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Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays succumb to Zack Greinke, 5-0

Collecting a total of three hits, the Tampa bay Rays couldn't get it started against Zack Greinke and the Diamondbacks on Tuesday. (Photo Credit: The Tampa Bay Rays) — Collecting a total of three hits, the Tampa bay Rays couldn’t get it started against Zack Greinke and the Diamondbacks on Tuesday. (Photo Credit: The Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays ran into the buzzsaw that was Zack Greinke Tuesday night, as the $206-Million man, and the Arizona Diamondbacks, snapped Tampa Bay’s recent win streak at four. Matt Moore gave up a three-run homer in the fourth inning, as Arizona cruised to a 5-0 win over the Rays.

Source: FanGraphs

Moore retired his first six hitters — his first 1-2-3 innings in a month (since May 3) — and needed just 26 pitches over the front three frames.

However, things changed in the fourth inning after Paul Goldschmidt doubled to left center with one out, then advanced to third on a liner to left by Wellington Castillo. After Brandon Drury struck out, a play that was initially ruled a foul tip and led to the ejection of Diamondbacks Manager Chip Hale, Jake Lamb hit a wall scraping opposite field three-run homer giving Arizona a 3-0 lead.

Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) made mention of a play that stood out on the night, Corey Dickerson’s botched attempt at Lamb’s home run.

Dickerson acknowledged a couple of missteps. He misjudged how far the ball would carry, he didn’t put his hand out to gauge where the wall was, and he jumped into the wall rather than straight up.

For his part, Dickerson spoke about the play, saying,

When I tried to jump my shoulder and head kind of hit the wall and it wouldn’t let me go up anymore. I should have taken a better step on it. It is what it is.

The Diamondbacks extended the lead in the sixth inning when Michael Bourn walked and Goldschmidt crushed his 11th homer of the season, a two-run blast to left. Moore has now allowed 14 home runs this season, a distinction that finds him tied for the second most in the American League. The Rays have also allowed the fifth most homers in all of baseball (78).

In spite of the homers, Cash said Moore was as sharp as he had been all season.

There was a lot to be really positive about. He was extremely efficient, that was outstanding. … You could argue the stuff coming out of his hand and the way he attacked hitters was as good as any game that he’s had. … I thought it was a really good outing for Matt, something we can really build off.

Moore ended up going seven innings, allowing five runs (all earned) on seven hits and a walk, while striking out three. Moore needed just 89 pitches on the night, saving an overworked and short-handed bullpen.

Credit where it’s due, both Taylor Motter and Desmond Jennings made multiple impressive plays in the field to keep the Diamondbacks from scoring any more runs.

DES!

Diving catch ends the @dbacks 2nd!

His snag in the first = solid. #RaysUp

WATCH: https://t.co/iyaj8tQYOB pic.twitter.com/fVGIWVBaxT

— #VoteRays (@RaysBaseball) June 8, 2016

Can’t hit them by @d_jennings8 tonight. #RaysUp

WATCH: https://t.co/Q9SMfFZyUA pic.twitter.com/WZvl7IEasb

— #VoteRays (@RaysBaseball) June 8, 2016

Greinke didn’t allow a Rays runner into scoring position, and scattered just three singles and a pair of walks over the course of his complete game shutout. Only one leadoff hitter, Hank Conger, reached base, yet he was wiped out when Moore bunted too hard, and into a third inning double play.

The New What Next

The Rays have a chance to win the series Wednesday afternoon when RHP Jake Odorizzi takes the mound opposite of RHP Archie Bradley. Odorizzi is coming off a career-high 120-pitch outing on Friday, working six innings in his seventh no-decision of the season (second most in majors). The righty is 5-3 with a 3.18 ERA in interleague play. Bradley will make his fifth start since being recalled from Triple-A Reno on May 29. With Reno, he was 5-1 with a 1.99 ERA in 40-2/3 innings, collecting 47 strikeouts along the way. You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.

Rays 6/8/16 Starting Lineup

Motter SS
Dickerson LF
Longoria 3B
Morrison 1V
Souza RF
Jennings CF
Beckham 2B
Casali C
Odorizzi RHO

Noteworthiness

— Second baseman Logan Forsythe is scheduled to play a seven-inning rehab assignment Wednesday with the Triple-A Durham Bulls. He is expected to rejoin the team during the upcoming home stand June 10 – June 19.

Rays 6/7/16 starting lineup, Blake Snell call-up rumors, etc

Saves in 16 straight chances —Alex Colome matches Carlos Reyes and Rafael Soriano for the club record to start a season. (Photo Credit: Tampa bay Rays) — Saves in 16 straight chances — Alex Colome matches Carlos Reyes and Rafael Soriano for the club record to start a season. (Photo Credit: Tampa bay Rays)

Rays 6/7/16 Starting Lineup

Motter 3B
Miller SS
Jennings CF
Morrison 1B
Mahtook RF
Dickerson LF
Beckham 2B
Conger C
Moore LHP

Noteworthiness

— The Rays have not announced the pitching probables for the weekend series against the Astros. They also moved scheduled Friday starter Matt Andriese to the bullpen, for Tuesday’s game at least, to bolster the tired group of relievers. In the end, however, that’s only a temporary fix, as there is no indication the starters will pitch deeper into ballgames in the near future.

On the subject, Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) wrote, “That could be a sign they are considering calling up top LHP prospect Blake Snell, who just won Triple-A International League pitcher of the week honors for back-to-back scoreless starts and last worked for Durham on Sunday, which puts him on schedule to pitch Friday.”

If the Rays aspire to something greater beyond the month of September, they’ll have to do something potentially radical to stabilize the starting rotation, and that something could be the call-up of the team’s number one prospect.

Snell already made a positive impression on skipper Kevin Cash, and while his walk rate has ticked up with the Bulls, he’s still proving difficult to hit. Whatever the case, if the team is willing to recall Snell, it could free up another arm as trade bait — namely Matt Moore, who holds a $7.5-Million option in his contract going into the 2017 the season.

Interesting enough, Snell tweeted over the weekend, “What I gotta do…” Take that how you want.

What I gotta do… 😂🙈

— Blake Snell (@snellzilla11) June 5, 2016

— Logan Forsythe (shoulder fracture) did a full batting and fielding workout at Tropicana Field on Monday. He remains on track to rejoin the team on their upcoming nine-game home stand, starting Friday.

— