LBWMF: Tampa Bay Rays fall to last place Cincinnati Reds, 7-3

A rare positive from last night’s ball game — Mallex Smith has hit safely in all 11 games he’s appeared since Kiermaier’s injury (the longest streak for a Ray this season). (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays wasted early opportunities last night, while Jake Odorizzi put them in a three-run hole, en route to a 7-3 loss to the last place Cincinnati Reds. In lieu of a formal game recap, below are a few of the moments that mattered Monday night.


Source: FanGraphs

— Jake Odorizzi extended his streak of consecutive starts with a home run allowed to 10; he now has yielded homers in 18 of his last 19 starts (excluding April 15, when he exited the game with a left hamstring strain). 73% of the runs he has given up this season have come via the long ball (27-of-37).

Still, Odorizzi sailed through the first four innings and allowed only soft contact against a Reds team that swung the bat as though they were playing in the getaway game of the series. To his credit, Odorizzi was serviceable throughout his start, and kept his team in the game.

Good to see (Odorizzi) bounce back, said Rays manager Kevin Cash. He did a nice job. I know he gave up the two homers, but that’s all he gave up. I thought his approach was really good today; attacking the strike zone. Kind of lost it there for one inning a little bit, but overcame it. I thought he was really good, efficient, up in the zone quite a bit. And got a lot of fly outs. Kind of his strength to pitching.

— Sure, Derek Norris has allowed 20 more steals than second-worst catcher, Russell Martin. Last night, however, he caught Scooter Gennett stealing in the top of the first inning. Is it enough to save his job when Wilson Ramos makes his debut with the Rays later this week? Likely not.

Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) said it best on Sunday:

Norris is hitting .191 (though with eight homers) and in a 7-for-59 skid while having a league-most six errors and six passed balls and being responsible for some of the team’s 32 wild pitches. Plus, there is the possibility he will be suspended by MLB as it continues to investigate allegations by his former fiancee of physical and emotional abuse.

Sucre doesn’t have the power but hits well with runners in scoring position, has the arm to be aggressive in shutting down a running game, and works well with the pitchers. Being out of options, he can’t be sent to the minors without going through waivers and would likely to be claimed.

— Down by three, the Rays used the long-ball to pull even with the Reds late in the game.

Steven Souza Jr. plated the first run for the Rays in the sixth inning with his 14th home run of the season. The homer hit the C-ring catwalk, and had an exit velocity of 104.4 mph with a 36-degree launch angle, per Statcast. It would have traveled an estimated 397 feet.

Souza Jr. homers off the catwalk

Steven Souza Jr. hits a home run off the catwalk at Tropicana Field to get the Rays on the board in the bottom of the 6th inning

Daniel Robertson knotted things up with a two-run blast off Michael Lorenzen in the seventh inning. Robertson’s homer had a 103.4 mph exit velocity, with a 28-degree launch angle per StatCast.

Robertson’s two-run homer

Daniel Robertson evens the score at 3 in the bottom of the 7th inning with a two-run home run to center field

Robertson has driven in eight runs in the last five games, doubling his RBI total.

Last week or so, I made a couple of adjustments, so I’m feeling good, said Robertson. The offense was a little slow to start tonight, so the homer was big to pick us up. Honestly, (I was]) just trying to see the ball in that situation. I just told myself to hand it to the next guy and kind of keep the rally going. I was able to get a pitch with two strikes to my liking and put a good swing on it.

— Tie game be damned, the ‘pen (more specifically Jose Alvarado and Danny Farquhar) paired up to give the game away in the final two frames. Alvarado took over in the eighth inning and gave up a double, a single, and ultimately the lead. In the span of four pitches, Robertson’s two-run homer was erased.

After Alvarado walked Adam Duvall, Cash called upon de fact0 LOOGY Farquhar to tip-toe around the mess. Tip-toe he did not. Farquhar uncorked the first of two wild pitches, before notching a strikeout. Yet after an intentional walk loaded the bases, Jesse Winker hit a single that went just beyond the dive of second baseman Taylor Featherston.

