The Tampa Bay Rays acquired infielder, and facial hair connoisseur, Danny Espinosa Friday afternoon. (Photo Credit: MLB.com)
According to Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) the Tampa Bay Rays have signed veteran infielder, Danny Espinosa. They have optioned Daniel Robertson to Triple-A Durham to clear a spot on the active roster.
The #Rays have signed switch-hitting INF Danny Espinosa and optioned INF Daniel Robertson to Triple-A Durham. pic.twitter.com/Fqz8E8hxv6
Espinosa, 30, began the year with the Los Angeles Angels, yet was cut loose and sIG ex with the Mariners before being released there too. While the type of transaction is unknown, it’s likely a minor league deal.
Espinosa spent the first seven years of his career with the Washington Nationals, where he compiled a 6.8 fWAR over his first two seasons. Yet hampered by injuries, his performance came back down to Earth with the infielder accruing just an 0.1 fWAR between 2013 and 2014. He has bounced back defensively since though, posting terrific career marks in DRS and UZR in the middle infield.
Espinosa also has experience at the hot corner, giving him tons of versatility on the infield which likely appealed to the Rays which value defensive prowess. Offensively, however, it has been a different story.
In 2017 Espinosa has struggled to a career-worst .164 BA/.237 OBP/.279 SLG/.516 OPS slash line through 271 plate appearances (85 games) in the AL West — his first taste of American League play. He also saw his strikeout rate soar to 36.2%, while his line-drive rate plummeted to a career-worst 12.9% to go along with a career low 39 wRC+. As Steve Adams (MLB Trade Rumors) also noted, Espinosa’s hard-hit rate (32.2 percent) is still a bit higher than his career mark (31.1 percent), but the majority of those balls in play have apparently been of the fly-ball or ground-ball variety, as Espinosa checks in north of 41 percent in each regard (41.8% grounders, 45.7 percent flies).
If there are any questions as to when Kevin Cash will throw Espinosa into action, look no further than Friday night’s starting lineup against the St. Louis Cardinals.
In their last series vs Toronto, the Tampa Bay Rays scored 14 runs or more in a series for the first time since the start of August (7/31-8/3 at Houston). (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)
The Tampa Bay Rays departed from the Sunshine City on Thursday afternoon, en route to the Gateway City, where they are set to begin a three-game Interleague Series against another playoff hopeful, the St. Louis Cardinals. Tampa Bay won the rubber match of their three-game series against the Blue Jays, 2-0, while St. Louis dropped the rubber game of their three-game set against the Padres, 4-3.
(Stats: ESPN)
The Rays managed to pick up a series win against the Blue Jays allowing them to enter this set with a little momentum. After dropping eight of nine, and scoring just 20 runs over that stretch, Tampa Bay has won three of four and plated 17 runs along the way. The offense is again showing signs of life which is important for a team with postseason aspirations, and heading into the final stretch of the season. They went into Thursday night’s action three games behind the Twins for the second Wildcard spot in the AL.
The Cardinals followed a stretch of eight consecutive wins by dropping seven of their last 10. Following their loss to the Padres, St. Louis enters Friday’s action five games behind the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central, and an equal margin behind the Colorado Rockies for the second NL Wildcard.
Suffice it to say, this series is critical to both clubs, although the Rays cannot even entertain any playoff ideas until they get back to .500, so…
Tampa Bay took three of the four meetings when the teams last met in 2014, including both games in St. Louis July 22-23, 2014.
(Stats: FanGraphs)
Over the next three days Kevin Cash will lean on Jake Odorizzi (6-7, 4.74 ERA, 5.89 FIP), Blake Snell (2-6, 4.42 ERA, 4.59 FIP), and Chris Archer (9-7, 3.76 ERA, 3.17 FIP). Mike Matheny will counter with Michael Wacha (9-6, 4.08 ERA, 3.71 FIP), a player to be named before Saturday’s contest, and Lance Lynn (10-6, 3.17 ERA, 4.72 FIP).
(Credit: FanGraphs)
Pitching Matchups
Odorizzi was pretty bad against the Mariners on Saturday, allowing seven runs over just 3-2/3 innings. He has lost all three of his outings since returning from the 10-day DL, although he only relinquished three total runs in his previous two starts. Still, he is 3-5 with a 6.03 ERA in his last 12 starts, and has seen his overall ERA blossom from 4.47 to 4.74.
Wacha has struggled to pitch deeply into games this month, with just one of his four August outings pushing into the sixth inning. In his last start, Wacha dished up a pair of two-run homers in a five-run second inning, sinking any hopes of a Cardinals’ road victory. The right-hander has been knocked around to the tune of nine combined runs on 15 hits over his last two starts, both losses. Wacha is 0-1 with a 7.20 ERA in one start against the Rays (five innings of work). This season he has relied primarily upon a 95mph four-seam fastball, with less natural movement than typical and has some added backspin, while also mixing in a firm 88mph circle changeup, a 91mph real worm killer cutter, and a 77mph 12-6 curveball with sharp downward bite. Key Matchups: Lucas Duda (1-3, Adeiny Hechavarria (1-3, BB), Brad Miller (1-2), Wilson Ramos (1-4, 2 RBI)
Snell is coming off his best start of the season after picking up the win on Sunday. The southpaw allowed a single in the second and a single in the seventh en route to seven shutout innings and his second win of the season. Snell’s 4.42 ERA and 1.44 WHIP still leave a lot to be desired, however, he appears to be figuring things out, and could take his quality stuff to another level to close out the season.
TBA
Archer dominated Toronto on Tuesday, limiting the Jays to one earned run on four hits and a walk, while fanning 10 in six innings of work. Archer has struck out 61 and walked just eight in his last seven starts, and has whiffed 10 in two consecutive starts (both against Toronto) — accumulating double-digit strikeouts nine times this season.
Lynn saw his string of eight consecutive quality starts come to an end in his last turn, although he has been the Cardinals’ most consistent starter this season. Since the beginning of July, Lynn he has averaged six innings a start and posted a 2.08 ERA. The 30 year-old right-hander is 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA in two-games (one start) against the Rays. This season Lynn has relied primarily upon a four-pitch mix: a whiffy 93mph four-seam fastball and a 92 mph sinker, while also mixing in an 88 mph fly ball inducing cutter, and a 79mph curveball with little depth and 12-6 movement. Key Matchups: Corey Dickerson (2-5, BB), Adeiny Hechavarria (4-8, 2 RBI), Evan Longoria (1-4, 2B, RBI)
Noteworthiness
— The Rays are looking forward to Major League Baseball’s inaugural Players Weekend, when they (along with all of the other ball clubs) get to wear uniforms — including the player’s nicknames on the back of the jerseys, and a blank patch sewn on the sleeve that allows the player to write the name(s) of person, teammate, coach, family member or organization that was important his development — that have been designed for the event.
There’s people who contribute to our lives, us getting here. I think it’s cool. It lets the fans see another side of the players. Also a little freedom picking what we want on the back of our jerseys, Corey Dickerson said.
Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) provided a list of the players nicknames, and you can see the special jerseys below.
Jose Alvarado – LA FLECHA
Matt Andriese – DREEZY
Chris Archer – FLACO FUERTE
Peter Bourjos – NEEDLER
Xavier Cedeno – X
Steve Cishek – SPEEDPASS
Alex Colome – THE HORSE
Brad Boxberger – BOX
Lucas Duda – DUDE
Matt DUffy – DUFFMAN
Nathan Eovaldi – EVO
Adeiny Hechavarria – LA PANTERA
Chih-Wei Hu – WHO?
