After a 4–3 home stand, the Tampa Bay Rays made their way to Minnesota where they will face the AL Central-division leading Twins. The Rays put together a winning road trip in their previous stretch away from the Trop, taking series wins from Boston and Cleveland. The Twins have won four straight.
Chris Archer (3-3, 3.76 ERA, 3.06 FIP) will get the start for the Rays this evening, opposite of Hector Santiago (4-2, 3.96 ERA, 4.85 FIP).
In his last start on May 2nd against the Yankees, Archer fanned a season-high 12 over 6-1/3 innings. He, however, took the hard luck loss after he allowed three runs in the second inning on a day when the offense managed just four hits. The outing brought Archer his fifth career 10 strikeout loss. Archer has an excellent track record against Minnesota, sporting a 5–1 record and a 1.73 ERA in six careers starts.
Santiago couldn’t notch a victory in his last outing against the Royals; a five inning, eight hit and three earned run no-decision. He only struck out one batter in that start. So far this season, the 29 year-old left-hander has relied primarily on his whiffy 92 mph four-seam fastball, and an 83 mph circle changeup with some arm-side fade. He also has mixed in a 77 mph worm burner curveball when he needs a ground ball. He is 1-0 with a 4.86 ERA in four starts against the Rays. Key matchups: Corey Dickerson (1-3), Michael Martinez (1-1), Evan Longoria (4-9, 2B), Derek Norris (3-11, 2 BB), Steven Souza Jr. (1-4, HR, 3 RBI, BB), Jesus Sucre (2-2, 2B, HR, 2 RBI).
The Rays bounced back from three consecutive losses by winning the final two games of their 4-3 home stand. Yes Colby, that deserves a round of applause. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)
After splitting the series with the Angels, and going 4-3 over the span of their most recent home-stand, the Tampa Bay Rays are headed up to the Great White North to take on the Minnesota Twins.
(Stats: ESPN)
Tampa Bay finished its four-game series against the Angels with two consecutive wins. The team came away with an impressive 4-0 win over the Halos, in which Colby Rasmus drove in all four of the Rays’ runs. He finished the afternoon matinee with a pair of doubles. He (along with Logan Morrison and Corey Dickerson) has been one of the best hitters for the Rays, notching a .538 slugging percentage thus far.
Minnesota completed a sweep of the Orioles with a 4-3 win on Wednesday. The Twins won all three games against the Orioles in Baltimore, and now have won four in a row and six of their last seven. Despite a collective .250 team batting average, Minnesota’s lineup has been good enough to keep the Twins atop the division with a two-game lead over Cleveland.
Meanwhile, the Rays are stuck in the middle of the AL East, trailing the division-leading Yankees by five games. Yet when you look deeply at some of the peripherals, such the Pythagorean and BaseRuns Expectations — both of which take into account run differentials — Tampa Bay actually has a very competitive ball-club that is outperforming Minnesota in some respects.
The Rays are performing at a 27-23 Pythagorean Expectation, and a 29-21 BaseRuns Expectation, thanks to a +41 run differential. Compare that to the Twins, who are performing at a 22-21 Pythagorean Expectation, and a 23-20 BaseRuns Expectation, due to their +11 run differential.
Even with their overall record, the Twins are two games under .500 at Target Field, where this three-game series will be played. Moreover, the Rays are 6-2 in their last eight road games, and 4-1 in their last five games following a win.
(Stats: FanGraphs)
Over the next three days, Kevin Cash will throw Chris Archer (3-3, 3.76 ERA, 3.06 FIP), Jake Odorizzi (3-2, 3.14 ERA, 4.50 FIP), and Alex Cobb (4-4, 3.82 ERA, 4.26 FIP). Paul Molitor will counter with Hector Santiago (4-2, 3.96 ERA, 4.85 FIP), a pitcher to be named before Saturday’s ball-game, and Kyle Gibson (7-2, 1.80 ERA, 4.10 FIP).