The Reds added a two-out run in the ninth on Farquhar’s second wild pitch of the night.

— In the bottom of the fourth inning, Tim Beckham was hit on the hand by a fastball that came up and in on him. Beckham stayed in to run the bases, but was removed the next half inning. The X-Rays on his hand, thankfully, came back negative, although it’s uncertain whether we’ll see the shortstop over the rest of the series.

Rays Radio posted a postgame interview with Beckham, about the HBP, embedded below:

The New What Next

The second game of the series is finds Alex Cobb (5-5, 4.17 ERA, 4.29 FIP) starting opposite of southpaw Amir Garrett (3-5, 6.91 ERA, 6.97 FIP).

Cobb earned a no-decision in his start Thursday against Detroit, but hurled an effective 6-2/3 innings and allowed two earned runs. The right-hander fanned just three batters, and walked a pair while giving up eight hits in that start, although he was able to lean on his split-change — throwing it 17 times (12 for strikes, two whiffs), which is a lot compared to the number he threw earlier in the season. The Tigers only put two of them in play, and the pitch did appear to regain some of its pre-surgery depth. In his only career start against the Reds, he threw seven scoreless frames.

Garrett notched his first quality start in over a month on Wednesday, throwing six innings of two-run ball against San Diego. To his credit, he kept the ball down in the zone, something he struggled to do over his last several starts. Beware of the long-ball! In that contest, Hunter Renfroe hit a monstrous two-run homer in the sixth inning. With a 2.57 HR/9 over the last 14 days, the Rays will try to punish Garrett for any mistakes left up in the zone. This season Garrett has relied primarily on a 92 mph four-seam fastball with natural sinking action, and an 80 mph 12-6 slider. He’s also mixed in an 81 mph changeup with slight cut and a lot of backspin. He has never faced the Rays.

You can read more about the series in our preview.

Rays 6/20/17 Starting Lineup

Souza Jr. RF
Dickerson LF
Longoria 3B
Morrison DH
Plouffe 1B
Robertson SS
Bourjos CF
Featherston 2B
Sucre C
Cobb RHP

Noteworthiness

— ‪Tonight’s lineup has Plouffe at 1B, Robertson at SS, Featherston at 2B, Morrison at DH, and Bourjos at CF‬.

Rays 6/19/17 starting lineup and pregame notes

The Reds honored Pete Rose with a bronze statue outside Great American Ballpark. (Photo Credit: Cincinnati Reds)
The Tampa Bay Rays will start a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds tonight. Trevor Plouffe, who the Rays activated this morning, will make his debut with the team. More on that below.

Rays 6/19/17 Starting Lineup

Smith CF
Dickerson LF
Longoria 3B
Morrison 1B
Souza Jr. RF
Beckham SS
Plouffe DH
Robertson 2B
Norris C
RHP Odorizzi

Noteworthiness

— Trevor “the new guy” Plouffe is in the lineup tonight, hitting seventh as the designated hitter. The Rays wanted to get Colby Rasmus, who DH’d Yesterday, some time off his feet. Plouffe is expected to start Tuesday as well.

— Rays manager Kevin Cash said Jesus Sucre will get more playing time this week, although he going with the defensively challenged Derek Norris behind the plate tonight. It could get interesting with the speedy Billy Hamilton on base paths for the Reds.

— You can read about tonight’s pitching matchup, and so much more, in our series preview. 

The New What Next: Rays vs Reds — a series preview, Trevor Plouffe added to the roster

The Rays return home Monday after splitting a pair of road series’ against the Blue Jays and Tigers. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays look to continue their home run mashing ways when they welcome the Cincinnati Reds into the Trop for a three-game interleague series, starting Monday.

(Stats: ESPN)

Tampa Bay continues to stay above the .500 mark after going 3-3 on a six-game road trip against the Blue Jays and Tigers. The Rays, who have now won two in a row, flexed their muscles against Detroit with five home runs (including a Steven Souza Jr. grand Slam) in the 9-1 win Sunday.

