Rays Roster Moves: Rays demote Blake Snell; promote Ryne Stanek

Blake Snell was demoted after a rough outing against Boston on Saturday. (Photo Credit: USA Today Sports)

After another rough outing, one in which Blake Snell allowed the lead to slip away twice over five plus innings of work, the Tampa Bay Rays optioned the 24 year-old left-hander to Triple-A Durham. The Rays have recalled flame throwing reliever Ryne Stanek to take Snell’s spot on the roster.

Snell’s start yesterday followed a similar pattern — toss a good inning or two, then follow that by dooming himself with walks and deep counts that drive up the pitch count, and force him out of the game early. It was the seventh time in eight starts that Snell hadn’t completed at least six frames.

Over seven starts this season, the 24 year-old has yet to earn a win. The hope is that he will benefit from the lower intensity of Triple-A.

We’ve got to get him to the kind of environment where he can pitch without the pressure of trying to win a major-league game and focus on what got him good and what got him here in the first place, Rays manager Kevin Cash said,  explaining the thought process in sending Snell down. We would not be doing this if it was not 100 percent in his best interest.

However, as Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) noted, whether Snell agrees is unclear, as he wasn’t given the news until the media was done in the clubhouse:

I had asked him after the game if he might be better served being dropped from the rotation or sent down. He answered with a firm, “No,” and said he was “100 percent” confident that he could be successful in the majors.

In 42 innings this season, Snell has posted an unsightly 4.71 ERA (5.02 FIP), with a disappointing 7.29 K/9 and an ugly 5.36 BB/9 (1.36 K/BB). Connor Byrne (MLB Trade Rumors) also found that since his rookie campaign a season ago, Snell has lost some fastball velocity and generated fewer swinging strikes, as his rate has fallen from 10.9 percent in 2016 to 8.8 percent this year.

Overall, Snell — who is viewed as a front of the rotation pitcher, not a fifth starter — has become the weakest link in the starting rotation that, otherwise, has been strong this season with Chris Archer, Alex Cobb, Matt Andriese and Jake Odorizzi netting strong results.

With his return to the minors, Stanek will join the ‘pen for what appears to be a long term promotion. The flame throwing hurler, who can hit triple digits with his fastball, was considered for a September promotion in 2016.

Veteran swingman Erasmo Ramirez will likely take Snell’s rotation spot, even though the Rays likely won’t need a fifth starter until they return home and face the Yankees on May 19th, following a travel day. It also is thought that LHP Ryan Yarborough could be in line for a promotion, as Tampa Bay currently has just one southpaw on the active roster (Jose Alvarado), however, room would have to be made on the 40-man roster.

Noteworthiness

— Matt Duffy update: Duffy went 0-2 at the plate in his rehab start with Charlotte yesterday, although he didn’t take his third at-bat because he felt he “might’ve been doing more harm than good” by doing so.

LBWMF: Errors almost sink Rays’ battleship in 5-4 win against Boston

With the exception of a hairy seventh inning, Alex Cobb looked great in the series opener against Boston Friday night. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

In spite of a seventh inning filled with defensive miscues, the Tampa Bay Rays won the first of a six-game road trip, 5-4 against the Red Sox. Evan Longoria homered over the Green Monster in the fifth inning, while Alex Cobb hurled one-hit baseball over the first six frames.

Tampa Bay initially took the lead in the fourth, taking advantage of a leadoff error by third baseman Josh Rutledge, allowing Longoria to reach. After Logan Morrison struck out, Rickie Weeks Jr. lined through the right side for a single, putting two on. Both runners advanced into scoring position on a passed ball Sandy Leon before Tim Beckham ripped an RBI single into the left-center alley, scoring Longoria and Weeks to cap the rally.

They were able to extend the lead to five runs in the fifth inning, and Derek Norris got things going with an infield single to third. Rutledge fielded the ball cleanly, but took way too much time to make his throw over to first — likely assuming that Norris was from the Jose Molina school of running. Rutledge guessed incorrectly, and the play was first scored an E6, but later changed to a hit. Norris scored from first on Corey Dickerson’s double off the top of the center field wall — an extra base hit that would have been a homer in any other ball park. After Dickerson advanced to third on Brad Miller’s sacrifice fly to deep centerfield, Longoria sent a mammoth homer out of Fenway Park for a five-run advantage.

