LBWMF: Tampa Bay Rays hold on to defeat the ChiSox, 3-1

The Rays kicked off the month of September with a 3-1 win. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays scored three early runs on Friday, thanks to the tandem of Logan Morrison and Kevin Kiermaier, while Blake Snell put together another solid start. The Rays held on for a 3-1 win over the ChiSox, and got back to the .500 mark for the 21st time this season.

Morrison helped put the Rays on the board, and get off to a good start. Three batters after Kiermaier led off the game with a line drive single into center, the first baseman blasted a two-out two-run homer to right-center off Reynaldo Lopez.

The homer came on the fifth pitch of the at-bat — an elevated 84 mph changeup on the outer edge of the plate. Morrison somehow turned on the pitch, and sent it out of the confines of Comisky Park (or whatever it’s called now) for his 34th home run of the season (his fifth in as many games).

The White Sox answered in the second inning though, after Kevan Smith doubled then came around to score on a two-out throwing error from Morrison to Blake Snell, who was covering first. Leury Garcia charged out of the box as Morrison yanked his throw past first, allowing the run to score all the way from second. The Rays were able to retake a two-run margin a half an inning later.

Kiermaier, Evan Longoria and Morrison all singled — sandwiched around a Lucas Duda foul-out — with the final hit pushing the advantage to 3-1. From there, Lopez and Chicago’s bullpen kept the wolves at bay. Only two Rays reached  on a walk and a hit — Morrison’s third of the game — after the third inning.

Meanwhile Snell also pitched well. At times he worked ahead of batters, while at others he fell behind. He, however, did a good job to battle and get back into those at-bats. Snell took advantage of an aggressive White Sox lineup, although he wasn’t dominant per se. In all fairness, the southpaw was helped in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings by ground ball double plays — each of which was started by Adeiny Hechavarria.

Yet Snell still tossed 6-2/3 innings on an efficient 85 pitches, and was able to hand the ball to three relievers that combined to shut down Chicago.

The south siders had one last shot to overtake the Rays in the seventh inning. With two out and none on, Snell was lifted after a two-out walk Garcia. Steve Cishek, who still has not allowed a run with Tampa Bay, wild pitched Garcia to second, then walked Adam Engel. As if the moment couldn’t get any more tense, Cishek allowed a hit to right to Yolmer Sanchez, who pulled a first pitch fastball into right-field to load the bases. But even though Tim Anderson smoked a liner to short, he did so right at Hechavarria to end the inning.

After that, the White Sox did not have another batter reach.

Tommy Hunter posted a perfect eighth, while Alex Colome did the same in the ninth for his MLB-leading 41st save … of course with a requisite three wild pitches in three at-bats.

The New What Next

Chris Archer (9-7, 3.66 ERA, 3.17 FIP) will take the mound for the Rays in the second game of the series, pitching opposite of Carlos Rodon (2-5, 4.27 ERA, 4.74 FIP).

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.

Rodon gave up five runs on seven hits over five innings against Detroit in his last turn, his shortest start since July 25. The southpaw held the Tigers scoreless over the first two frames before allowing all five of his runs over the next two, leading to his fifth loss of the season. The outing snapped a string of five consecutive starts in which he had allowed two earned runs or fewer, although it’s difficult for him to pick up any wins with the White Sox offense. This season he has relied upon a whiffy 94mph four-seam fastball, a hard 85 mph slider, and a 93mph sinker, while also mixing in an 83mph changeup with natural sinking action. Key Matchups: Peter Bourjos (1-3, 2B), Evan Longoria (2-3, 2B, HR, RBI)

You can read about the series in our preview.

Rays 9/2/17 Starting Lineup

Kiermaier CF
Souza DH
Longoria 3B
Morrison 1B
Puello LF
Bourjos RF
Hechavarria SS
Sucre C
Espinosa 2B
Archer RHP

Noteworthiness

— INF Taylor Featherston, designated for assignment by the Rays on Monday, cleared waivers and was outrighted back to Triple-A Durham.

Tampa Bay Rays 8/1/17 starting lineup and pregame notes

Back at it tonight in Chicago. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)
After a day off from action on Thursday, the Tampa Bay Rays look to enter September hot as they make one final postseason push. The Rays are 4-2 thus far on their nine-game, three-city road trip that routes them through the south side of Chicago, where they’ll face the White Sox.

The Rays start the day four behind the Minnesota Twins — who they’ll face next week — for the last playoff spot with 27 games left to play, and five behind the scuffling New York Yankees for the top Wildcard spot. The Angels and Orioles are ahead of Tampa Bay as well.

The rosters expanded today, and the Rays announced welcomed the addition of three players: Curt Casali — who gives Tampa Bay a third catcher, LHP Adam Kolarek, and RHP Ryne Stanek, giving Tampa Bay nine available relievers. More reinforcements are expected throughout the month.

The New What Next

Blake Snell (2-6, 4.29 ERA, 4.44 FIP) will get the start tonight for the Rays, pitching opposite of Reynaldo Lopez (0-1, 6.97 ERA, 6.61 FIP).

Snell is coming off one of his best outings of the season, as he allowed just two runs on four hits over seven innings. He struck out seven. The southpaw has thrown six or more innings in four consecutive starts, and though his season numbers are still unsightly, Snell appears to have figured some things out in the second half, performing to a 3.66 ERA/3.69 FIP.

Lopez had been on the disabled list with a back strain since mid-August. Prior to the injury, Lopez made two starts but allowed eight runs on nine hits over 10-1/3 innings. The 23 year-old right-hander — who this season has relied upon a 95mph four-seam fastball with natural sinking action, and a whiffy 85mph changeup, while also mixing in an 81mph 12-6 curveball with little depth — has never faced the Rays.

You can read more about the series in our preview.

Rays 8/1/17 Starting Lineup

Kiermaier CF
Duda DH
Longoria 3B
Morrison 1B
Souza Jr. RF
Dickerson LF
Ramos C
Miller 2B
Hechavarria SS
Snell LHP

Noteworthiness

— Jonny Venters was promoted today from Double-A Montgomery to Triple-A Durham.

— MLB announced the discipline on former C Derek Norris, who has been suspended for the rest of the season for violating the leagues domestic violence policy. Norris hasn’t played since his DFA in early July. Norris forfeited the final $100-Thousand of his termination pay, which the Rays will donate to charities involved with domestic violence and abuse.

The New What Next: Rays vs White Sox — a series preview

The Rays have gone 4-2 thus far on their nine-game road trip. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays return to action Friday night in Chicago, where they’ll square off with the White Sox in a three-game weekend series. The Rays are coming off a pair of mid-western series wins against the Cardinals and Royals (respectively), while the White Sox dropped three straight to the Minnesota Twins.

(Stats: ESPN)

Tampa Bay just took two of three games from the Royals, after taking two of three in St Louis. They are now 7-3 over their last 10 games, while averaging 5.22 runs per game over that stretch. They still have their sights set firmly on a Wildcard berth, having moved to within 3-1/2 games of Minnesota for the last playoff spot, as well as four games behind the slumping Yankees, who will be taking on the Red Sox over the weekend.

The Rays have a excellent shot at closing that gap even more this weekend, not to mention a chance to move above the .500 mark for the first time since August 11. And while their offense has been an issue at times for Tampa Bay, they’ll be taking on a far weaker White Sox team. Dare I say they could primed to make a run* at things on the south side of the windy city?

(Stats: FanGraphs)

Over the next three days Kevin Cash will lean on Blake Snell (2-6, 4.29 ERA, 4.44 FIP), Chris Archer (9-7, 3.66 ERA, 3.17 FIP), and Matt Andriese (5-1, 3.54 ERA, 4.64 FIP). Rick Renteria will counter with Reynaldo Lopez (0-1, 6.97 ERA, 6.61 FIP), Carlos Rodon (2-5, 4.27 ERA, 4.74 FIP), and Lucas Giolito (1-1, 2.77 ERA, 6.05 FIP).

