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The New What Next: Rays vs Yankees — a home away from home series preview

The Tampa Bay Rays head home to Queens, where they will start a three-game series against their cross town rivals, the New York Yankees, on Monday. In all seriousness, seeing that I’m trying to get this done before a power outage (thanks Irma), what follows is a non-exhaustive and/or haphazard series preview.

After dropping three consecutive games — having been outscored 28-9 over that stretch — the Rays salvaged a 4-1 win against the Red Sox on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Yankees are coming off a 16-6 win over the Texas Rangers.

The Rays starting rotation has been a concern of late, although the bullpen seems to be in fine shape. If they continue to bandy about their postseason hopes, the Rays starting rotation has got to put up a fight over the next three games.

Tampa Bay’s biggest concern of late, well … aside from Irma, has been its offense, which again appears to be scuffling. I’d reckon that’s what happens when you hinge your production almost solely on the long ball.

I digress.

Over the next three days Kevin Cash will throw Jake Odorizzi (8-7, 4.58 ERA, 5.75 FIP), Blake Snell (3-6, 4.36 ERA, 4.44 FIP), and Chris Archer (9-9, 4.00 ERA, 3.36 FIP). Joe Girardi will counter with CC Sabathia (11-5, 3.91 ERA, 4.61 FIP), Sonny Gray (3-4, 2.74 ERA, 4.06 FIP), and Jaime Garcia (0-2, 5.11 ERA, 5.58 FIP).

Pitching Matchups

Odorizzi posted no-hit bid for 6-1/3 innings on Tuesday against the Twins, which Joe Mauer broke up with a single. It matched the longest no-hit bid of his career and was his first scoreless outing of at least 6-2/3 innings since July 29, 2016, ironically against the Yankees. The right-hander struck out the next batter he faced, but was lifted somewhat prematurely with 90 pitches under his belt. Whatever the case, Odo’s excellent start came at the right time, as he previously allowed 13 runs across 12-1/3 innings over his last three starts.

Sabathia cut down on the free passes in his last turn, issuing just one walk after allowing five in his previous outing. But perhaps the newfound zone pounding was a bird of ill omen for the swarthy southpaw, as the Orioles lit him up for five runs on eight hits, including three homers. In spite of the Yankees 6-5 win against the Rays on July 27, Tampa Bay tagged Sabathia for four runs on five hits and a walk. Key matchups: Peter Bourjos (5-17, 2B, RBI, BB), Lucas Duda (2-8, HR, RBI, BB), Adeiny Hechavarria (2-8, 2B), Kevin Kiermaier (4-10, 2 HR, 2 RBI), Evan Longoria (32-76, 9 2B, 8 HR, 17 RBI, 15 BB), Logan Morrison (2-5), Steven Souza Jr. (6-18, HR, RBI, 3 BB)

Snell allowed six runs on seven hits (including two homers) across four innings in a no-decision against Minnesota on Wednesday. He fanned seven and did not issue a walk. Snell reportedly did not feel like he used his fastball well enough, which resulted in the end of a career-long streak of five consecutive starts lasting six innings or longer. The 7/0 K/BB looks good in theory, however, Snell in the strike zone left a pair of pitches over the plate to Brian Dozier and Ehire Adrianza who made him pay with two homers. Be that as it may, he has posted a respectable 3.92 ERA since the All-Star Break.

Gray allowed one run (unearned) on six hits and two walks in Thursday’s win over Baltimore. He struck out five over 5-2/3 innings. Gray struggled his last time out, yet this time he pitched around eight baserunners to limit the damage. The right-hander — who limited the Rays to two-runs on seven hits over 6-1/3 innings on July 19 — is rebounding from his 2016 campaign with a 3.22 ERA/1.17 WHIP/8.6 K:9. Key Matchups: Corey Dickerson (3-11, HR, 3 RBI), Danny Espinosa (1-3, HR, RBI), Kevin Kiermaier (3-12, 2B, HR, 3 RBI), Evan Longoria (10-26, 4 2B, HR, 3 RBI, BB)

Archer did not fare well in his last start on Friday. The righty took a loss against the Red Sox, who plated eight runs despite tossing quality fastballs and sliders. He allowed 11 of the 20 batters he faced to reach base over his three-plus innings. In that outing Archer was coming off a start in which he allowed a pair of homers in Chicago due to right-lateral forearm tightness. He threw just eight pitches.