You’d think a five-run lead would be easy to hold, especially with the way Cobb dealt through the first six innings. However, multiple errors in the seventh put the lead in jeopardy. With one out and none on, Chris Young hit a shallow fly to right. I’ll let Ian Malinowski (DRaysBay) to call the play-by-play on this gaffe:

Logan Morrison ran out from first base while Colby Rasmus came in from right. Morrison had a tough play, needing to make a catch over his shoulder, while Rasmus had an easy play—if he could get there. That’s why the outfielder is expected to take charge in that situation. Morrison glanced at Rasmus and thought he would, slowing up for a step and a half. But Rasmus never fully got on his horse, and by the time Morrison realized he had to make the play it was too late. The ball fell between them.

A clearly frustrated Cobb then walked Mitch Moreland bringing Rutledge to the plate. Boston’s third baseman bunted up the third base line, and Cobb — who fielded the play — threw past first base, and into the stands, for what was scored an infield hit and a throwing error, giving the BoSox their first run.

Then with a pair of runners in scoring position, Leon blooped a ground-rule double into the stands in right, making it 5–3. Cobb, the unfortunate recipient of the BABIP luck dragons, was pulled in favor of Jose Alvarado. And while Alavardo induced a ground ball to second from Jackie Bradley Jr., Miller booted booted the play, allowing a run to score. Miller then threw the ball past second, allowing Bradley to move into scoring position on his second error of the play (and the third of the inning). Erasmo Ramirez got the final two outs in the seventh, although he ran into trouble an inning later.

Erasmo allowed a double by Xander Bogaerts, hit just past a diving Longoria, to open the inning. Then Andrew Benintendi walked on a 3–2 pitch, and Chris Young flew out to right, moving Bogaerts to third. Cash called upon LOOGY Danny Farquhar to collect a huge strikeout from Moreland for the second out of the inning. Finally, Alex Colome entered the fracas and induced a groundout to third from Rutledge. Inning over.

Colome posted a perfect ninth to earn the save, getting Mookie Betts to fly to left center to end the contest.

The New What Next

The Rays play the second game of the series on Saturday. Left-hander Blake Snell (0-3, 3.96 ERA, 5.03 FIP) will toe the rubber opposite of Chris Sale (3-2, 1.92 ERA, 1.45 FIP). The game was moved to 1:05 PM because of the potential for inclement weather.

Snell continued to struggle with fastball command on Monday against Kansas City, as he allowed four runs on 10 hits and a walk, while fanning two in five innings. He now has pitched five innings or fewer in six consecutive starts. The southpaw allowed four runs in five innings against Boston in April, although only one of those runs was earned.

Sale is coming off his worst start of the year, allowing a season-high four runs to Minnesota, yet he still struck out 10 and earned the win. Sale struck out 12 Rays over seven innings on April 15, and has double-digit strikeouts in his last six starts — two away from tying the Major League record that he shares with Pedro Martinez. Key matchups: Kevin Kiermaier (2-6, RBI), Logan Morrison (2-6)

You can read about the pitching matchup, and so much more, in our series preview, and I’ll post the starting lineup upon availability.

Rays 5/13/17 Starting Lineup

Souza RF
Robertson 2B
Longoria 3B
Weeks DH
Morrison 1B
Beckham SS
Norris C
Kiermaier CF
Bourjos LF
Snell LHP

Noteworthiness

— Medical matters, courtesy of Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times):

OF Steven Souza Jr. said his bruised right thumb felt “much better” Friday, as he was considered available to pinch-hit and expects to be back in the lineup today or Sunday for the first time since Monday. … SS Matt Duffy felt slight soreness in his left heel during his second rehab game Thursday but is slated to play again tonight for the advanced Class A Stone Crabs. … RHP Tommy Hunter, sidelined since a late April calf strain, is slated to throw his first bullpen session today.

The New What Next: Rays vs Red Sox, part two — a series preview

Kevin Kiermaier takes a moment in the outfield after committing his fourth fielding gaffe (third error) in three days. (Photo Credit: Will Vragovic)

Changes of scenery can be good. Often times I just drive, it doesn’t matter where. I put my foot to the floor and let the wind blow through my hair. After a 3-6 homestand, including another series loss to the Royals, a change of scenery would serve the Tampa Bay Rays well. First stop Boston, where they’ll start a three-game series with the Red Sox on Friday.

(Stats: ESPN)

The Rays have fallen a bit below .500 thanks to the loss to the Royals. They also have lost five of their last seven, including the two of three they against Toronto. It’s worth noting both the Royals and the Blue Jays are two of the most disappointing teams in the league so far this year.

