The Tampa Bay Rays capped their Spring Training campaign on Tuesday with a 5-0 win over the Detroit Tigers. Rays pitching looked fantastic, as Cody Reed, Michael Wacha, and Collin McHugh, among others, allowed just four hits while striking out five in the seven-inning contest.
Reed opened the ballgame and pitched a scoreless frame ahead of the right-handed Wacha, who worked three scoreless frames as the “bulk” guy.
Wacha, who allowed just one run all Spring, threw an efficient 45 pitches and struck out a pair. The right-hander said it was good to see what it was like following an opener.
I think the idea of it was, if they decide to do it in-season, it won’t be the first time that we’re doing it. Try to do a little practice run before, so the first time, it’s not a game that ultimately matters. … I’ve came out of bullpen before so I’ve kind of experienced what that’s like. But I was able to stay basically right on my same start routine of playing catch in the outfield, still got everything I needed to go, still got everything I needed in the bullpen heading into it. I guess the only difference was just running from the bullpen to the mound instead of from the dugout to the mound.
— Michael Wacha
Wacha is slated to pitch against the Red Sox at Fenway, although it hasn’t been announced whether he’ll start or pitch behind an opener. Rays skipper Kevin Cash noted that it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility for Wacha to act as the bulk guy in that particular contest, however, it is still too early to name a starter for the fourth game of the season.
I think it’s all a possibility. We’ll just have to see. That hasn’t been decided quite yet. I envision him starting, but we haven’t got to Game 4 conversations quite yet.
— Kevin Cash
For what it’s worth, neither Reed nor Wacha seemed bothered by the idea of working out of their “normal” roles throughout the season.
You’re still 60 feet, 6 inches away if it’s in the first inning or if it’s in the seventh. That’s kind of how I think about it. Having the ball in the first inning is always fun. You’re amped up in there, but man, I’m going to go out there and compete just like this the first, the seventh, every time out there, no matter when I get the ball.
— Cody Reed
Meanwhile, Collin McHugh was “adamant” about getting one final tune-up before the start of the regular season. Because of it, Cash put the right-hander in the game for the fifth inning. McHugh allowed a hit while striking out two — JaCoby Jones on consecutive sliders in the zone, and Dillon Dingler on a high fastball — on 18 pitches (14 strikes, 78% strike rate).
Collin was kind of adamant to do that. And during the outing, Kyle (Snyder) had mentioned that might have been his best swing-and-miss stuff right there. Mixed his pitches really well. And just talking to him when he came off the mound, he felt good.
— Kevin Cash
The Rays ended their Grapefruit League season at 13-15 for the 28 game campaign, having won five consecutive games. And while a Spring Training record is ultimately meaningless, it, however, was nice to see the Rays head into the regular season with some momentum.
I think a large credit goes to not just our 26 guys, the way they carried themselves, and definitely the guys that were coming in backing up games. We know we have a very talented group. It’s fun to watch them play, the energy that they showed throughout spring.
— Kevin Cash
For what it’s worth, and as Neil Solondz (Rays Radio) noted, “two of the last four times the Rays went to the postseason, the team was under .500 in Spring Training, and the two other times, the club was only one game over the break-even mark.”
Not everything was awesome (sorry, Tegan and Sara) on Tuesday, however; Cash confirmed that first baseman Ji-Man Choi will miss the first month (give or take) of the season as he is expected to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on Wednesday morning. The current timeline is for him to miss three to five weeks.
We’re going to really need Ji-Man to work hard throughout the rehab process while he’s rehabbing his knee to get himself, the rest of his body in as good shape as possible to speed that up so we can see him back on the field in the lineup for us quickly.
— Kevin Cash
The Rays plan to use Yoshi Tsutsugo and Yandy Díaz at first base in Choi’s absence, although Mike Brosseau is another option. It would appear, though, that Tsutsugo would be the team’s primary option against right-handed pitchers, while Díaz could start there or at third base against southpaws.
The team asked Yoshi to take on first-base duties at the start of camp, and they have been quite pleased with how well Yoshi has handled the task.
At first, I was a little uncomfortable and maybe worried about defending first base. But as I played, I felt more comfortable and better at this position.
— Yoshi Tustsugo
The New What Next
The Rays will head to Miami on Wednesday, and work out at Marlins Park that afternoon before Thursday’s opener.
Kevin Cash and Co. have until 12:00 PM Thursday to announce the team’s roster, although they all but announced the Opening Day roster on Sunday. They also have not said which players will be on the team’s taxi squad, which can include up to five players (including one catcher) who can go on road trips.
As for X-Rays Spex, expect one full day of radio silence while we dot our t’s and cross our i’s on the Opening Series preview, which will drop on Thursday.