The Rays traded Denard Span (pictured) and Alex Colome to Seattle Friday afternoon. (Photo Credit: MLB.com)
Per Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times), the Tampa Bay Rays have dealt OF/DH Denard Span and closer Alex Colome to the Seattle Mariners for a pair or minor leaguers. Topkin writes:
The Rays made a major trade Friday afternoon, sending All-Star closer Alex Colome and OF Denard Span to the Mariners.
The return is two minor-leaguers, RHP Andrew Moore and RHP Tommy Romero.
Span, a Tampa product, was enjoying a successful start to his season and enjoying playing and living at home. He was hitting .238 with four homers and a a team-high matching 28 RBI.
Colome has had an inconsistent season, going 2-5, 4.15 converting 11 of 13 saves.
The Rays also made a deal with Oakland to acquire RHP Wilmer Font.
Span exceeded expectations with the Rays, although both he and Colome were destined to be dealt at some point. This, however, is earlier than expected, and it sure seems like the front office is now counting on better production from fellow outfielder Carlos Gomez. No other roster moves, to fill their vacated spots, have been announced.
It is thought that the Rays could veer toward a closer by committee type of situation, although it also could be argued that both Jośe Alvarado and Johnny Venters are two options to fill the hole left in Colome’s wake. The move also allows Johnny Field to stay on the 25-man roster indefinitely, although they now need a player to fill in until Gomez returns.
We will have more on the moves as the story unfolds.
Willy Adames was optioned back to Triple-A Durham on Thursday, while Joey Wendle was reinstated from paternity leave. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)
After salvaging the final game of their previous set against Boston, the Tampa Bay Rays welcome the Baltimore Orioles into Tropicana Field, where they are set to start a three-game series on Friday. So far the two teams have split the six games between each other this season.
(Stats Credit: ESPN)
The Rays offense has been inconsistent this season, although in all fairness they have been pitched against really well — something that became evident in their recent trio of losses against the Angels and Red Sox. Tampa Bay started the season as one of the worst offensive teams in the league, but got the offense going after the inauspicious 3-12 start, especially against teams outside of Boston, who they are 19-14 against. Thursday’s win capped a three-game losing skid.
The Orioles continued their rough start against the South-Siders, who they split a four-game series with. While they outpace the Rays in home runs (60) — and in spite of the 17-1 throttling levied on Tampa Bay a couple of weeks back — the O’s have been poor on offense, ranked 26th in the league in scoring; averaging just 3.92 runs per game while batting a combined .232. They haven’t been much better on the mound, performing to a combined 5.13 ERA, while ranking dead last in WHIP at 1.54. The pen hasn’t been much better, starting the series with a combined 4.49 ERA.
All this is to say that if the Rays want to get to where they think they should be, they MUST exact some revenge on the birds this weekend, and in the very least win the series.
(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)
Pitching Probables
Kevin Cash will lean on the hybrid ‘pen/starting rotation model* this weekend. So far we know that Sergio Romo (1-0, 4.34 ERA) will get the start on Friday and Sunday, while Ryne Stanek (0-0, 5.40 ERA) will toe the rubber on Saturday. It is thought that Ryan Yarbrough (4-2, 3.54 ERA), Anthony Banda (0-0, 5.40 ERA) and the recently promoted Vidal Nuno (3-1, 3.57 ERA) will be the long-men over the span of the series. Buck Showalter will counter with David Hess (1-1, 6.75 ERA), Andrew Cashner (2-5, 4.72 ERA), and Kevin Gausman (3-3, 3.48 ERA).
We will update things if something different becomes apparent.
(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)
Sergio Romo started in back-to-back games against the Angels last weekend, throwing 2-1/3 innings of shutout baseball with six strikeouts, two walks and no hits among the nine batters he faced. Right-handers are hitting .196 off him this season. The right-hander has gone 1-0 with a 4.34 ERA in 20 games overall, but 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA/1.34 FIP over the last 14 days.
Ryan Yarbrough took the mound after Romo on May 19th, and allowed just three hits and a walk over the next six frames, collecting four punch outs. During that stretch he allowed just two batters to reach over the minimum, while only one runner got into scoring position in the fourth inning. Yarbrough ended that frame by coaxing a fly-ball out to center from Andrelton Simmons.