Garcia has been largely ineffective in his time with the Yankees, and because of it, he will make only his first start in two weeks on Wednesday. In five starts with the New York, Garcia is 0-2 with an unsightly 5.11 ERA, and he has yet to make it through six innings. This season the 31 year-old southpaw has relied primarily on a 91 mph four-seam fastball, and a 91 mph sinker — both of which are real worm killers. He’s also mixed in a whiffy 84 mph changeup, an 83 mph slider with arm-side run and depth, and a 75 mph curveball. Key Matchups: Lucas Duda (1-2, HR, RBI, BB), Danny Espinosa (8-21, HR, 2 RBI), Adeiny Hechavarria (5-10, 2B, RBI, BB), Logan Morrison (1-3, 2B), Trevor Plouffe (1-3)

Noteworthiness

— Lucas Duda will be making a homecoming of sorts, who will make his return to Citi Field for the first time since the late July trade to the Rays.

LBWMF: Matt Andriese, Rays allow nine runs for second consecutive day

For a second consecutive day, the Tampa Bay Rays were beaten up in Boston. Matt Andriese was knocked out in the second inning after he allowed eight runs (six earned), as the Red Sox plated nine runs for the second straight day.

Chris Archer allowed three first inning runs on Friday and, wouldn’t you know it, Andriese played follow the leader and did the same. Eduardo Nunez led off the first inning with a single to left, swiped second, then scored on Dustin Pedroia’s two-run homer into the seats over the Green Monster.

One has to question Andriese’s sequence of pitches in that at-bat, as he followed a dust-off pitch with a heater that was up and over the inner third of the plate — right in Pedroia’s juice zone.

From there, things spiraled out of control for the Rays, who appeared to be no match for the very aggressive Red Sox. One such example of Boston’s aggressiveness came with one out in the first after Mookie Betts singled, then stole second, and finally advanced to third on a Wilson Ramos throwing error. Betts, well…bet on Wilson’s arm, and won the gamble. Betts later scored on Mitch Moreland’s groundout to a confused duo of players on the right side of the infield, Adeiny Hechavarria and Danny Espinosa, neither which knew who was responsible to field the play in the shift.

When all was said and done, Boston plated nine runs on 15 hits, but just one homer. Credit where it’s due, the Sox have an approach at the plate, while the Rays don’t, hence their 0-6 wRISP on the night. Sometimes swing away and hit homers works, yet often times it doesn’t. That is to say, I’m envious of Boston. Let those words never be spoken again.

The New What Next

The Rays will try to salvage the final game of the series on Sunday with Alex Cobb (10-9, 3.64 ERA, 4.18 FIP) on the mound. He will start opposite of Rick Porcello (9-16, 4.67 ERA, 4.57 FIP).

Cobb held the Twins to one run on three hits and two walks while striking out seven over 5-2/3 innings on Monday night. After giving up his only run in the first inning Cobb went to work, putting down 12 of the next 13 batters on six strikeouts, a double play, and five ground ball outs — keeping the Rays in the ball game until they could break things open in the sixth inning.

Porcello continues to be victimized by the long ball, as he was taken deep three times by Toronto in his last turn; he has given up 35 homers on the season. He has now given up at least three home runs three times this season, and has given up multiple homers a whopping 10 times. Porcello has eclipsed his career high in homer runs by 10, the main reason he’s performed to a 4.67 ERA this season. After dominating the league in 2016, Porcello is 6-10 with a bloated 5.38 ERA at Fenway, and 1-3 with a 5.18 ERA in four starts (24-1/3 IP) against the Rays this season. Key Matchups: Peter Bourjos (2-7), Curt Casali (3-10), Corey Dickerson (8-32, 4 2B, HR, 3 RBI), Danny Espinosa (1-3, HR, 3 RBI), Evan Longoria (14-55, 6 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 4 BB), Brad Miller (10-32, 3 2B, 7 RBI, 4 BB), Brad Miller (10-32, 3 2B, 5 HR, 9 RBI, 2 BB), Logan Morrison (10-34, 3 2B, HR, 5 RBI), Mallex Smith (2-8, 3B), Steven Souza Jr. (9-30, HR, RBI, BB)

You can read about the series in our preview.