(Stats: FanGraphs)

Pitching Matchups

Snell is coming off one of his best outings of the season, as he allowed just two runs on four hits over seven innings. He struck out seven. The southpaw has thrown six or more innings in four consecutive starts, and though his season numbers are still unsightly, Snell appears to have figured some things out in the second half, performing to a 3.66 ERA/3.69 FIP.

Lopez had been on the disabled list with a back strain since mid-August. Prior to the injury, Lopez made two starts but allowed eight runs on nine hits over 10-1/3 innings. The 23 year-old right-hander — who this season has relied upon a 95mph four-seam fastball with natural sinking action, and a whiffy 85mph changeup, while also mixing in an 81mph 12-6 curveball with little depth — has never faced the Rays.

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.

Rodon gave up five runs on seven hits over five innings against Detroit in his last turn, his shortest start since July 25. The southpaw held the Tigers scoreless over the first two frames before allowing all five of his runs over the next two, leading to his fifth loss of the season. The outing snapped a string of five consecutive starts in which he had allowed two earned runs or fewer, although it’s difficult for him to pick up any wins with the White Sox offense. This season he has relied upon a whiffy 94mph four-seam fastball, a hard 85 mph slider, and a 93mph sinker, while also mixing in an 83mph changeup with natural sinking action. Key Matchups: Peter Bourjos (1-3, 2B), Evan Longoria (2-3, 2B, HR, RBI)

Andriese pitched the final three innings of the Rays’ win over the Royals on Monday to earn a save. He will be making his first start since June 10. Andriese is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in one start (5-2/3 IP) against the White Sox.

Giolito tossed a gem in his second start with the south siders, throwing seven scoreless innings and allowing just three hits in a win over Detroit. Despite recording 12 swinging strikes, he collected just four strikeouts. Beware of the luck dragons! Over his two starts Giolito has performed to a .171 BABIP with a 100% LOB, but a 6.05 FIP. That is, he has been incredibly lucky. The righty has relied primarily upon a 93mph four-seam fastball this season, while also mixing in a 79mph 12-6 curveball, an 82mph cut-action changeup, a whiffy 92mph sinker, and an 85mph slider.

*  … Cough, sweep them.

Noteworthiness

— Alright kiddos, it’s make or break time!

— Something to ponder: Over the second half, the Rays bullpen has performed to a 3.27 ERA/4.10 FIP over 140-1/3 combined innings. The White Sox? 5.28 ERA/5.88 FIP over 150 innings. If Tampa Bay cannot feast on Chicago’s starters, there’s a fairly good chance the team will have a shot of breaking things open against the ‘pen. #SweepThem

— Reinforcements are on the way. Tampa Bay’s initial call-ups, with rosters expanding on Friday, are slated to be LHP Adam Kolarek and RHP Ryne Stanek, and C Curt Casali.

Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) wrote about the call-ups, as well as the prospective additions expected later in the month.

Kolarek made his big-league debut, at age 28, in late June and stuck around for a month, posting a 5.87 ERA in 11 games. He has been impressive at Triple-A Durham, with a 1.65 ERA in 41 games. Adding Kolarek gives the Rays a second lefty in their bullpen and more freedom in how they use top option Dan Jennings.

Stanek, the hard-throwing, long-haired 2013 first-round pick, made his debut this season and in two stints with the Rays posted a 6.39 ERA over 13 games. But he has been dominant at Durham, allowing two earned runs in his past 23 outings and a 1.21 ERA overall with eight saves in 37 games. He gives the Rays a high-velocity option with the ability to work multiple innings if needed.

Casali played parts of 2014-16 with the Rays, hitting a combined .195 with 18 homers and a .658 OPS. He has spent all 2017 with Durham, hitting .263 with five homers, 48 RBIs and a .698 OPS in 85 games. He isn’t likely to get much playing time but gives manager Kevin Cash more freedom to pinch-hit or pinch-run for the other catchers.

Additional callups are expected later in the month, as Durham wraps regular season play Monday then advances to the playoffs. OF Mallex Smith, INFs Trevor Plouffe and Daniel Robertson and additional pitchers, such as LHP Jose Alvaradoand RHPs Diego Castillo, Jaime Schultz and Chase Whitley, seem likely candidates.