Tommy Hunter – TOMMY TWO TOWEL
Dan Jennings – DJ
Kevin Kiermaier – OUTLAW
Adam Kolarek – AK
Evan Longoria – LONGO
Brad Miller – RAT
Logan Morrison – LOMO
Jake Odorizzi – ODO
Trevor Plouffe – SPECIAL T
Wilson Ramos – BUFFALO
Daniel Robertson – D-ROB
Serio Romo – EL MECHON
Blake Snell – ZILLA
Steven Souza Jr. – SOUZBOT
Jesus Sucre – SOOKY
Kevin Kiermaier received a dugout hug from Steven Souza Jr. after hitting a fifth inning homer off Marcus Stroman. (Photo Credit: Will Vragovic/Tampa Bay Times)
The Tampa Bay Rays came back from a 5–0 deficit Wednesday night, scoring in five consecutive innings to tie the game at six runs apiece, yet Toronto hit six two-strike homers to beat Tampa Bay 7–6. The nine combined homers tied a Tropicana Field record. The Rays will look to exact some revenge on Toronto and win the series this afternoon in a matinee game at the Trop. Tampa Bay is 12-3 in series wins when the team takes the first game of a set, as it did on Tuesday evening.
The Rays start the day four games back of the last playoff spot with 34 games left to play. After a prolonged offensive blackout, they now have scored six runs in three of the last four games.
A flurry of roster moves were made leading up to today’s contest. After covering five plus innings last night, following a short start by Austin Pruitt, the Rays shuffled their bullpen and optioned right-handed pitchers Chase Whitley and Andrew Kittredge to Triple-A Durham. The team recalled right-hander Chih-Wei Hu and activated Alex Cobb from the 10-day DL (turf toe).
The moves both cleared room on the 25-man roster for Cobb, and added depth to the bullpen.
The New What Next
Alex Cobb (9-8, 3.80 ERA, 4.30 FIP) will return to the mound this afternoon, toeing the rubber opposite of JA Happ (6-9, 3.90 ERA, 4.04 FIP).
Cobb will again take the mound after a stint on the 10-day DL with turf toe. The right-hander is 2-2 with a 3.98 ERA in five starts since the All-Star break, and is 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA in one start against Toronto this season (3-3 with a 3.56 ERA in seven career starts against the Blue Jays).
Happ allowed five earned runs in his last start against the Cubs — his worst outing in about a month. Prior to that, the left-hander had allowed just one earned run in three consecutive outings. He didn’t allow much hard contact; rather, he was done in by the BABIP luck dragons, with seven of nine hits against him falling for singles. The left-hander had posted a 3.79 ERA and 1.94 K/BB in his first six starts since the All-Star break. This will be his first start against Tampa Bay this season and he is 3-3 with a 5.08 ERA in 14 career games (13 starts) against the Rays. Key Matchups: Corey Dickerson (1-2, RBI), Kevin Kiermaier (4-16, 3 RBI, 2 BB), Evan Longoria (11-31, 3 2B, HR, 3 RBI, 3 BB), Brad Miller (2-8), Logan Morrison (7-14, 3 2B, 4 RBI, BB), Wilson Ramos (1-3), Steven Souza Jr. (6-14, 2 2B, HR, 2 RBI, BB)
Chris Archer reacts after striking out Josh Donaldson to end the top of the third on Tuesday. (Photo Credit: Will Vragovic/Tampa Bay Times)
Chris Archer collected double digit strikeouts for the second consecutive start against Toronto, while the Rays offense put up a crooked number on the back of two homers and two triples, en route to a 6-5 win over the Blue Jays.
Two in a row. We haven’t said that in a while.
— Rays manager Kevin Cash
Cash has a point. The Rays haven’t strung together a pair of wins since the start of the month when they took three of four from the Houston Astros. That alone made the victory a big deal. Yet that doesn’t diminish the fact that this win was big for another reason.
Going into this bellwether series with Toronto, the Rays knew that they had to hit the ground running against a hurler they struggled against last week. The Rays not only triumphed against right-hander Chris Rowley, but they knocked the hurler out of the game just one out into the fourth — the first time they’ve chased a pitcher that early in a contest since July 30th (vs. Jordan Montgomery). More importantly though, Tampa Bay has won 12 of 15 series’ this season when they have taken the first game of the set. If the numbers speak to anything, Tuesday night’s victory gives Tampa Bay a 75% chance of a series win.
Norichika Aoki led off the game with a solo home run on the second pitch of the ball game, a 1-0 fastball. Archer limited the damage and turned things over to the offense in the bottom half of the frame.
When the Rays were chugging along earlier in the season, they were able to answer opponent’s runs with runs of their own in their half of the inning. They did just that against Rowley, who took the mound against Tampa Bay for the second time in as many starts. Lucas Duda belted a one-out moon-shot to right, his sixth with the Rays (his 23rd overall).
Then Tampa Bay opened the floodgates in the second inning, in a 32-pitch frame against Rowley. Corey Dickerson started the rally by launching his 23rd homer of the season to pull ahead of Toronto.
Wilson Ramos singled on the very next pitch while Brad Miller worked a free pass, putting two runners on with one out. After Adeiny Hechavarria popped out to Josh Donaldson at short — yes, you read that correctly — Kevin Kiermaier tripled to right-center, giving the Rays a 4–1 lead.
Nevertheless Toronto got close in the fifth, taking advantage of a one-out strikeout/passed ball to score twice. With Miguel Montero on first, Ezequiel Carrera lashed a liner to right. Souza attempted to dive, but missed the ball which allowed it to drop into play and bound to the wall — allowing Montero to reach third and Carrera to reach second.
Also, hadn’t Souza dived and allowed ball to roll to the wall, Carrera might have been held to a single. 2 sloppy plays resulted in 2 runs.
A base hit by Ryan Goins made it 4-2, while an Aoki sacrifice-fly allowed the Jays to pull within a run. Archer came up big after he buckled down to strikeout Josh Donaldson for the third time, keeping the Rays on top.
Tampa Bay was able to add critical runs in the fifth and sixth innings against Toronto’s bullpen. Evan Longoria led off the frame with a double to deep left-center. Carrera misplayed the ball, however, allowing Longo to move into third. After southpaw reliever Matt Dermody got an over amped Logan Morrison to pop out to short, he intentionally walked Souza to bring the left-handed hitting Dickerson to the plate. The strategy worked, as Dermody got Dickerson to fly out to left-field … although Souza made a heads up base running decision as Steve Pearce’s throw came into the plate. The right-fielder tagged up at first and made it into second safely.
With two down and the mighty Buffalo at the plate, right-hander Dominic Leone gave up an infield single which drove in Longoria from third.
To put things into perspective:
There a total solar eclipse yesterday.
Ramos reached on an infield single for the first time this season, subsequently scoring a run in the process.
Ramos now has five consecutive multi-hit games.
If the irony of one infield single isn’t enough, the Buffalo hit another two innings later.
Then in the sixth inning, Longoria tripled home Adeiny Hechavarria with two outs for a three-run lead.
That put Archer, who struck out 10 on 104 pitches (68 strikes, 17 whiffs) over six innings, on the winning side of the ledger. He walked just one and gave up three runs — although just one earned — on four hits.
Dan Jennings followed Archer’s six-inning start with a perfect 12-pitch seventh.
The Rays took their three-run lead into the eighth, when things started to get interesting once again. Toronto drew closer when Josh Donaldson hit a solo homer to left-field off Tommy Hunter to bring the Jays within two. Then with Alex Colome on the mound in the ninth, Kendrys Morales hit a single, Pearce hit a double, and Montero hit a sacrifice-fly to center to make it a one run affair … and all on five pitches. Nevertheless, with the infield drawn in Darwin Barney grounded to second while pinch-runner Rob Refsnyder held at third. Finally, Ryan Goins lined to right, ending the game for Alex Colome’s AL leading 37th save, and the Rays’ 62nd win.
The New What Next
The Rays will try to make it three in a row with Austin Pruitt (6-4, 5.37 ERA, 3.80 FIP) on the mound. He’ll be opposed by Marcus Stroman (11-6, 2.99 ERA, 3.69 FIP).
Pruitt was tagged for a career-high six runs by the Mariners in his last start; his 23rd career appearance (sixth start). He has allowed three combined runs in four of those starts, but five or more in his other two. Pruitt has allowed three runs on six hits (including a homer) over 6-1/3 total innings of work this season against Toronto.
Stroman has limited opponents to three earned runs or fewer in 20 of his 25 starts this season, and has allowed just one home run over his last 10 starts — performing to a 2.02 ERA over that stretch. The right-hander has lasted more than six innings in eight of his last nine starts, performing to a 2.17 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 1.83 K/BB over 54 innings. In his last start against the Rays on August 16, Stroman gave up two runs on six hits and three walks, while striking out seven. Key Matchups: Peter Bourjos (2-6, 3B), Corey Dickerson (8-24, 3 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, BB), Lucas Duda (1-3, 2B), Evan Longoria (9-30, 2 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB), Steven Souza Jr. (5-15, 2B, 2 BB)
Kiermaier CF
Duda DH
Longoria 3B
Morrison 1B
Souza Jr RF
Dickerson LF
Ramos C
Miller 2B
Hechavarria SS
Pruitt RHP
Noteworthiness
— After hitting just .178 in 31 games with the Rays, INF Trevor Plouffewas designated for assignment after the game Tuesday night, thus freeing up space on the active roster for Alex Cobb, who will come off the DL on Thursday. RHP Andrew Kittredgewas temporarily recalled up to join the Rays Wednesday night.
OF Cesar Puello was added to the 40-man and active rosters on August 20, which will lend the team an additional right-handed hitter in lieu of Plouffe’s, well … less than productive bat.
Puello told Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) he has quickly gotten adjusted to his new teammates and is eager to show what he can do, with a start likely Thursday against southpaw JA Happ:
I’m here to keep working hard, do my best and control what I can control, he said. I’m waiting for them to give me an opportunity but I have to be patient at the same time.
Adeiny Hechavarria gave the Rays some much needed cushion on Sunday, hitting a two-run homer in the seventh inning. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)
Tampa Bay salvaged the final game of a three-game series with Seattle, blanking the Mariners 3-0 on Sunday behind an excellent start by Blake Snell. The Tampa Bay Rays will welcome the Toronto Blue Jays into the Trop for a three-game series, starting Tuesday. This will be the last series between the the pair this season.
(Stats: ESPN)
In all fairness, the Rays should have won the previous series, if not for a controversial managing decision by Kevin Cash, who left Jake Odorizzi in the Saturday’s ball game six-batters, three-runs and two-outs too long. Aside from Friday night’s loss, and excepting Odorizzi’s performance on Saturday, Tampa Bay played much better during the last series than they had the past two … even if the stats don’t bare that out. Perhaps Kevin Kiermaier really is adding that much needed spark going into the upcoming set with Toronto — which could be viewed as a bellwether for the Rays, who need to start racking up wins with the quickness, less they be left out in the cold in October for the fourth consecutive season.
After taking three out of four from the Rays last week, Toronto dropped three straight to the reigning World Series champions. Credit where it’s due, the Jays were able to take the aforementioned series with Tampa Bay. That, however, had more to do with the Rays inability to capitalize on 37 opportunities with runners in scoring position (5-for-37 wRISP, .145 AVG) than it had with some superior performance by Joey Bats and company.
(Stats: FanGraphs)
Kevin Cash will throw Chris Archer (8-7, 3.84 ERA, 3.20 FIP), Austin Pruitt (6-4, 5.37 ERA, 3.80 FIP), and Alex Cobb (9-8, 3.80 ERA, 4.30 FIP) over the next three days. John Farrell will counter with Chris Rowley (1-0, 2.61 ERA, 3.72 FIP), Marcus Stroman (11-6, 2.99 ERA, 3.69 FIP), and JA Happ (6-9, 3.90 ERA, 4.04 FIP).