It certainly doesn’t help that Tampa Bay dropped three of four against Boston in April, this despite posting a positive run differential over the span of the series.

(Stats: FanGraphs)

Kevin Cash will lean on Alex Cobb (3-1, 3.04 ERA, 2.80 FIP), Blake Snell (0-3, 3.96 ERA, 5.03 FIP), and Matt Andriese (2-1, 3.12 ERA, 4.56 FIP) over the next three days. John Farrell will counter with Rick Porcello (2-4, 3.95 ERA, 3.97 FIP), Chris Sale (3-2, 1.92 ERA, 1.45 FIP), and Drew Pomeranz (3-2, 5.23 ERA, 4.70 FIP).

(Stats: FanGraphs)

Pitching Matchups

Cobb allowed two runs on four hits and two walks over eight innings on Sunday, although he came away with the loss. He is 1-1 with a 1.29 ERA over his last two starts, and 3-1 with a 3.14 ERA in five career starts at Fenway Park — including his last start against the Red Sox, when he relinquished four runs on 11 hits in five innings.

Porcello is starting to look like the reigning Cy Young Award winner that he is. Over his last four starts, he has gone at least six innings in each and has a 27-to-5 K/BB in 26-2⁄3 innings. Interestingly enough, the start prior to this run was against Tampa Bay when he allowed eight runs, with four home runs mixed in, over just 4-1⁄3 innings. Key matchups: Tim Beckham (1-2), Peter Bourjos (2-7), Corey Dickerson (7-22, 3 2B, HR, 2 RBI), Brad Miller (7-23, 2 2B, 4 HR, 8 RBI), Logan Morrison (10-24, 3 2B, HR, 5 RBI), Colby Rasmus (3-9), Steven Souza Jr. (7-23, HR, RBI, BB)

Snell continued to struggle with fastball command on Monday against Kansas City, as he allowed four runs on 10 hits and a walk, while fanning two in five innings. He now has pitched five innings or fewer in six consecutive starts. The southpaw allowed four runs in five innings against Boston in April, although only one of those runs was earned.

Sale is coming off his worst start of the year, allowing a season-high four runs to Minnesota, yet he still struck out 10 and earned the win. Sale struck out 12 Rays over seven innings on April 15, and has double-digit strikeouts in his last six starts — two away from tying the Major League record that he shares with Pedro Martinez. Key matchups: Kevin Kiermaier (2-6, RBI), Logan Morrison (2-6)

Andriese allowed two earned runs in 5-1/3 innings against against Kansas City on Tuesday, coming away with a no-decision. He, however, is 0-1 with a 9.45 ERA in two career appearances at Fenway, and 1-1 with a 4.21 ERA in six career appearances against the Red Sox. Andriese’s strikeout rate is around average, his walk rate is in good shape, and he has juxtaposed the home runs he’s allowed this year by inducing a bunch of ground balls. This will be his first time facing the Red Sox in 2017.

Pomeranz is coming off a rough start, giving up five runs and two homers in the first inning against the Brewers. Pomeranz last faced Tampa Bay on April 16, and he had an uneven start, giving up five runs over 4-1/3 innings, but also striking out 10. Home runs have been a major issue for the lefty this season, and he’s now given up a total of seven over 31 innings, counterbalancing the 36 strikeouts he has collected. Key matchups: Tim Beckham (2-4, HR, RBI, BB), Brad Miller (7-15, 2B, 3B, HR, 5 RBI), Colby Rasmus (1-4, RBI)

Noteworthiness

— Souza’s thumb is feeling better, and hopes to get back in lineup on Saturday or Sunday.

— With the forecast calling for heavy rain in the evening, Saturday’s game has been moved up to 1:05 PM.

LBWMF: Rays bounce back with 12-1 thumping of the Royals

Colby Rasmus celebrates his sixth career grand slam in the eighth inning of Wednesday’s ball game. (Photo Credit: Will Vragovic/Tampa Bay Times)

The Tampa Bay Rays bounced back from a pair of tough losses against Kansas City, by absolutely destroying the Royals on Wednesday, 12-1. In lieu of a formal game recap, here are some important numbers/events from the shellacking.

Three

As in three home runs by Tampa Bay, totaling seven of the Rays’ 12 runs. Logan Morrison and Rickie Weeks went back-to-back in the third inning, and Colby Rasmus hit his sixth career grand slam in the eighth.

444

As in 444 feet, the measure of Logan Morrison’s monster shot.

(Credit: ESPN)

Elevan

As in 11 strikeouts by Chris Archer, who was phenomenal on the mound.

Archer posted eight strong innings of shutout baseball, scattering just five hits along the. Of his 101 pitches 73 were strikes — including 18 swings-and-misses. Believe it or not, Archer threw nine changeups — five of which were strikes, and only one was put put into play for an out. He avoided trouble, and threw no more than 15 pitches in any inning, and faced more than four hitters only once, in the seventh.

 

One

As in the number of batters hit by errant pitches. Archer hit the Royals catcher with a pitch in the seventh inning, and Salvador Perez reacted angrily. Words were exchanged, and both benches were warned, before Perez was lifted for a pinch-runner with the Royals down 7-0.

Archer, Perez exchange words after hit by pitch – ESPN Video

Chris Archer hits Salvador Perez on the elbow in the seventh inning and the two would exchange pleasantries as Perez heads to first base.

 

For his part, Perez was none too happy by the HBP:

Six

As in the number of Rays who had multi-hit games:

Corey Dickerson 2-4, 3 R, RBI
Evan Longoria 2-4, RBI
Rickie Weeks Jr. 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI
Colby Rasmus 3-5, 4 R, 2 RBI
Tim Beckham 2-5
Derek Norris 2-3, RBI, R

The New What Next

The Rays look to split the series with Kansas City on Thursday afternoon with Jake Odorizzi (2-1, 2.88 ERA, 4.64 FIP) on the mound. Left-hander Jason Vargas (4-1, 1.19 ERA, 2.16 FIP) will start opposite of Odorizzi.

Odorizzi pitched a quality start on Saturday against the Blue Jays, allowing just three hits over seven innings. He completely shut down the Blue Jays while getting plenty of run support on his way to his second win of the season. He’s gone four consecutive starts without allowing more than an earned run, pitching to a 2.88 ERA to boot. The right-hander is 1-3 with a 5.40 ERA in five career appearances (four starts) against his former team, the Royals.

Vargas tossed six shutout innings against Cleveland on Saturday, allowing four hits while fanning six in a no-decision. In spite of a 4-5 record in 10 career starts against Tampa Bay, he has held the Rays to a 3.11 ERA and is a tough competitor to say the least. This season he has relied primarily on his 87 mph four-seam fastball and 81 mph circle changeup, while also mixing in a 74 mph knuckle curveball and an 87 mph two-seam fastball/sinker. Key matchups: Evan Longoria (7-23, 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB), Brad Miller (4-8), Rickie Weeks Jr. (2B, HR, 2 RBI)

You can read about the pitching matchup, and so much more, in our series preview, and I’ll post the starting lineup upon availability.

Rays 5/11/17 Starting Lineup

Beckham SS
Dickerson LF
Longoria 3B
Morrison 1B
Weeks DH
Robertson 2B
Kiermaier CF
Norris C
Odorizzi RHP

LBWMF: Rays drop third straight with 7-6 loss to KC

Rays manager Kevin Cash was ejected after an argument with third base umpire Bill Welke in the third inning of last night’s 7-6 loss to the Royals. (Photo Credit: Will Vragovic/Tampa Bay Times)

The Tampa Bay Rays squandered a four-run lead and lost in extra innings last night at the Trop, 7-6. For the first time this season, Tampa Bay has dropped three straight games, and start the day three games under .500. Kansas City now is 27–8 against the Rays since 2012.

The Rays took a four-run lead in the first inning against starter Chris Young, and Evan Longoria kick-started the rally by lashing a two-out infield hit off Young that veered just left of second base. Logan Morrison followed with a two-run moon shot to right, his team-leading eighth homer of the season.

The chronically cold Rickie Weeks Jr. actually got in on the fun too, doubling to left in front of Colby Rasmus, who was walked intentionally to put a pair on. After Weeks swiped third, Tim Beckham plated a run on an infield hit — a liner off Young’s glove that put Tampa Bay up by three. Kevin Kiermaier capped the scoring with a bloop over third, scoring Rasmus.

Rays manager Kevin Cash was tossed from the ball-game when the Royals got on the board in the third, after Jorge Bonifacio lined a ball to center for a single that skipped past Kiermaier for a two-base error — his third such gaffe over the last two games.

