The horse has been in the stable for 28 innings now. (Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Rays)
The horse has been in the stable for 28 innings now. (Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Rays)

For the sixth time in 13 games, a Tampa Bay Rays’ starter has put up a quality outing, only to be rewarded with a loss. Jake Odorizzi was the mark in the Rays 1-0 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, last night. Make no mistake, Odorizzi was very good in his 104 pitch/7.1 inning outing — the deepest he’s ever worked into a major league game. He struck out five, walked only one, and gave up three hits; two singles, and an unfortunate Matt Holiday one run homer on a hanging change-up.

What follows (below) is a recap of sorts, by the numbers. Ian Malinowski put together a more comprehensive recap over at DRaysBay.

3: The number of consecutive shutouts.

2004: The last time an AL team (Kansas City Royals) had been shutout in three consecutive games.

10: The total number of Rays’ shutouts — at the hands of the opposition — this season (AL leading).

28: The number of innings since the Rays scored their last run — extending back to the eighth inning of Saturday’s game. The previous record of 26 consecutive scoreless innings came in 2002, when Tampa Bay went 55-106.

48: The AL record of scoreless innings, held by the 1906 Philadelphia A’s.

25: The difference between runs allowed (68) and runs scored (43) over the last 14 days.

3.07: The number of runs the Rays have averaged (per game) over the last 14 days.

.100: The Rays batting average wRISP in their last 100 opportunities.

0%: Per Joe Maddon, the Rays offensive woes are, “Zero percent is Shelty’s fault,” and he sees no reason for a change.

1.5%: The odds Tampa Bay can put together a postseason run, in any capacity, according to Fangraphs.

[youtube_sc url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyBSrBqogPY”]

The New What Next

Erik Bedard will close out the series Wednesday night, against Michael Wacha and the St. Louis Cardinals. The Rays last victory came last Friday with Bedard on the mound — perhaps he’ll play the role of stopper once again. Wacha has the 90+ fastball, an excellent change-up, and a strong curve. Pitch F/X also identifies some cutters in his profile, which could be remnant sliders, but either way the guy has three strong pitches and a fourth one he can go to on occasion. You can read about the pitching matchup, and more, in our series preview, and I’ll post the starting lineup when it becomes available.

Rays 6/11/14 Starting Lineup

TBA

Noteworthiness

  • The Rays optioned Ali Solis back to Durham, as Ryan Hanigan is set to return from the DL today.
  • (Watch) Party people, the scheduling for our second X-Rays Spex Watch Party of the season is under way! July 18th is the tentative date, when the Tampa Bay Rays take on the Minnesota Twins. More information is to come; start planning accordingly.
  • Your tweets of the day:

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