— The Rays continued their waiver wire talks into Thursday night, but they did not make any waiver claim trades — either to add to or subtract from the roster — in advance of the midnight deadline for postseason eligibility.

LBWMF: Rays beat Royals, 5-3, and win third consecutive series

Meatloaf at Kauffman Stadium, for the Rays’ first series win in Kansas City since July 2009. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays took two multi-run leads in Kansas City on Wednesday, then held on to beat the Royals, 5-3, for their first series win at Kauffman Stadium since 2009. The Rays ended the night one game under .500 (67-68) and having won both series on their current road trip, thus remaining relevant in the Wildcard chase with 27 left to play. They now are 15-3 in series wins when they’ve won the first game of a series (83.3% winning percentage).

Tampa Bay took a 3-0 lead in the third against Jason Vargas, a pitcher that’s had his way with the Rays in recent years. Adeiny Hechavarria got the rally started with a solo-homer to left-center field with one out.

It was Hechavarria’s fourth homer with the Rays and fifth overall.

Peter Bourjos followed by working a free pass, then went to third on Kevin Kiermaier’s single to center. Following suit, Steven Souza Jr. also singled up the middle — making it a two-run game — with the Outlaw moving up to third. Evan Longoria capped the scoring with his MLB leading 11th sacrifice fly.

Yet Kansas City immediately answered against Jake Odorizzi, who had been spotty all night. Odorizzi started the inning with a walk to the number eight hitter, Cheslor Cuthbert, before Alcides Escobar reached on a beautifully placed bunt single on the left side of the infield. Two pitches later, Odorizzi did what he has done all season — give up a home run, this time to Whit Merrifield, tying the game.

Although he would ultimately leave the game early, Odorizzi tightened up and retired six of the next seven batters.

Tampa Bay moved back in front in the fifth inning on homers by Souza (No. 29) and Logan Morrison (No. 33), putting the Rays ahead 5-3.

Morrison now has four homers in as many games.

Odorizzi was relieved of his start in the sixth inning after he allowed a leadoff single to Melky Cabrera — the absolute right call by Kevin Cash, who managed the game as though it was critical to the Rays short-term future … which it was. Odo was credited with the win, his first since July, after he allowed four hits and three walks over five plus innings. The right-hander fanned three.

From there the A bullpen took control.

Steve Cishek entered the game and retired the next three batters, two by strikeout, to end the frame. Cishek took the mound the following inning and pitched a perfect seventh. The right-hander now has a sub 1.15 ERA since May, a sub 2.00 ERA overall, and hasn’t allowed an earned run since the late July acquisition which sent Erasmo Ramirez to Seattle.

Cishek said the secret to his success is keeping it simple:

Tommy Hunter took over in the eighth and notched a perfect eight pitch frame, all on three ground outs.

Finally, Alex Colome worked around a one-out single in the ninth inning and fanned the side for his 40th save. El Caballo became the sixth player in franchise history to reach that milestone in a single season.

After an off-day Thursday, the Rays will head to the south side of Chicago for a three-game series against the basement dwelling White Sox. The ball club maintains they are just a hot streak away from taking over the reins in the Wildcard race … and in an ideal world, the previous series win against the Royals should be a springboard for that. However, the question begs: Do the Rays become ‘sellers’ at the waiver wire deadline at midnight Thursday?

Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) wrote about that very subject on the Heater blog, saying:

Meanwhile, Rays officials may not wait, deciding — and, crazy as it sounds, maybe even factoring in Wednesday’s result as a tipping point — whether to sell off any of the pending free agents who were either claimed on waivers this week or, less likely, cleared waivers, in advance of tonight’s midnight deadline for postseason eligibility.

… Cobb is in his own category, given his importance to the team, and any deal would not only be accompanied by a white flag of surrender but also prompt a major mutiny in the clubhouse.

Beyond Cobb, first baseman/DH Lucas Duda and reliever Steve Cishek would present the two most interesting decisions for the Rays from a group that also includes relievers Tommy Hunter and Sergio Romo, first baseman Logan Morrison and outfielder Peter Bourjos.

