From one dome to another, the Rays will kick off a three-game road series against the Blue Jays tonight in Toronto. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)
Rays 8/8/16 Starting Lineup
Forsythe 2B
Kiermaier CF
Longoria 3B
Miller 1B
Mahtook RF
Franklin LF
Souza DH
Beckham SS
Wilson c
Odorizzi RHP
Noteworthiness
— Thus begins Brad Miller’s tenure with the Tampa Bay Rays as a first baseman. Miller told Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) that he didn’t see move to first base as a big deal, rather he’s ready to “see what happens” in his new position. He also acknowledged “it’ll be fun to get out there.” In 95 games at short this season, Miller — who lost his job in favor of the recently acquired Matt Duffy — has committed 14 errors (three throwing errors) and cost the team -15 defensive runs, and posting a -11.5 UZR.
— Today, the Rays launched a website, BallparkReimagined.com, designed to solicit ideas regarding the design and programming for a next generation ballpark. The team see’s this as a way to create a community asset that will serve as a gathering point for the Tampa Bay community and a catalyst for development and revitalization. The Rays not only want to enhance the fan experience during a ball game, they want to create a facility that is useful to the community year round.
The Rays encourage you to visit the website and submit your ideas. The feedback gathered through this process will be used to help develop a new stadium (or in their eyes, community asset) for the ball club.
Jake Odorizzi gets the start in Monday’s series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)
The Tampa Bay Rays may be last in the American League East, and second-to-last in the AL, but they have won six of of their last 10 games against the Blue Jays this season, including a three-game sweep in mid-May. They’ll take that success into Toronto where they’ll take on the second best team in the AL East, starting Monday.
Tampa Bay lost 6-3 Sunday in the series finale against the Minnesota Twins, completing a 6-4 homestand that included a three-game sweep of the Evil Empire.
In spite of their 45-65 overall record (50-60 Pythagorean Expectation, 55-55 BaseRuns), they are 11-11 since the All -Star break, and have been pitching well — allowing three runs or fewer in 11 of their past 13 games.
The Blue Jays are returning from a 4-3 road trip against the Houston Astros and the Kansas City Royals without much, if any, offensive production. Toronto was outscored 19-17 over the seven games and batted .138 with runners in scoring position.
They haven’t scored more than four runs in a game since July 30 when they plated nine against the Baltimore Orioles, who have one-game lead over the Blue Jays (63-49) in the AL East.
Kevin Cash will throw Jake Odorizzi (6-5, 3.70 ERA), Drew Smyly (3-11, 5.14 ERA), and Blake Snell (3-4, 2.95 ERA) over the next three days. John Gibbons will counter with RA Dickey (8-12, 4.49 ERA), Marco Estrada (7-4, 2.92 ERA), and JA Happ (15-3, 3.09 ERA).
Rays Series Starters
Odorizzi posted a six inning shutout against the Royals on Wednesday, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out six. That makes three consecutive scoreless outings for the righty, and he’s gone at least six frames each time.
Smyly pitched seven quality innings in a no-decision against the Royals on Thursday, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out 10. After a rough first half of the season, the southpaw appears to have turned a corner. He’s now collected three straight quality starts for the first time since April, and his 5.14 ERA — although still bloated — is down to its lowest mark since June 20.
Snell turned in another solid outing on Friday, striking out seven while giving up just one earned run on four hits and two walks over 5-1/3 innings. The southpaw threw 97 pitches by the sixth, leading to his early exit, however, Snell was still impressive — inducing 12 swinging strikes and putting together a fifth straight start with no more than two earned runs allowed. He also didn’t allow a homer for the fourth time in his last five turns, giving up just two over 55 innings this season.
Blue Jays Series Starters
Dickey gave up just one run on six hits over seven innings in a win on Tuesday against the Astros. The knuckleballer struck out five. Dickey snapped a three-game losing skid with his outing, his first quality start since July 10 against the Royals. Dickey had full control over his repertoire and didn’t walk a batter. Free passes were a huge problem over his losing streak, as he walked nine batters and hit three more in just 14-2/3 innings. He is 1-1 with a 5.73 ERA in two starts against Tampa Bay this season, and 8-9 with a 4.33 ERA against the Rays overall. Key matchups: Tim Beckham (2-6, 2 2B, 2 BB), Logan Forsythe (6-23, 2 2B, 3 RBI, BB), Evan Longoria (14-49, 5 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 5 BB), Steven Souza Jr. (3-11, HR, 2 RBI, BB)
Estrada held the Astros to four hits and a single run over seven strong innings on Wednesday. He struck out seven. Even though he’s been effective overall, July was his worst month of the season (4.24 ERA), and he hadn’t allowed fewer than two runs in an outing since May 30. Estrada is fifth among all big league starters in WHIP at 0.99, outperforming Chris Sale, Jake Arrieta and Madison Bumgarner. The fastball/curveball/changeup/cutter throwing righty is 1-1 with a 0.86 ERA over three starts (and 31-1/3 innings) against the Rays. Key matchups: Corey Dickerson (3-3, RBI), Logan Forsythe (3-8, 2B)
Happ fanned six over six innings Thursday in Houston, surrendering just one run on four hits and a walk en route to a 4-1 win. Happ’s become unbeatable in his age 33 season — Toronto hasn’t lost one of his starts since June 6, earning a win in nine of his 10 outings over that span. He’s been really good of late, allowing one run or fewer in five of his last six starts. Be that as it may, Happ is 0-1 with a 7.98 ERA in three starts against the Rays this season, and 2-3 with a 5.37 ERA overall against Tampa Bay. Key matchups: Tim Beckham (4-10, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, BB), Logan Forsythe (5-19, HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB), Evan Longoria (10-26, 2 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 3 BB), Brad Miller (2-3), Steven Souza Jr. (5-11, 2 2B, HR, 2 RBI)
The Tampa Bay Rays improved to 6-3 on the 10-game homestand, and clinched their first winning homestand of the season. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)
The Tampa Bay Rays look to finish off the Minnesota Twins, and take the 2016 Knutson Cup, after clinching their first winning homestand of the season last night. The Rays, who won 7-3 Saturday night, is now 6-3 on their 10-game run at the Trop. Making his second start since rejoining the rotation last week, righty Matt Andriese (6-2, 2.72 ERA) will take the hill, opposite of Kyle Gibson (3-6, 4.94 ERA).
The New What Next
Andriese looks to build on his solid start from Tuesday, when he threw four innings of one run ball in his first start since June 25, allowing three hits while striking out three Royals. The righty took Matt Moore’s spot in the rotation, and was limited to 58 pitches in his return to front five. In nine starts this season, Andriese is 6-2 with a 2.72 ERA, notching 57 strikeouts over 76 innings of work. The righty is more than capable of handling himself in the starting rotation — he threw a shutout against the Athletics back on May 14, and collected a pair of seven-inning starts this season while surrendering just one earned run.
Andriese told Neil Solondz (Rays Radio) he should be able to throw closer to 80 pitches this afternoon:
In his only start against Minnesota this season, Andriese earned a win after throwing five innings of three run ball (two earned) on June 4th in Minnesota.
Gibson was hammered over 4-2/3 innings on Tuesday, allowing six runs on ten hits and one walk while striking out only two Indians. He held Cleveland scoreless through the front four innings before falling apart in the fifth. That particular game marked Gibson’s shortest outing since April 22, which hiked his ERA up to 4.94 on the season; this after the righty posted a 3.69 ERA over five starts in his best month of the season. Gibson has not faced Tampa Bay this season, although he is 0-4 with an 8.85 ERA in four starts against Tampa Bay.
Forsythe 2B
Franklin LF
Longoria 3B
Miller SS
Mahtook CF
Dickerson DH
Souza RF
Beckham 1B
Maile C
Andriese RHP
Noteworthiness
— Matt Duffy will join the Durham Bulls tonight for first of a short stretch of rehab games at the Triple-A level. Duffy, went 3-6 in two games with the Charlotte Stone Crabs, however, he did not field any grounders at short. If all goes well, Duffy will join the Rays on Friday in New York.