(Stats: FanGraphs)
Pitching Matchups
Archer fanned a season-high 12 over 6-1/3 innings against the Yankees, however, he took the hard luck loss after he allowed three runs in the second inning on a day when the offense managed just four hits. The outing brought Archer his fifth career 10 strikeout loss.
Santiago couldn’t notch a victory in his last outing against the Royals; a five inning, eight hit and three earned run no-decision. He only struck out one batter in that start. So far this season, the 29 year-old left-hander has relied primarily on his whiffy 92 mph four-seam fastball, and an 83 mph circle changeup with some arm-side fade. He also has mixed in a 77 mph worm burner curveball when he needs a ground ball. He is 1-0 with a 4.86 ERA in four starts against the Rays. Key matchups: Corey Dickerson (1-3), Michael Martinez (1-1), Evan Longoria (4-9, 2B), Derek Norris (3-11, 2 BB), Steven Souza Jr. (1-4, HR, 3 RBI, BB), Jesus Sucre (2-2, 2B, HR, 2 RBI)
Odorizzi collected his fourth quality start of the season Monday when he held the Angels to two runs over six innings of a no-decision. In two career starts at Target Field, Odorizzi is 0-1 with a 3.75 ERA.
TBA
Cobb has made consecutive starts of at least seven innings, totaling four such outings this season. He, however, has allowed four runs or more in eight of his 15 post Tommy John surgery starts, compared to 20 of 81 prior to going under the knife. He allowed four runs on seven hits and three walks across 7-1/3 innings in Tuesday’s loss to the Angels. He struck out five.
Gibson allowed six runs on seven hits through five innings against the Orioles in his first outing since being recalled from Triple-A. Five of those runs came in the second inning alone. So far this season he is 1-4 with an 8.62 ERA over seven starts, with just 21 strikeouts. He is also 1-4 with a 7.82 ERA in five starts against Tampa Bay. Gibson has relied on a 92 mph ground ball inducing sinker (that he throws with a two-seam fastball grip), and a fly ball heavy 92 mph four-seam fastball this season. He has also mixed in a ground ball coaxing 84 mph slider and 83 mph changeup, and a whiffy 79 mph curveball. Key matchups: Tim Beckham (1-1, BB), Peter Bourjos (2-5, 2B), Kevin Kiermaier (3-5, 2B, BB), Evan Longoria (4-13, 2B, 4 RBI, BB), Colby Rasmus (2-6), Steven Souza Jr. (1-2)
Third base coach Charlie Montoyo high fives Steven Souza Jr. as he rounds the bases following his two run home run in the second inning of last night’s ball game. (Photo Credit: Will Vragovic/Tampa Bay Times)
The Tampa Bay Rays rallied from a two-run deficit on Wednesday, taking the lead in the third inning, and snapping a three-game skid with a 5–2 win over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
The Angels took the lead against Erasmo Ramirez in the opening frame after Mike Trout hit a one-out bullet to center for a double, and Albert Pujols hit a two-run homer to left. It gave the Angels a two-run lead in the first inning for a second straight evening.
But the Rays came back to tie the game against Ricky Nolasco in the second inning, when Logan Morrison worked a leadoff walk, and Steven Souza Jr. drilled a two-run homer to center field two batters later — snapping an 8-for-67 skid.
Steven Souza Jr. hits a two-run homer in the 2nd and follows with a solo shot in the 7th in the Rays’ 5-2 win over the Angels
As the luck dragons would have it, Tampa Bay took the lead for good in the bottom of next inning. Corey Dickerson and Kevin Kiermaier hit back-to-back one-out doubles (to center and right, respectively) for the go ahead lead. But even though the Rays had a chance to score more — after Evan Longoria walked (making him the franchise leader in that category with 543), then both he and Kiermaier advanced on a sac-fly to left by Morrison — Tim Beckham struck out, ending the threat.