Here’s three of the five:

Tampa Bay and Cincinnati have only met 12 times total, with the Reds holding a 9-3 record in those games. The Rays, however, took two of three in 2014, the last time they faced Cincinnati. The Reds will need their history of success to be kind based on recent results. They are currently mired in a nine-game losing streak, sitting dead last in the NL Central after an 8-7 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday.

All told, the Rays are 6-4 over their last 10, and looking to separate themselves from the rest of the AL East, while the Reds are 1-9 over the same stretch and, well…looking for a win.

(Stats: FanGraphs)

Over the next three days, Kevin Cash will lean on Jake Odorizzi (4-3, 3.77 ERA, 5.15 FIP), Alex Cobb (5-5, 4.17 ERA, 4.29 FIP), and Erasmo Ramirez (2-2, 6.48 ERA, 4.63 FIP). Bryan Price will counter with Scott Feldman (5-5, 4.29 ERA, 4.28 FIP), Amir Garrett (3-5, 6.91 ERA, 6.97 FIP), and Tim Adleman (4-3, 4.35 ERA, 5.23 FIP).

(Stats: FanGraphs)

Key Matchups

Odorizzi did not make it out of the fifth inning in his last start when he allowed three runs over 4-1/3 innings of a no decision against Toronto. Odorizzi struggled with his control throughout, throwing 99 pitches (55 strikes) in his outing. Be that as it may, Odorizzi otherwise has been solid at home, posting a 3-2 record with a 3.11 ERA at the Trop this season, while collecting five quality starts in a row at home.

Feldman last pitched in a 6-2 loss in San Diego on Tuesday, allowing four runs and eight hits in five innings. That start was one of six in which he was tagged for four runs or more. Having spent 12 of his 13 seasons in the American League, Feldman has plenty of experience against the Rays, going 4-3 with a 3.09 ERA in 17 appearances (seven starts). This season he has relied primarily on a ground ball inducing 89 mph cutter, a 90 mph sinker, and a 76 mph curveball with slight glove-side movement. Key Matchups: Tim Beckham (1-3),  Evan Longoria (5-17, 2B, HR, 6 RBI, BB), Derek Norris (6-14, HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB), Colby Rasmus (2-8), Steven Souza Jr. (1-3)

Cobb earned a no-decision in his start Thursday against Detroit, but hurled an effective 6-2/3 innings and allowed two earned runs. The right-hander fanned just three batters, and walked a pair while giving up eight hits in that start, although he was able to lean on his split-change — throwing it 17 times (12 for strikes, two whiffs), which is a lot compared to the number he threw earlier in the season. The Tigers only put two of them in play, and the pitch did appear to regain some of its pre-surgery depth. In his only career start against the Reds, he threw seven scoreless frames.

Garrett notched his first quality start in over a month on Wednesday, throwing six innings of two-run ball against San Diego. To his credit, he kept the ball down in the zone, something he struggled to do over his last several starts. Beware of the long-ball! In that contest, Hunter Renfroe hit a monstrous two-run homer in the sixth inning. With a 2.57 HR/9 over the last 14 days, the Rays will try to punish Garrett for any mistakes left up in the zone. This season Garrett has relied primarily on a 92 mph four-seam fastball with natural sinking action, and an 80 mph 12-6 slider. He’s also mixed in an 81 mph changeup with slight cut and a lot of backspin. He has never faced the Rays.

Ramirez has struggled over his past four starts, posting two losses and an unsightly 10.05 ERA. On Friday, the Tigers pounded him to the tune of 10 runs (eight earned) in 4-2/3 innings. As I wrote on Saturday, it may be time to move Erasmo back to the ‘pen where he’s been more successful; this outing likely will be a bellwether for the right-hander.

Adleman has been the Reds’ most consistent starter, as he’s gone at least five innings and given up three runs or fewer in each of his last five starts. However, the Reds haven’t capitalized, going 2-3 in those games. Because he’s a fly ball pitcher, Adleman doesn’t generate nearly enough ground balls, leading to one of the worst HR/9 ratios in the league. It will be interesting to see if the 29 year-old right-hander leans on his plus curveball Wednesday afternoon in an attempt to keep the ball in the park. The breaking pitch ranks fifth in whiffs per swing, and it has been above average at inducing grounders and making it a tough pitch to do anything with. He’s also cultivated a .000 ISO and a .133 BAA with the curveball, although he’s thrown it just 10% of the time this season — down from 18% a season ago. He has never faced the Rays.

Noteworthiness

— Trevor Plouffe, acquired from Oakland, has officially joined the active roster. To make room for Plouffe, the Rays have designated Michael Martinez (no options remaining) for assignment.

LBWMF: Rays come from behind to beat Le Tigre, 3-2

The Rays took the third game of the series from the Tigers on Saturday, 3-2…thanks to a ninth inning defensive shift? (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays got off the schneid on Saturday, snapping a three-game losing skid by scoring a pair of runs in the seventh inning, and holding on for a 3-2 win over the Detroit Tigers. The win moved Rays back to one game over .500.

Tampa Bay took an early lead in a pitcher’s duel that was scoreless until the fifth inning. The Rays found themselves in two scoring opportunities in the first in third innings, however, Tigers’ hurler Michael Fulmer coaxed a pair of double plays to wipe the slate clean on the good guys. Yet things changed in the fifth when Colby Rasmus lined a one-out double to right, and Tim Beckham walked. Daniel Robertson did what he’s done the whole series, plating a run on a single to center, scoring Rasmus and moving Beckham up to third. Even though Robertson was able to move into scoring position on the throw into third, the Rays were unable to add to the lead after Derek Norris struck out, and Mallex Smith grounded out to first.

Something Archer has had trouble with this season is putting together a lockdown inning after his team takes a lead, and per usual, Detroit answered when Austin Romine — 6-for-15 against the Rays ace — hit a bloop single into shallow left-field, just out of the reach of Beckham. He was able to get former teammate Mikie Mahtook to go down swinging on five pitches before Jose Iglesias hit a comebacker right at the right-hander. Archer fielded the ball, but stumbled in doing so, and lost his chance to get the lead runner at second. With two outs, Ian Kinsler worked a nine-pitch at-bat before he lashed a game tying double off the left-field wall.

A pitch (and an inning) later, Miguel Cabrera hit his second homer of the series on a first pitch fastball that Archer left over the inner third of the plate, giving Detroit a one-run advantage.

Cabrera’s solo homer to right

Miguel Cabrera launches a solo home run into the right-field seats to put the Tigers ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the 6th inning


He, however, was able to limit damage by striking out Romine, and getting Mahtook to ground into an inning ending double play with runners on the corners and one out. Archer fanned a total of eight batters over six innings, although interestingly enough, seven of the strikeouts came on his slider, giving him an MLB-high 91 this season. Max Scherzer ranks second with 66 slider strikeouts.

Since the Tigers were 30-18 when they hit a home run, the odds were stacked against Tampa Bay for a comeback — especially after what Le Tigre did to the Rays over the previous two days. Yet in spite of the odds, the Rays took the lead on a couple of two-out runs in the seventh. Steven Souza Jr. quickly fell behind 0-2 before battling back and earning a walk to start the frame, then moved up 90 feet on Rasmus’ groundout. Beckham followed with a productive at-bat, hitting a hard ground out to second, which  advanced Souza to third. Robertson was next, and he singled off Kinsler’s glove, knotting the game at two. It was the fifth consecutive run that Robertson had driven in.

After Norris chased Fulmer on a single to left, Brad Ausmus called upon the services of Alex Wilson.

Smith, looking to make up for his yips in the outfield, welcomed Wilson by hitting a single to right for the go ahead lead. To his credit, Wilson was able to limit the damage by striking out Corey Dickerson.