— The Rays have outscored opponents 93-58 since All-Star break; a +35 run differential. Per FanGraphs BaseRuns, Tampa Bay should be 55-54 on the season, while their Pythagorean Expectation sits at 50-59 — both of which are vastly better than their actual 45-65 W/L record.
Scene report: Topicana Field, Friday night. (Photo Credit: Anthony Ateek/X-Rays Spex)The Tampa Bay Rays will play game two of three against the Minnesota Twins, after dropping the first game of the series Friday night, 6-2. Chris Archer (5-15, 4.38 ERA) will toe the rubber opposite of José Berrios (2-1, 8.57 ERA).
You take the good with the bad… Brad Miller hit his 20th homer of the season in the sixth inning of last night’s game. The tandem of Evan Longoria and Miller are now the first pair of players since 2012 (Melvin Upton Jr. and Ben Zobrist) to hit 20 or more home runs in a season.
Click the screenshot to be redirected to video of Miller’s 20th home run.
Miller’s home runs have averaged 415.3 feet prior to his 413 foot solo blast Friday, according to MLB StatCast. 16 of those home runs traveled more than 400 feet.
Credit where it’s due, Nick Franklin also made an impressive over-the-shoulder basket catch on a foul popup to retire Kurt Suzuki in the sixth inning.
Click the screenshot to be redirected to video of Franklin’s over-the-shoulder catch.Still, Tampa Bay dropped another winnable game thanks to an impotent offense and a bullpen that couldn’t hold a late lead.
The New What Next
Archer leads the bigs in losses (15) and the AL in strikeouts (161). He is 4-1 with a 1.78 ERA in five career starts against the Twins, and 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in two starts against them at the Trop. Berrios pitched a career-high six innings in his last start on August 1st against Cleveland. He’s posted 25 strikeouts and 12 walks (2/1 K/BB) in 21 innings. You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.
Rays 8/6/16 Starting Lineup
Forsythe 2B
Kiermaier CF
Longoria 3B
Miller SS
Franklin LF
Dickerson DH
Souza Jr. RF
Beckham 1B
Wilson C
Archer RHP
Noteworthiness
— There was some good news on the rehab front last night, with a trio of Rays making rehab appearances, writes Neil Solondz (Rays Radio). In Port Charlotte, Mikie Mahtook played eight innings in center, going 2-for-4 at the plate, while Matt Duffy played six innings at short, going 2-for-3 with an RBI double for the Charlotte Stone Crabs (Advanced-A). In Tennessee, RHP Chase Whitley started for the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits, pitching 4.0 innings. He surrendered a run on two hits and walked two while striking out five. Whitley threw 55 pitches.
— The Rays placed LHP Enny Romero on the 15-day DL due to a back strain, and recalled RHP Danny Farquhar to fill his spot on the active roster.
— It looks as though the Rays may seek more from the Giants after learning that prospect Lucius Fox (in Matt Moore trade) is injured. Per Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times), Fox is expected to be sidelined 4-6 weeks due a bone bruise in his foot which he incurred prior to the trade. The injury was not disclosed.
— Per the Rays, Three of MLB’s top four home run hitters since June 11 are at Tropicana Field tonight:
E. Encarnacion 17
B. Miller 15
B. Dozier 15
M, Kepler 15
Alex Colome earned his 26th save of the season in the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2, come-from-behind win in the season finale against the Kansas City Royals on Thursday. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)
The Tampa Bay Rays ready themselves for the final leg of the Knutson Classic on Friday, when they welcome the Minnesota Twins into Tropicana Field for a three-game series.
Both teams are coming of a decent stretch of baseball. The Rays split their four-game series with the Kansas City Royals, while the Minnesota Twins tagged Cleveland with 37 runs over the course of their four-game set. They are each 6-4 over a 10-game stretch, although Minnesota has won six of their last eight.
The Twins trail the Rays by a 1-1/2 games in their effort to escape the American League basemen, and they are 20-33 on the road this season. However, they have not lost a road series since June 28-30 in Chicago. Tampa Bay leads 71-68 all-time in the Knutson Challenge, including 35-30 at the Trop, yet the Twins took the cup last season for the first time since 2006. Minnesota has also won the series in St. Pete each of the past two seasons. Working in their favor though, the Rays took three of four from the Twins in June at Target Field.