David Hess gave up five runs on eight hits (including three home runs) over 4-2/3 innings against the Red Sox on May 20th. Moreover, he has allowed eight earned runs on 14 hits (including four homers) and two walks while striking out seven in two starts this season (10-2/3 innings). Hess was 30-28 with a 4.04 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP in 96 games (90 starts) over five seasons in the minors, including 2-0 with a 2.12 ERA in six starts at Triple-A Norfolk this season. Hess has relied upon a 92 mph fastball that lacks horizontal movement and tends to get barreled up when it’s elevated, an 83 mph slider with hard tilt with sweeping action that he uses as his put-away pitch, a 75 mph get-me-over curveball with mild depth and spin, and an 84 mph changeup that lacks the movement to provide deception against opposing batters. Key Matchups: CJ Cron (1-3), Matt Duffy (1-3, HR, 3 RBI), Brad Miller (1-3), Joey Wendle (3-3)
Ryne Stanek has allowed two home runs in six appearances (five innings), including a grand slam to Manny Machado on May 11th. Still, Stanek’s much improved splitter offsets his four-seam fastball, although his .437 wOBA against right-handers leaves a lot to be desired — as does the fact that he tends to give up medium-to-hard contact. I imagine that he will be a one and done pitcher on Saturday.
Anthony Banda has allowed five runs on nine hits (including a home run) and two walks over 8-1/3 combined innings against the Royals and Angels this season.
Andrew Cashner allowed two runs on eight hits and thee walks over five innings on Monday. He struck out four. In spite of a none too efficient outing, Cashner made the big pitch when he needed to, and was helped out by an outfield assist at home plate as well. His inability to keep runners off base, however, looks like it will be a problem all season long. Cashner hasn’t walked fewer than two batters in a start yet, and has struggled mightily to keep his pitch counts down even when he’s been on his game. This season he has relied primarily on his 93 mph sinker using a two-seam fastball grip and a 94 mph four-seam fastball, while also mixing in a hard 82 mph 12-6 curveball, an 88 mph cutter with natural sink, and an 84 mph changeup. Key Matchups: CJ Cron (1-2, 2B, BB), Matt Duffy (4-13, 3B, RBI, BB), Brad Miller (2-4, RBI, 2 BB), Denard Span (7-22, 2B, 5 RBI, BB)
Vidal Nuno was recalled from Triple-A Durham on Wednesday. He posted a 3-1 record with a 3.57 ERA and 3.70 FIP with the Bulls. Per FanGraphs,
He’s (nuno) a strike-thrower. He’s thrown strikes as both a starter and as a reliever, and while he’s never been a swing-and-miss type, his contact rates haven’t been terrible. On top of that, when Nuno moved to the bullpen, his stuff didn’t really play up. It’s easier, then, to imagine him as a starter again, throwing the same pitches around the same speeds. Don’t be too turned off by his home-run rates — he just allowed the same average exit velocity as Justin Verlander and Johnny Cueto. I don’t think it’s a stretch to look at Nuno and think he has some shot of being another Wei-Yin Chen. The core abilities there are pretty similar.
Kevin Gausman fanned 10 in 6-1/3 scoreless innings on Tuesday. He allowed nine hits and one walk in the no-decision against. Gausman was staked to a two-run lead when he left the game, but Baltimore’s ‘pen gave it up. This was Gausman’s sixth quality start on the season, and perhaps his most impressive of all, as he recorded a career-high 25 swinging strikes against a befuddled White Sox lineup. He now has an excellent 3.87 K/BB and 3.48 ERA over 62 innings of work. He allowed two runs on 11 hits over 7-1/3 innings against Tampa Bay on the 11th, and is 6-5 with a 3.48 ERA in 13 career starts against the Rays. Seven of those starts came at the Trop, where he is 3-3 with a 3.46 ERA. Key Matchups: CJ Cron (5-14, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, BB), Matt Duffy (2-4), Wilson Ramos (3-12, HR, RBI), Rob Refsnyder (3-8, 2B, BB), Mallex Smith (3-10, 3B, BB), Denard Span (6-13, 3 2B, 3 RBI), Jesus Sucre (2-6, 2 2B, 1 RBI), Joey Wendle (1-4)
Noteworthiness
— *Curious about the Rays new approach to pitching? We’ll have analysis of the move this weekend.
— OF Carlos Gomez (groin strain) ran and took batting practice with no issues. He will play in an extended Spring Training game Friday in Port Charlotte and, if all goes well, come off the DL Saturday or Sunday.
— RHP Nathan Eovaldi (arthroscopic elbow surgery) came through his fourth and final rehab outing Thursday feeling fine, although he gave up 10 hits for Triple-A Durham. He’s expected to join the rotation Monday or Tuesday in Oakland.