Rays 9/10/17 Starting Lineup

Kiermaier CF
Duda 1B
Longoria 3B
Morrison DH
Dickerson LF
Hechavarria SS
Miller 2B
Ramos C
Smith RF
Cobb RHP

Noteworthiness

— Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) writes, that if the Rays are going to salvage their season, six players have got to step up:

3B Evan Longoria. He called himself out a couple of weeks ago as the player who most needed to step up, and who are we to argue. Longoria’s numbers — .265 with 18 homers, 77 RBIs, a .756 OPS going into play Saturday — aren’t horrible, but they’re not good enough for the No. 3 hitter in the lineup who relishes the chance to be the man they can count on. “There’s definitely times when I feel like it’s clicking,” Longoria said. “It just hasn’t gone on for a prolonged period of time this year.” Like August, for example, when he hit just .240, with one home run (as part of his Aug. 1 cycle), 10 RBIs and a .677 OPS. He has been better thus far in September (.296) and did reach base multiple times in four straight games.

RHP Jake Odorizzi. Was much, much better in his last start, taking a no-hitter into the seventh against the Twins. And the Rays have to hope that is a sign he is finally back to form, because until then he had been a mess, with some questions about how much longer he’d get to stay in the rotation as he has battled injuries and inconsistency much of the season. Consider that in his previous six starts Odorizzi was 1-3 with a 6.49 ERA and got past four innings only once. Odorizzi seems likely to be the designated starter to be traded this winter, as his arbitration-fueled salary, $4.1 million this year, climbs past what the Rays feel is his value, so a strong finish also can do all parties well.

2B Brad Miller

DH Lucas Duda

LF Corey Dickerson.

I didn’t plan to lump these together, but Cash did when the subject came up a week ago, and it’s still the case. “We need to get some of our lefties going, no doubt,” Cash said. “They know who they are. They are doing everything they can. It’s not for lack of work. They’re working. They’re just kind of in a little bit of a funk.”

Miller is the biggest concern because he has had the biggest dropoff, from the guy who hit .243 last year with 30 homers and 81 RBIs to the guy hitting .191 this year (around two DL stints) with seven and 31. And his struggles are only exacerbated by the success of Tim Beckham, whom the Rays traded to Baltimore at the July 31 deadline to open second base for Miller to play every day. In his first 36 games as an Oriole, Beckham hit .353 with six homers, 20 RBIs and a .965 OPS. In the same span, Miller hit .168-3-7-.608.

Duda has been something of an all-or-nothing addition from the Mets, hitting .193 as a Ray with 11 of his 22 hits for homers, and four for doubles. Worse, he went into play Saturday 8-for-his-last-56, with seven homers. Dickerson has yet to regain the first-half form, and drive, that carried him to an All-Star selection. He hit .333 with 17 homers, 39 RBIs and a .955 OPS in his first 75 games but in the 60 since is just .212-9-21-.660.

LHP Dan Jennings. Acquired to be a high-leverage lefty for this season, and two more, Jennings has not shown much to inspire confidence, with a 5.91 ERA in his first 19 appearances with the Rays. Of the first 54 batters he faced, 24 have reached base (10 walks, 14 hits). He allowed homers to lefties in back-to-back appearances (after one previously all season) and five times left without recording an out.