Kevin Cash will throw Blake Snell (3-4, 3.08 ERA), Chris Archer (5-15, 4.38 ERA), and Matt Andriese (6-2, 2.72 ERA) over the next three days. Paul Molitor will counter with Ervin Santana (4-9, 3.66 ERA), José Berrios (2-1, 8.57 ERA), and Kyle Gibson (3-6, 4.94 ERA).
Rays Series Starters
Snell struck out nine Yankees over 5-1/3 innings Sunday, allowing just two runs on five hits and three walks in the 5-3 win. The southpaw lasted long enough to earn the victory, yet it was the first time in four starts that Snell didn’t work through the sixth inning. Snell capped an impressive month of July, posting a 2.76 ERA/1.19 WHIP/2.36 K:BB line over 29-1/3 innings and five starts.
Archer gave up three runs on six hits and a walk over 7-1/3 innings in a loss Monday to the Royals. He struck out six. Archer entered the start with the 11th-worst run support in the AL, which continued against Danny Duffy, who one-hit the Rays over eight innings. Be that as it may, Archer now has thrown three straight quality starts, collecting an excellent 8.33 K/BB over 20-1/3 innings, and allowing him to lower his ERA to 4.38 — its lowest mark since May 17.
Andriese threw four innings of one run ball in his first start since June 25, allowing three hits while striking out three Royals. The righty took Matt Moore’s spot in the rotation, and was limited to 58 pitches in his return to front five. In nine starts this season, Andriese is 6-2 with a 2.72 ERA, notching 57 strikeouts over 76 innings of work. The righty is more than capable of handling himself in the starting rotation — he threw a shutout against the Athletics back on May 14, and collected a pair of seven-inning starts this season while surrendering just one earned run.
Twins Series Starters
Santana allowed three runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks over six innings in a win against the White Sox on Sunday. He fanned five. The righty left the game with a two-run lead that the bullpen was able to protect, leading to his fourth victory overall. He’s now held opponents to two or fewer earned runs in seven of his last eight starts, which has allowed him to lower his ERA to 3.66. The Rays brutalized Santana for five runs on six hits (including three homers) over six innings on June 4th. Key matchups: Corey Dickerson (2-6, 2 2B), Logan Forsythe (1-2), Nick Franklin (2-4, 2B, RBI, BB), Kevin Kiermaier (1-2, RBI), Evan Longoria (8-20, 3 HR, 4 RBI, BB), Steven Souza Jr. (1-3, HR, 3 RBI, BB)
Berrios allowed three runs on four hits over six innings of a win Monday over Cleveland. He struck out five. The righty failed to record a quality start in his first four starts earlier this season, but he managed to do it against one of the American League’s best ball clubs in his return to the rotation. Berrios impressively didn’t walk a batter; juxtapose that with his first four career starts, when he walked 12 batters in just 15 innings. This season he’s relied primarily on a whiffy 95 mph four-seam fastball, and an 82 mph curveball with a lot of run. He’s also mixed in a firm 86 mph changeup with arm-side fade, and a 94 mph sinker that induces a lot of fly balls.
Gibson was hammered over 4-2/3 innings on Tuesday, allowing six runs on ten hits and one walk while striking out only two Indians. He held Cleveland scoreless through the front four innings before falling apart in the fifth. That particular game marked Gibson’s shortest outing since April 22, which hiked his ERA up to 4.94 on the season; this after the righty posted a 3.69 ERA over five starts in his best month of the season. Gibson has not faced Tampa Bay this season, although he is 0-4 with an 8.85 ERA in four starts against the Rays. Key matchups: Logan Forsythe (2-3, 2B), Nick Franklin (2-5, HR, 3 RBI), Desmond Jennings (3-7), Kevin Kiermaier (3-5, 2B, BB), Evan Longoria (4-10, 2B, 4 RBI, BB), Brad Miller (5-11, 2 2B, RBI)
Noteworthiness
— Brian Dozier has five homers in his past five games.
— Alex Colome has notched 26 saves in 27 opportunities.