(Stats: FanGraphs)
Pitching Matchups
Archer allowed three runs on five hits while fanning 10 in a loss to Toronto on Thursday. The right-hander hit 1,000 Ks for his career and 200 on the season. Archer continues to work deep into games, and has thrown over 100 pitches in 25 of his 26 starts this season. And while he has allowed just 20 earned runs over his past eight starts (an average of 2.5 runs per game), the Rays’ ace has collected only one win…but that’s more of an indictment of the team than it is Archer, who’s performing to an 11.2 K9/3.84 ERA/1.22 WHIP for the season, and regularly keeps his team in the game.
Rowley will make the third start of his big league career Tuesday night. He has allowed just three earned runs over 10-1/3 innings of work thus far — including a five inning, two-run outing against Tampa Bay in his last turn. He walked five in that start. The Rays went 3-for-14 wRISP against Toronto in that game, which says more about their inability to cash in on scoring opportunities, than it does for Crowley or Toronto’s ‘pen. Key Matchups: Adeiny Hechavarria (1-1, 2B, BB), Evan Longoria (1-2, BB), Wilson Ramos (1-2, BB)
Pruitt was tagged for a career-high six runs by the Mariners in his last start; his 23rd career appearance (sixth start). He has allowed three combined runs in four of those starts, but five or more in his other two. Pruitt has allowed three runs on six hits (including a homer) over 6-1/3 total innings of work this season against Toronto.
Stroman has limited opponents to three earned runs or fewer in 20 of his 25 starts this season, and has allowed just one home run over his last 10 starts — performing to a 2.02 ERA over that stretch. The right-hander has lasted more than six innings in eight of his last nine starts, performing to a 2.17 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 1.83 K/BB over 54 innings. In his last start against the Rays on August 16, Stroman gave up two runs on six hits and three walks, while striking out seven. Key Matchups: Peter Bourjos (2-6, 3B), Corey Dickerson (8-24, 3 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, BB), Lucas Duda (1-3, 2B), Evan Longoria (9-30, 2 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB), Steven Souza Jr. (5-15, 2B, 2 BB)
Cobb will again take the mound after a stint on the 10-day DL with turf toe. The right-hander is 2-2 with a 3.98 ERA in five starts since the All-Star break, and is 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA in one start against Toronto this season (3-3 with a 3.56 ERA in seven career starts against the Blue Jays).
Happ allowed five earned runs in his last start against the Cubs — his worst outing in about a month. Prior to that, the left-hander had allowed just one earned run in three consecutive outings. He didn’t allow much hard contact; rather, he was done in by the BABIP luck dragons, with seven of nine hits against him falling for singles. The left-hander had posted a 3.79 ERA and 1.94 K/BB in his first six starts since the All-Star break. This will be his first start against Tampa Bay this season and he is 3-3 with a 5.08 ERA in 14 career games (13 starts) against the Rays. Key Matchups: Corey Dickerson (1-2, RBI), Kevin Kiermaier (4-16, 3 RBI, 2 BB), Evan Longoria (11-31, 3 2B, HR, 3 RBI, 3 BB), Brad Miller (2-8), Logan Morrison (7-14, 3 2B, 4 RBI, BB), Wilson Ramos (1-3), Steven Souza Jr. (6-14, 2 2B, HR, 2 RBI, BB)
Noteworthiness
— Ex-Ray OF BJ “Melvin” Upton has opted out of his minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants. He hopes to join a postseason contender. Upton has experience, speed, and a quality glove. He, however, cannot hit out of a wet bag. If the Rays are still seeking a right-handed bat, as Jon Heyman asserted, they would do well by staying away from BJ.