LBWMF: Rays drop opening game of series to Red Sox, 9-3

Here’s the deal: some of us — like me — are busy making hurricane contingencies. As with the Tampa Bay Rays’ players who live locally, this is a scary moment for all of us who live in the area. With that in mind, below is Neil Solondz’s (Rays Radio) recap of Friday night’s disaster of a ball game:

Chris Archer’s return to the mound on Friday got off to a tough start at Fenway Park. The Rays (70–72) and Archer never recovered, and fell to Boston 9–3 in the opener of a three-game set against the top team in the AL East.

Archer was coming off a Saturday start where he left after allowing a pair of homers in Chicago due to forearm tightness. This outing didn’t go better, as Archer allowed a ground single to center by Dustin Pedroia, then an opposite field bloop double to Andrew Benintendi to begin the first. Then Mookie Betts tucked a fly ball to right just inside the Pesky pole for a three-run homer, and a 3–0 Boston lead.

Archer eventually threw 33 pitches in the first. After a scoreless second and third, Archer didn’t retire a batter in the fourth.

Rafael Devers looped an opposite field double to left, and Christian Vazquez dumped a single to right where Steven Souza Jr injured his left knee near the side wall. With men at the corners, Jackie Bradley Jr singled to center, making it 4–0. Dustin Pedroia grounded to first, and Logan Morrison mishandled it for a run-scoring error. Benintendi then hit a grounder through the middle for a 6–0 advantage, chasing Archer.

Chaz Roe entered, and walked Mookie Betts to load the bases. Hanley Ramirez singled to left, scoring a run to make it 7–0. Mitch Moreland then grounded into a double play, scoring the fifth and final run of the frame, to make it 8–0.

Tampa Bay went without a hit until the fifth against Drew Pomeranz before Brad Miller singled through the middle with one out. Jesus Sucre then belted a two-run homer into the Monster seats in left, his fifth, to get the Rays on the board.

The Rays had one chance to get back into the game against the Red Sox bullpen in the seventh. Joe Kelly allowed a pair of hits and a walk, and left with the bases loaded and one out. Addison Reed got former Mets teammate Lucas Duda to loop a ball to right. Dustin Pedroia had the ball go off his glove, but recovered to force Kevin Kiermaier at second, as a run scored to make it 8–3. Evan Longoria then hit a bullet toward second that Pedroia extended for and caught, ending the inning.

Christian Vazquez doubled in a run with two out in the seventh against Ryne Stanek, answering that tally and capping the scoring. That was the only run allowed by the Rays bullpen over the final five innings, but the damage already had been done.

The New What Next

The Rays will play the second game of the series on Saturday night with Matt Andriese (5-2, 3.78 ERA, 4.79 FIP) starting opposite Chris Sale (15-7, 2.85 ERA, 2.20 FIP).

Andriese made his first start since returning from a hip injury on Sunday … although he posted a dud, allowing five earned runs on six hits over five innings against the Whit Sox. Nevertheless he earned a win in Boston on May 14th in a 5.0 IP/4 H/2 ER/4 BB/5 K outing.

Sale is in the throes of his first slump of the season, having lost three of his last four starts. The southpaw was tagged for three solo homers, including the first back-to-back job he’s allowed in his big league career. The Yankees did as they are wont to do, fouling off a ton of balls, working over Boston’s ace, and subsequently getting his pitch count up to 109 before he was pulled from the game. The left-hander’s experienced a drop-off since the calendar flipped to August, performing to a 4.57 ERA, while allowing seven homers in as many starts. As it was written elsewhere, his performance in 2017 mimics a career pattern of tailing off in the final two months of seasons past; Sale’s ERA is under 3.00 from April to July in his career, but it’s over 3.00 in August and closes in on 4.00 in September/October. Still, Sale is 3-1 with a 2.48 ERA in four starts against Tampa Bay this season. Key Matchups: Curt Casali (2-6, 2B, HR, RBI), Kevin Kiermaier (3-8, HR, 3 RBI, BB), Logan Morrison (5-14, HR, RBI, BB), Trevor Plouffe (14-49, 2 2B, 2 RBI, BB), Wilson Ramos (3-6, 2B, HR, 3 RBI)

You can read about the series, and I’ll post the starting lineup upon availability.