— SS Willy Adames was optioned back to Triple-A Durham after the game Thursday, with INF Joey Wendle returning from a three-day paternity leave.
Adames told reporters he appreciated the opportunity and felt like he learned a lot during his three-game stint. Adames went 2-12 with six strikeouts over his three games stint, hitting a homer off Chris Sale and throwing Eduardo Nunez out at home. However, he also made a costly ninth-inning throwing error Wednesday that led to three runs.
The Rays will have Wilson Ramos back in the lineup tonight after missing a game with a bruised left hand. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)
After dropping three straight, the Tampa Bay Rays look to salvage the series finale with Boston, and get back on the winning side of the ledger. All three of the Rays’ last three losses have come by three runs or fewer, after getting back to the .500 mark on the last road trip.
The Rays will have Wilson Ramos back in the lineup tonight after he missed a game with a bruised left hand. Meanwhile, SS Willy Adames is back in the lineup for the final time before being sent back to Triple-A Durham, as Joey Wendle is set to return from paternity leave on Friday.
Tampa Bay is 3-9 against Boston this season, and all but one of those defeats have come by three runs or fewer. The Rays are 19-16 against teams other than the Red Sox.
The New What Next
Blake Snell (5-3, 3.07 ERA) will start for the Rays tonight, pitching opposite of Rick Porcello (6-1, 3.39 ERA).
Blake Snell didn’t put together a perfect inning until the sixth, yet he made big pitches when he needed to, holding the Angels scoreless until the fifth when Andrelton Simmons hit a two-run, two-strike single to center with one out — cutting the lead to four runs. Still, the southpaw stranded leadoff doubles in the second and third innings, and held Los Angeles to 1-9 with runners in scoring position.
After the Simmons single, Snell retired his next seven batters, collecting three punch outs along the way. He scattered four hits and two runs over 6-2/3 innings, walking three and fanning eight. Snell threw 70 of 114 pitches for strikes (61% strike rate).
Rick Porcello allowed three runs over 7-2/3 innings against Tampa Bay on April 29th, and won his last start against Baltimore, giving up three runs in six innings. Overall, Porcello is 14-8 with a 3.23 ERA in 26 starts against the Rays, and 8-3 with a 2.43 ERA in 14 starts at the Trop. Key Matchups: CJ Cron (3-11, 2B, BB), Matt Duffy (5-16), Brad Miller (13-46, 6 2B, 5 HR, 11 RBI, 2 BB), Rob Refsnyder (1-3), Daniel Robertson (1-3), Denard Span (17-46, HR, 7 RBI, 2 BB)
Span LF
Cron DH
Duffy 3B
Ramos C
Miller 1B
Robertson 2B
Smith CF
Field RF
Adames SS
Snell LHP
Noteworthiness
— According to Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) the Rays may have some clarity on their pitching plans, with the possibility of using reliever Sergio Romo as the game “opener” for all three games against the Orioles this weekend.
Take two. The Rays will try to snap a two-game losing skid after falling to Chris Sale and the Red Sox, 4-2, last night. (Photo Credit: Anthony Ateek/X-Rays Spex)
After a 4-2 loss, in an injury marred contest against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday, the Tampa Bay Rays look to bounce back and snap a two-game losing skid on Wednesday night.
On the subject of injuries, the Rays made a pair of roster moves Wednesday, placing Jake Faria on the disabled list with a strained left oblique, and recalling LHP Vidal Nuno to take his place. Faria, like Jake Odorizzi who sustained a similar injury in 2015, could miss six-to-eight weeks based on the severity of the strain.
A corresponding 40-man move will need to be made to add Nuno, who is 3-1 with a 3.57 ERA in seven starts (eight appearances) at Durham. He has walked just three and struck out 37 across 40-1/3 innings. Nuno told Neil Solondz (Rays Radio) he is thankful to be back in the Major Leagues and excited to potentially face the Orioles, who he spent the 2017 season with.
Still the addition of Nuno, over rostered options like RHP Chih-Wei Hu, RHP Hunter Wood and RHP Andrew Kittredge (among others), is a bit surprising. In any case, he was likely chosen for his ability to work across multiple innings.
Nathan Eovaldi is slated to make one last tuneup start for Durham today. It is unclear how his return might impact Nuno’s stay with the team, if at all. It should be noted, Austin Pruitt has options remaining and could be optioned back to Durham instead of exposing Nuno to waivers should his stay be brief.
Tampa Bay will have eight right-handed hitters in the lineup tonight, with Wilson Ramos sitting out after suffering a bruised left hand. Ramos though isn’t expected to go on the DL.