The go-ahead lead made a winner out of King Erasmo, who threw six solid and efficient innings on 82 pitches (52 strikes). The right-hander walked one and scattered four hits, while striking out two.
Jose Alvarado followed Ramirez in the seventh, and posted a perfect frame while also notching his second consecutive strikeout of pinch hitter Danny Espinosa (swinging) on three, well placed pitches.
In spite of the aforementioned missed scoring opportunity, Tampa Bay was able to extend the lead in the seventh, when Rasmus and Souza hit back-to-back solo shots, chasing Nolasco. It was the fifth time this season the Rays hit back-to-back home runs; the most in Major League Baseball. They only did so four times last season (tied for the third-fewest).
The most recent multi-homer game for Rays RF Steven Souza Jr. before Wednesday night was Sept. 8 last season against the Yankees. He had two multi-homer games last year. (Graphic and caption, Courtesy of ESPN)
Ryne Stanek came on in the eighth and fanned Cliff Pennington before getting ahead of, yet ultimately walking, Cameron Maybin. After a brief discussion on the mound with Jim Hickey, Stanek came back to mow down both Trout and Pujols on back-to-back swinging strikeouts to end the frame.
Alex Colome worked a perfect ninth for his 12th save of the season.
The New What Next
The Rays go for a winning home stand on Thursday afternoon when Matt Andriese (4-1, 3.75 ERA, 4.76 FIP) takes the mound, opposite of rookie Alex Meyer (2-2, 5.79 ERA, 4.33 FIP).
Andriese battled through his second consecutive start, going five-plus innings and giving up five runs on six hits against the Yankees. He, however, is 3-0 in his past four outings. He looks to regress back to his previous, efficient form in the series finale on Thursday.
Meyer delivered an uneven performance against New York on Saturday, allowing four runs (three earned) while walking four, and fanning seven over four-plus innings. The 27 year-old rookie has never faced the Rays, and relies primarily on his 97 mph four-seam fastball with natural sinking action, a 97 mph sinker with good tailing action that results in a good number of fly balls, and a hard knuckle curveball.
Wilson Ramos looks on from the dugout during the sixth inning of a game at Tropicana Field. (Photo Credit: Kim Klement/USA Today Sports)
Wilson Ramos (recovery from torn ACL), Brad Miller (left abdomen strain), and Matt Duffy (recovery from Achilles surgery), all participated in baseball activities at Tropicana Field on Tuesday. Additionally, Tommy Hunter made his first, and possibly only, rehab appearance with the Class-A Charlotte Stone Crabs.
Donning his catching gear, Ramos threw to the bases, caught a bullpen session, and took blocking drills — all significant milestones since undergoing the knife last October. He also took batting practice for the second time this week, reportedly peppering the outfield with line drives.
I’m really happy for all I did today, Ramos told reporters. I’m getting closer. That’s what I need to do. All those little things help me to stay strong and ready to do something else.
Getting closer to his debut with the Rays, Ramos will likely head to Port Charlotte to take part in extended spring training games this weekend, before moving into his rehab assignment around May 28. With rehab limited to 20 days, and barring any setbacks, that should put him on the 25-man active roster by mid-to-late-June — well ahead of schedule.
(That would be) pretty good for me, good for the team, Ramos said. Now, I feel a lot better. I feel confident. I feel strong. That’s what I want; I want to be behind the plate as soon as possible.
It was originally thought that he would return as a designated hitter, however, the plan now is to prepare him to catch, although he won’t initially assume everyday duty.
Miller took grounders and hopes to be activated from the DL by Friday, the first day he’s eligible to return.
Miller is anxious to return, saying:
I don’t want to miss any more time than I have to.
However, standing in his way is the fact that he has yet to run. Because of it, Rays skipper Kevin Cash is less optimistic about Miller’s return:
I don’t see how he could be (ready to return), Cash said.