Rays 9/9/17 Starting Lineup

Kiermaier CF
Puello LF
Longoria 3B
Morrison 1B
Plouffe DH
Ramos C
Hechavarria SS
Bourjos RF
Espinosa 2B
Andriese RHP

Noteworthiness

— Souza is out of tonight’s lineup as expected, with Peter Bourjos taking over in right field, and Cesar Puello holding it down in left.

— Two of Marc Topkin’s (Tampa Bay Times) takeaways from last night’s game were particularly on point:

Starting RHP Chris Archer turned out not to be such a good thing. Archer unexpectedly deemed himself ready to go after leaving last Saturday’s start due to forearm tightness, but though he looked healthy, he didn’t make it out of the fourth inning.
Losing RF Steven Souza Jr., who left Friday’s game with a bruised left knee, for any amount of time will be a serious blow to the lineup. Though slumping of late, Souza has been one of the Rays’ most productive players overall and is capable of getting hot and carrying them.

Rays’ upcoming series against the Yankees moved to Queens because of Hurricane Irma

Citi Field: home of the Rays from September 11-13. (Photo Credit: MLB.com)

As Hurricane Irma churns toward Florida, and after much consideration by MLB, the Tampa Bay Rays have confirmed that their home series against the Yankees, scheduled for September 11-13, will now be played at Citi Field.

The ball club is working on details and options for fans (like yours truly) who had tickets to the Yankees games that were to be played at Tropicana Field. Information on that, as well as the procurement of tickets to the games at Citi Field, should be released soon.

The Rays were initially scheduled to return home on Sunday following the weekend series in Boston, although the players were told to pack extra clothes knowing the very realistic possibility the trip would be extended from three to six games because of the storm.

In a statement, Rays president Brian Auld called the decision one that was made based on concern for the well being of the team’s fans, families, friends, and neighbors:

After much consideration, our games against the Yankees will be moved to Citi Field as Hurricane Irma approaches Florida. We are grateful to the Mets for opening their doors to us. We are most concerned with the safety of our fans, our families, friends and neighbors.

The games will be played Monday and Tuesday at 7:10, then Wednesday at 1:10, and the Rays will be the de facto home team.

Discussion had been ongoing over the last few days about different options, including the flip-flopping the last two Rays and Yankees final series’ of the season, or playing the upcoming set at a neutral site like Baltimore, which had was considered a top possibility.

However, based on stadium and hotel availability, Citi Field allegedly turned out to be the best option.

MLB moved TB-NYY series Citi and not Baltimore or another neutral site due to hotel issues, source says. Only need rooms for one team in NY.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) September 8, 2017

It’s not hard to find a hotel in New York City for the Rays, while the Yankees wouldn’t have to travel at all.

#Astros were upset when #Rangers would not swap home series due to Harvey. #Rays arguably in worse position going to NY, but not squawking.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) September 8, 2017

It is a rather ironic decision though, seeing that an Astros/Rangers series was relocated from Houston to the Trop a couple of weeks back, due to storm damage from Hurricane Harvey. The last time I checked St. Petersburg is smaller than Baltimore, so it’s surprising that there would be more hotel rooms in the Tampa Bay Area than in a larger metropolitan area, like Baltimore/DC.

The decision also seems a bit unfair for the Rays, as it is akin to giving the Yankees another home series — and/or an inherent advantage — when both teams are contending for one of the two AL Wildcard spots. To put it bluntly, an 11 mile difference between Yankee Stadium and Citi Field does not a neutral site make.

At least one person is likely excited: Still Sternberg. His team is playing in the home of his favorite team, and all in the comfort of his own backyard.

The New What Next: Rays Vs. Red Sox — a series preview

Kevin Kiermaier hit a two-run blast in the fifth inning of Thursday’s series finale with the Twins. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

A pair of AL East rivals, with their sights set on playing postseason ‘ball, will open up a weekend series on Friday in Boston, when the Tampa Bay Rays start a three-game set against the Red Sox. Tampa Bay missed a chance to sweep the Twins on Wednesday, falling 10-6, while Boston won the rubber match of their series with Toronto, 6-1.