With all this in mind, we could see a team depleted of talent when it starts the series Friday in the Windy City, or one with a bolstered roster because of September call-ups and/or waiver wire acquisitions.

Rays 8/30/17 starting lineup and pregame notes; potential roster changes by Thursday

The Kauffman curse bit the Rays last night. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

After a 6-2 in Kansas City last night, the Tampa Bay Rays look to bounce back in the season series finale with the Royals tonight. A win would result in Tampa Bay’s second consecutive series win on their current nine-game road trip. The Rays start the day 3-1/2 games behind Minnesota for the final Wildcard spot with 28 games left to play.

The Rays are 14-3 in series wins when they take the first game of a series (82.4% win percentage), which they did Monday night. That, however, doesn’t mean they are in for a cakewalk tonight — Tampa Bay has dropped nine of ten, and 16 of their last 18, games at Kauffman Stadium, and they’ll be facing a pitcher who they haven’t had a great amount of success against.

The New What Next

Jake Odorizzi (6-7, 4.82 ERA, 5.95 FIP) will get the start for Tampa Bay, pitching opposite of Jason Vargas (14-8, 3.72 ERA, 4.29 FIP).

Odorizzi allowed three runs through 3-2/3 innings his last time out, but has been unable to complete four frames in consecutive starts; he has pitched into the fifth in one of his past five starts. Odo is now 0-3 over that stretch with a 6.75 ERA and a 1/1 K/BB. Suffice it to say, until he can find a way to fix his massive control problems, Jake will remain in this funk. In six games against Kansas City, he is 1-4 with a 4.65 ERA.

As Neil Solondz (Rays Radio) noted, the Rays have not used Sergio Romo, Steve Cishek, Tommy Hunter and Alex Colome the last two games, and tomorrow is an off-day before rosters expand on Friday September first. That is, expect Kevin Cash to have a very short leash on Odorizzi tonight.

Vargas struggled through five innings against Cleveland last Friday, allowing four runs on six hits in a 4-0 loss. In August Vargas has allowed four earned runs or more in three of his five starts (and six times overall). Each one of those ill fated starts resulted in a tally in the loss column for Kansas City. Be that as it may, the right-hander shutdown the Rays back in May, tossing six innings of scoreless baseball, and allowing just three hits and a walk. Overall he is 5-5 against the Rays with a 2.80 ERA in 11 starts. Key Matchups: Corey Dickerson (1-3), Danny Espinosa (1-3), Evan Longoria (7-26, 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB), Brad Miller (4-8)

You can read about the series in our preview.

Rays 8/30/17 Starting Lineup

Kiermaier CF
Souza DH
Longoria 3B
Morrison 1B
Ramos C
Puello LF
Miller 2B
Hechavarria SS
Bourjos RF
Odorizzi RHP

Noteworthiness

— A different look for the Rays tonight vs southpaw Jason Vargas, with Puello in left field, Bourjos in right, and Steven Souza Jr. as the DH.

— The Arizona Fall League rosters have been announced and pitchers Spencer Jones, Dalton Moats, Benton Moss and Burch Smith, along with position players Brandon Lowe, Kevin Padlo and Brett Sullivan, will represent the Rays this year.

— According to Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times), the Rays are sorting through waiver claims of their players, as well as options on guys who cleared, and claims they have made:

The Rays are sorting through claims made on the players they put on waivers, discussing those who cleared and eyeing potential acquisitions, or preventing those by competitors, with claims of their own in advance of the Thursday deadline to make trades with postseason eligibility. One interesting decision could be a claim on or offer for 1B/DH Lucas Duda, who has hit a team-high eight homers since being added July 28 from the Mets. But he hasn’t done much else, going into play Tuesday hitting .205 as a Ray, with his only four hits over the past 10 games being home runs. “I know our guys really liked him,” manager Kevin Cash said. “Very similar to a lot of the hitters that we have here, especially Logan (Morrison), how they go about it.”

— With September call-ups just around the corner, the Rays are expected to initially promote Curt Casali, Mallex Smith and a couple of relievers, perhaps lefties Jose Alvarado or Adam Kolarek.