It now was up to the Rays bullpen to do its job. Jumbo Diaz worked around a two-out walk in a scoreless seventh, then started the eighth. The rather hefty right-hander struck out J.D. Martinez to open the frame, but allowed a one-out double that deflected off of Beckham at short, and was overrun by Dickerson in left. With the leverage increasing, Kevin Cash called upon Alex Colome to do something he had not done all season — earn a five-out save.

Colome struck out Alex Presley on a 3–2 pitch, and got pinch-hitter Nick Castellanos to ground out to third to end that threat.

Then in the ninth, the Tigers got the tying run on second with two outs, the product of a Mahtook bouncer that got under the glove of Evan Longoria. A sacrifice bunt, moving the former Ray into second, and a fly-out later, the left-handed hitting Avila stepped into the box. In the words of Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times), the Rays had some decisions to make as they set up their shifted defense. At the start of the at-bat, they had shortstop Tim Beckham holding Mahtook at second.

Topkin continued:

Third-base/infield coach Charlie Montoyo went up to Cash and bench coach Tom Foley in the dugout and suggested they move Beckham over to the first base-side of the bag, where Avila was more likely to hit it, even though it meant Mahtook, as the tying run, would likely take third, which he promptly did.

‘We felt it was more important at the time to cover more ground toward the pull side,’ Cash said. ‘I think that shows how much confidence we have in Alex Colome. We’ll give up 90 feet to get (the tying run) to third, trusting that if we put the guys in the right spot, we can make a play and he’ll make a pitch.’

Colome made a pitch, an 88 mph cutter that Avila could only roll over and hit to the right side.

And the Rays made a play, Beckham barely having to move, to seal the win.

Game over, Rays win 3-2….thanks in part to the shift!

The New What Next

The Rays look to split the four-game set against the Tigers today. Jacob Faria (2-0, 1.42 ERA, 1.78 FIP) will get the start opposite Buck Farmer (2-0, 3.52 ERA, 2.80 FIP).

Faria was impressive yet again in his last start. His stuff, especially his changeup, was electric, and he fooled Toronto’s hitters left and right. He was poised and efficient, allowing just three hits on 70 pitches over five innings — calmly taking a shutout into the seventh against the power-laden Blue Jays.

Farmer had a 13-inning scoreless streak snapped in his last start, when he allowed six runs in 2-1/3 innings against the Diamondbacks. This season, the 26 year-old right-hander has relied upon a whiffy 92 MPH four-seam fastball and 85 MPH changeup, while also mixing in a 91 MPH sinker with arm-side run, a 79 MPH 12-6 slider, and a swing and miss 81 MPH cutter. Farmer faced the Rays once in relief in 2015, allowing a home run in one-third of an inning.

You can read about the pitching matchup, and so much more, in our series preview.

Rays 6/18/17 Starting Lineup

Smith CF
Dickerson LF
Longoria 3B
Morrison 1B
Souza Jr RF
Rasmus DH
Beckham SS
Robertson 2B
Norris C
Faria RHP

Noteworthiness

— A couple of important pieces to the roster continue to work their way back from injuries. In a rehab appearance with Triple-A Durham, Brad Boxberger tossed another scoreless inning yesterday. He allowed one hit while striking out a pair. Wilson Ramos caught seven innings, the second consecutive game he’s done so. Both could rejoin the team by the end of the week. Per Topkin, Matt Duffy (left heel) may get some clarity on his recurring issues Monday when he goes to Charlotte to see Dr. Bob Anderson, who did the September surgery.

— Trevor Plouffe, acquired from Oakland, will officially join the active roster tomorrow at Tropicana Field. Either Taylor Featherston (an option remaining) or Michael Martinez (no options remaining) are likely to go.

Rays to acquire INF Trevor Plouffe; is it time to move Erasmo back to the ‘pen?

The Rays acquired infielder Trevor Plouffe from the Athletics Saturday for cash considerations. (Photo Credit: Unknown)

On Saturday, the Tampa Bay Rays announced the acquisition of infielder Trevor Plouffe from the Oakland Athletics for cash considerations. Tampa Bay will also receive more than $2-million in the deal, offsetting some of the $3-million plus remaining on the infielder’s contract.