Most recently, the Red Sox swept a two-game road series against the Rays on August 8-9.

Tampa Bay is still in the thick of the Wildcard race, although they need to get something going in order to gain ground on Minnesota, who starts Friday 3-1/2 games ahead of the Rays for the last Wildcard spot. Boston leads the pack in the AL East, although the team hasn’t played the best baseball of late — having dropped four of their last seven, while scoring 42 runs over the last 14 days; an average of three runs per game over that stretch. Compare that to the Rays, who’ve plated 61 runs over the same span (4.4 runs per game) thanks in part to a beefy .232 ISO.

The key for Tampa Bay will be for the offense to get things started early against Boston, as it’s had a pretty lock down bullpen over the last two weeks. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay’s pitching staff must step up and hold any leads, no matter how big or small. Ahem, that’s not going to be an easy task against a team who uses technology to steal signs. I digress.

Over the next three days Kevin Cash will lean on Chris Archer (9-8, 3.76 ERA, 3.32 FIP), Matt Andriese (5-2, 3.78 ERA, 4.79 FIP), and presumably* Alex Cobb (10-9, 3.64 ERA, 4.18 FIP). John Farrell will counter with Drew Pomeranz (14-5, 3.36 ERA, 3.79 FIP), Chris Sale (15-7, 2.85 ERA, 2.20 FIP), and Rick Porcello (9-16, 4.67 ERA, 4.57 FIP).

*The starter in the series finale has not been officially announced.

Pitching Matchups

Archer exited two batters into his last start against the ChiSox because of right lateral forearm tightness. Although he received a clean bill of health from team doctor Koco Eaton and will aim for his third career win against Boston, against whom he is 2-11 with a 5.06 ERA. In his last normal start, Archer limited the Cardinals to one run on five hits over seven innings on Sunday. The only blemish on the right-hander’s ledger was a seventh-inning home run by Kolten Wong. Part of his recent spate of dominance has to do with the fact that Archer is walking fewer batters and striking more of them out, posting a 69/9 K/BB in his last 50-1/3 innings of work over his past seven starts. He is 2-0, but with a 5.40 ERA in four games (three starts) on the south side of Chicago, and 3-1 with a 3.86 ERA in six starts against the White Sox.

Pomeranz had his first mishap in nine weeks in his last turn, allowing four runs on eight hits over 5-1/3 innings against the Yankees — his first loss since June 11. The southpaw allowed a pair of homers, representing the only runs the Yankees could score. It was the first time he allowed multiple homers in a start since early May, so it might be best to view the underwhelming outing as a blip on the radar. After all, Pomeranz sports a 3.36 ERA/1.38 WHIP/9.4 K:9 in 2017, and is 7-2 with a 3.26 ERA in 13 starts at home this season. Be that as it may, he is 1-1 with a 6.08 ERA in three starts (13-1/3 IP) against the Rays this season. Key Matchups: Brad Miller (9-18, 2 2B, 3B, HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB), Wilson Ramos (1-2, 2B, RBI, BB)

Noteworthiness

— Did you hear about the newest bobblehead giveaway by the Red Sox, expected at some point this weekend?

— Per Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times), The Rays likely won’t know until Saturday where they are headed after Sunday’s game, as Hurricane Irma might force rescheduling or relocation of a series with the Yankees slated to start Monday night at Tropicana Field.

Discussions between the Rays and Major League Baseball officials have been ongoing based around the forecast path of the storm, potential impact on the bay area and travel logistics. Both sides agreed, given the uncertainty, to wait until Saturday to make a decision.

Most likely options are pushing the series opener back to Tuesday, then playing a doubleheader Wednesday at the Trop, playing the games at a neutral site (Baltimore seems the choice), or playing in New York.

“We are monitoring the storm carefully and are in regular communication with MLB regarding our options,” team president Brian Auld said Thursday. “Right now, our focus is on safety first and foremost.”

The Rays left Thursday afternoon for Boston, with players and traveling staff allowed to bring their families on the flight. Team offices were closed starting Thursday.