeywell has been idled since mid-April in his rehab from Tommy John surgery.

TNWN: Rays vs Dodgers — an Interleague series preview

May 21, 2019 By Schmitty Leave a Comment

Brandon Lowe gave the Rays a short-lived 5-3 lead against the Yankees on Sunday. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

After a 3-3 road trip which left the Tampa Bay Rays in second place in the AL East, they will welcome the Los Angeles Dodgers into Tropicana Field for a brief, two-game series, starting Tuesday. The Rays are coming off a series loss against the New York Yankees, while the Dodgers won their three-game set against the Cincinnati Reds.

Tampa Bay dropped the rubber game of their set against New York and now face an extremely rough stretch over the next seven weeks in which they will play 47 games in 48 days. They will face Los Angeles, Minnesota, and Cleveland in the next couple of weeks before the next off-day.

All told, the Rays allowed 11 runs with two outs while the defense had more gaffes than Joe Biden, especially in the series finale. That’s the kind of stuff that cannot happen if they wish to remain toward the top of the AL East rankings.

The Dodgers won for the fifth time in six games when they rolled to an 8-3 victory in the rubber game against the Reds. They enter the series with a comfortable six-game lead over Arizona in the NL West. Los Angeles collected just six hits on the day but took advantage of nine walks along with a pair of wild pitches.

Over the last 14 days, the Rays and Dodgers have, essentially, been the same team in the batter’s box. However, Los Angeles has edged out Tampa Bay with a .433 SLG, a .191 ISO, a 106 wRC+, and a 3.5 wRAA. The Rays have also struck out more and walked less than LA.

Expect a low scoring series, as the Rays pitching staff has performed to a combined 2.95 ERA and 2.99 FIP (starters 2.40 ERA and 1.98 FIP, and relievers 3.38 ERA and 3.76 FIP) over the last 14 days, while the Dodgers have performed to an overall 1.60 ERA and 2.79 FIP (starters 1.55 ERA and 2.52 FIP, and relievers 1.75 ERA and 3.64 FIP) over the same stretch.

The pair split four games in 2016 with a -1 run differential between the two.

Pitching Probables

Over the next two days Kevin Cash will likely throw Jalen Beeks (3-0, 2.25 ERA) and Yonny Chirinos (5-1, 3.26 ERA), both of whom will follow an opener. Dave Roberts will respond with Clayton Kershaw (3-0, 3.40 ERA), and Rich Hill (1-1, 3.00 ERA).

Jalen Beeks picked up his third win of the season on Wednesday against the Marlins, allowing four hits across three scoreless innings. He struck out four. The left-hander continues to be impressive behind an opener, carrying a 2.25 ERA and 3.33 K/BB through 32 innings. Beeks should be fresh as he will be pitching on five days rest.

Clayton Kershaw gave up three runs on five hits and a walk while striking out five across seven innings. All three runs came by way of the long ball. Still, Kershaw navigated his way to a fourth quality start in five outings and earned his third win in his last four games. Kershaw’s velocity and strikeouts may be down, but he still carries a 3.40 ERA and 0.96 WHIP into his start against Tampa Bay. He relies primarily on a hard 87 mph slider and a whiffy 90 mph four-seam fastball which doesn’t boast much to any movement, while also mixing in a 74 mph 12-6 curveball with good downward bite. Kershaw is 1-0 with a 1.13 ERA in one career start against the Rays. Key Matchups: Travis d’Arnaud (1-2, BB), Avisail Garcia (2-2, BB)