The New What Next
Chris Archer (3-3, 5.01 ERA) will get the start for Tampa Bay, pitching opposite his friend and former teammate David Price (4-4, 4.38 ERA).
Chris Archer notched his third win of the season on Thursday against the Angels, throwing 6-2/3 shutout innings, and allowing just two hits while striking out five, but walking four. After getting tagged for six earned runs in his last start, Archer was able to bounce back with a strong outing — only his third quality start in his last four turns. Overall he still has been erratic, and sports an unsightly 5.01 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP through 59-1/3 innings. They say familiarity breeds contempt, and likewise Boston has owned Archer over his 20 career starts, pegging him with a 2-12 record and a 5.49.
David Price tossed his best outing of the season on Thursday, posting a complete game, two-run five-hit gem, against Baltimore. He struck out eight. The only runs that were charged to his line came on a ninth inning, two-out, two-run homer to Manny Machado, but the blast was not enough to ruin Price’s second consecutive strong effort, completed on an efficient 95 pitches (65 strikes, 68% strike rate). The southpaw recently copped to a bout with carpal tunnel syndrome, which comes as no surprise to anyone that follows Price and knows his proclivity for video games. The former Ray has had a tough time against his previous team, going 4-4 with a 3.47 ERA. Price is 37-30 with a 2.84 ERA in 90 career starts at Tropicana Field. Key Matchups: CJ Cron (5-18, 2 2B), Wilson Ramos (4-11, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, BB)
Span LF
Cron 1B
Robertson DH
Duffy 3B
Adames SS
Field CF
Refsnyder RF
Arroyo 2B
Sucre C
Archer RHP
Noteworthiness
— Willy Adames, one of the players traded for Price in 2014, will face the southpaw in his second big league game. Adames told Solondz yesterday that he’s excited about the opportunity. The infielder became the fifth player in franchise history to homer in his first Major League game, joining former Ray Brandon Guyer (May 6, 2011, at Baltimore). He also became the first player to ever hit a homer in his first career game at Tropicana Field.
Willy Adames (pictured) hit his first big league homer in his second at-bat on Tuesday. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)
The Tampa Bay Rays’ battery took a beating in the third inning of Tuesday night’s game against the Boston Red Sox, losing both Jake Faria and Wilson Ramos in a matter of minutes.
Faria left the game when he suffered a strained left oblique in an at-bat that was punctuated by a swinging strikeout of Andrew Benintendi. After he tried to convince Rays skipper Kevin Cash and Head Athletic Trainer, Joe Benge that he was fine, the right-hander had to be removed.
#Rays Cash said Faria needs to get checked out first but “he’s going to miss some time.”
Beyond the initial in-game diagnosis, the team has not announced any roster moves, although it is likely that Faria will spend some time on the disabled list. For context, former Ray Jake Odorizzi was placed on the 15-day DL in 2015 because of a mild to moderate oblique strain. Odorizzi missed nearly a month with that injury. Nathan Eovaldi (elbow, rib) is expected to make one more tune-up start on Wednesday before rejoining the big league squad as early as the weekend. He would be the likeliest candidate to replace Faria on the roster should he be added to the DL.
Austin Pruitt entered the game in relief of Faria, and two batters later — in a bout of wildness — he bounced one in the dirt that skipped off the dirt and hit Wilson Ramos square on the top of his left hand.
Ramos was clearly in discomfort, and was pulled shortly thereafter. The injury appeared to be in a place where there are plenty of small bones, but also a significant amount of soft tissue — in similar spot to where he was hit in Anaheim. Ramos told the media, after the game, that the base of thumb/hand was numb earlier, but he is starting to get the feeling back. Even though it is swollen, he is confident the injury isn’t more notable than a contusion, and that he won’t need to go on DL.
In the midst of all the doom and gloom that permeated the injury-plagued third inning, there was a moment of brightness when Willy Adames, who was promoted to the big leagues this afternoon — and arrived at the ball-park just 30-minutes before first pitch — stepped into the batter’s box for his second at-bat.
Chris Sale left a 90 mph 1-0 slider over the heart of the plate, which Adames turned on and sent to the ball’s rightful home in left field.
Wow, what a moonshot by Willy Adames for his first MLB home run… and off Chris Sale! pic.twitter.com/vEbSJqEvPE
Adames became the fifth Ray to hit a home run in his first career game — the first since Brandon Guyer (May 6, 2011 in Baltimore), and the first player to ever hit a homer in his first career game at Tropicana Field.