As for Duffy, the shortstop — who can’t seem to catch a break — took ground balls and and batting practice for the first time since he fouled a ball off his left foot in a previous batting practice session this past weekend. He told reporters that his Achilles felt much better, although his big toe is still irritated:
(The toe) Still bothers some things I’m doing, Duffy said. The fear is I do something, and compensate for the toe hurting. That’s one thing Ron (Porterfield) said he doesn’t mess with: big toe, little toe.
Duffy conceded that his situation is rather frustrating:
To say the least. In Spring Training it was really frustrating, because I was really fighting to get ready for Opening Day. … (Now) I can’t really control where I’m at in terms of wanting it to be quicker. … I don’t like being on the DL at all.
Finally, Hunter took the mound in Port Charlotte on Tuesday evening and threw one inning of two-run ball, allowing three hits while fanning three on 21 pitches. He said says his calf feels good, although there isn’t a definitive plan yet for Hunter to return to the fold.
It turns out that the hot, sticky dog days of summer start in the middle of May in Florida. (Photo Credit: Anthony Ateek/X-Rays Spex)
In spite of a pair of Corey Dickerson/Logan Morrison solo homers in the first inning, the Tampa Bay Rays fell to the Angels, 3-2.
Here’s your tentative game recap, while I get my eggs in a row for this afternoon’s pre-game notes piece.
All of the Rays offense came on the first 10 pitches of the game.
On the third pitch of the ball-game, Corey Dickerson led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run to left field, tying the game at one apiece on his birthday.
Logan Morrison crushes a solo home run over the right-field wall to give the Rays a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the 1st
Tampa Bay’s bats went silent from that point on, with the Rays not being able to get a runner into scoring position until two outs into the eight inning.
The New What Next
After a second consecutive 3–2 loss, the Rays will try to bounce back tonight against the Angels, and get back to .500. Alex Cobb (4-3, 3.67 ERA, 3.99 FIP) will get the start opposite of Matt Shoemaker (3-2, 4.47 ERA, 5.01 FIP)
Cobb has delivered quality starts in his last four starts, allowing just eight earned runs over his last 27-1/3 innings. His changeup hasn’t returned to pre-surgery form, which has been well documented, but he’s effectively worked the fastball-curve combo.
Shoemaker notched his third win of the season on Wednesday after allowing four runs (three earned) over 6-1/3 innings against the ChiSox. In 2017, he has relied primarily on an 85 mph splitter with a ton of backspin that results in an above average number of fly balls, a 92 mph four-seam fastball, an 83 mph slider, and a 92 mph sinker. Shoemaker is undefeated in three career starts against the Rays, going 3-0 with a 2.60 ERA. Key matchups: Michael Martinez (1-3), Logan Morrison (4-11, 2B, HR, RBI, BB), Derek Norris (3-5, BB), Colby Rasmus (6-19, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, BB)
Dickerson DH
Kiermaier CF
Longoria 3B
Morrison 1B
Beckham SS
Rasmus LF
Souza Jr RF
Norris C
Robertson 2B
Cobb RHP
Noteworthiness
— Another hitch in the ongoing Matt Duffy(left heel) rehab process, he will not restart his rehab assignment until Saturday or Sunday. Duffy fouled a ball off his left foot during batting practice Saturday, resulting in uncomfortable swelling and the potential for him to favor his right foot. He was able to take ground balls Monday, but as Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) noted, plans to test the heel by running out of the box had to be pushed back, which may delay his return to minor-league game action until the weekend.
— In other rehab news, RHP Tommy Hunter (calf strain) is tentatively scheduled to make a rehab appearance tonight with the Class-A Charlotte Stone Crabs. Pending his return, the Rays will face tough questions over who to option back to Triple-A or release in order to make room for Hunter on the 25-man roster. At the moment, the likeliest candidates appear to be RHPs Ryne Stanek and Jumbo Diaz.
— How good has Dickerson been?
#Rays Dickerson leads AL in hitting at .345, total bases at 112, multi-hit games at 21, is 2nd with 26 extra-base hits