To make room on the 40-man roster for Plouffe, the Rays have moved right-hander Matt Andriese (hip) to the 60-day DL. Since he is not expected to join the Rays until Monday, they won’t have to make room on the active roster until then.

Oakland designated Plouffe for assignment last week after slashing .214 BA/.276 OBP/.357 SLG/.633 OPS over 199 plate appearances, while striking out 29.1% of the time. He is coming off a somewhat disappointing 2016 campaign with Minnesota in which he slashed a .260 BA/.303 OBP/.420 SLG/.723 OPS line, while also earning below-average marks in UZR (0.1 at 1B and -7.7 at 3B), and DRS (4 at 1B and -4 at 3B) for his defense.

Plouffe will become the third infielder the team has acquired over the last 30 days, joining the rather uninspiring Michael Martinez and Taylor Featherston — who has an option remaining, so he can be sent to Triple-A Durham on Monday.

The Rays hope Plouffe will be somewhat more productive at either infield corner, as he is just a few years removed from his 2014 and 2015 campaigns in which he combined for 36 home runs. Boding in his favor is a respectable .269 BA/.345 OBP/.459 SLG/.804 OPS against left-handed pitching over his career — compare that to Rickie Weeks Jr., who’s slashed a poor .176/.275 SLG/.333 OBP/.608 OPS line against southpaws this season.

As Charlie Wilmoth (MLB Trade Rumors) writes, Plouffe could be a right-handed platoon option at first base:

Despite having a very strong season overall, Morrison has not hit lefties well in his career. The Rays could try to find further opportunities for Plouffe as a pinch-hitter, and he should improve their bench, which has had options like Michael Martinez and Rickie Weeks to man the infield corners. Also, as ESPN’s Jim Bowden points out in a tweet, the Rays’ AL East rivals the Red Sox have struggled at third base this season and had interest in Plouffe last winter, and the Rays acquiring him prevents the Red Sox from acquiring him now. Plouffe is eligible for free agency after the season.

Is it time to move Erasmo Ramirez back to the bullpen?

Last night Erasmo Ramirez allowed 10 runs — eight earned — on nine hits and two walks, while fanning just two batters over 4-2/3 innings during the ugly 13-4 loss to Detroit. Even though he retired nine consecutive batters on 29 pitches, after giving up a leadoff homer to Ian Kinsler, he has allowed 38 baserunners and 22 earned runs over his last four outings (totaling 16-1/3 innings of work).

A simple premise: perhaps Erasmo is better suited as a relief pitcher.

(Stats: FanGraphs)

As a reliever this season, Ramirez has posted a 3.05 ERA and 3.52 FIP over 20-2/3 innings. Compare that to an unsightly 6.48 ERA and 4.64 over 33-1/3 innings as a starter. Although a certain amount of luck has either helped or hurt him in both roles — a  .218 BABIP as a reliever vs .352 BABIP — the simple fact is that he has been much more effective out of the ‘pen.

(Stats: FanGraphs)

Moreover, he’s been much more productive the first and second times through the order as a reliever, than he has as a starter. True, he has struck out fewer batters as a reliever than as a starter, marginally speaking of course, yet he has limited contact and stranded runners on base more often out of the ‘pen. The rubber-armed hurler also has allowed fewer batters to reach base as a reliever, to the tune of a .240 OBP — a .111 difference than as a starter.

In the end, the Rays could use another arm in the ‘pen, and Erasmo has been effective out of that role. To that end, Blake Snell appears to have tightened things up in Durham — a pristine 2.84 ERA and an impressive 3.79 K/BB over 38 innings speaks to that — and he could be primed for a return to the big leagues.

With 10 games left until the official mid-point of the season, and a front office that appears to be serious about a postseason run, the Rays cannot continue to expect the offense to make up for inadequate pitching. One key improvement, in the present tense, would be to move Ramirez back to the bullpen.