With Bonifacio at third, Matt Andriese balked, and Cash was thrown out after arguing the call. Cash discussed the ejection after the game with Rays Radio (below), voicing his frustration with the call from the third base umpire, as well as the overall loss.

Andriese was able to collect himself and hold Kansas City to just a run until the sixth inning, when the Royals began their slow rally to victory.

For their part, the Rays were able to push their lead to 6–3 when Brad Miller homered into the right-field corner off southpaw Travis Wood. It was Miller’s second homer this season.

Miller’s long-ball answered a two-run blast by Salvador Perez in the top of the sixth, that chased starter Matt Andriese, which answered Beckham’s RBI base hit that extended Tampa Bay’s lead to four.

Erasmo Ramirez took over the seventh and things began to go south. Ramirez relinquished a double, a walk, and a sacrifice before Tom Foley beckoned upon the services of Danny Farquhar.

The ineffectual Farquhar gave up a run on a grounder to second by Mike Moustakas, before allowing a two out single to Eric Hosmer. KC was down by just a run when the Rays’ bench coach called on Jumbo Diaz. After receiving Diaz’s fourth pitch, Jesus Sucre made a snap throw to first and picked off Hosmer to end the inning and the two-run rally. …The wolves were at bay, but only for an inning.

The Royals tied the game in the eighth when Diaz allowed an opposite field double to Perez. Alex Gordon followed with a single to center, and Kiermaier bobbled the ball, allowing Perez to score the tying run. Chase Whitley did as he’s done all season, complete the inning without incurring any other damage, keeping the score even.

Meanwhile, Alex Colome tossed a perfect ninth, and Jose Alvarado threw a pair of scoreless frames in the tenth and eleventh.

The Rays had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the eleventh, but Miller and Longoria struck out against Jake Juniz with Kevin Kiermaier at second.

As fate would have it, Kansas City took the lead against Diego Moreno, the right-hander that was just called up for Austin Pruitt on Tuesday. Mike Moustakas, the second batter of the inning, homered to right, giving the Royals a one run lead.

Kelvin Herrera worked the bottom of the frame for the save, giving Juniz the win. All told, Royals pitching held Tampa Bay scoreless over the final 6-2/3 innings, allowing just one hit over that stretch, after 11 previous hits.

The New What Next

The series continues Wednesday with Chris Archer (2-1, 3.57 ERA, 3.19 FIP) taking the mound for the Rays, opposite of former Ray Jason Hammel (1-3, 5.53 ERA, 4.01 FIP).

Archer pitched well against the Blue Jays Friday night, yet came away with a no-decision after having been victimized by Kendrys Morales in the seventh inning. Still, the Rays’ ace was overpowering, notching 11 strikeouts (also notching 13 swinging strikes). Archer ace now has one loss and three no-decisions over his last four trips to the mound in spite of two quality starts and 30 strikeouts over a 25 inning stretch.

Hammel had his best outing of the season against Cleveland on Friday, tossing six innings of one-run ball, while scattering just three hits. It was his first victory as a Royal, ending a six-start skid dating back to September of last season. Reporters have noted that he worked exclusively out of the stretch, ditching the windup in hopes of simplifying his delivery and achieving better results.

It’s something I had experimented with on the side and just committed to it. In the windup, there are a lot of pieces that have to go right, a lot of moving parts and the timing is going to be everything. With the stretch, everything is up and down, two movements up and down and you’re going to the plate.

The former Ray is 2-2 with a 4.26 ERA against Tampa Bay over six career starts. Key matchups: Corey Dickerson (1-3), Brad Miller (2-5, HR, RBI), Logan Morrison (1-2, HR, RBI), Colby Rasmus (6-19, 2 HR, 4 RBI), Rickie Weeks Jr. (3-8, 2B, BB)

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

Rays 5/10/17 Starting Lineup

Dickerson LF
Miller 2B
Longoria 3B
Morrison 1B
Weeks DH
Rasmus RF
Beckham SS
Kiermaier CF
Norris C
Archer RHP

Noteworthiness

— Matt Duffy made his first rehab start for the Charlotte Stone Crabs, going 1-for-3 at the plate and playing four innings at short. No balls were hit in his direction.

Duffy admitted afterward that he’s going to be sore for a while, although that’s to be expected with any type of injury, much less surgery.

He will take Wednesday off and play again on Thursday in another four or five inning outing.

The goal is every other day for the first three or four games. We’ve got a couple of built in off days to cut stuff out or add a little extra.

— A very telling stat with respect to the Rays recent found woes: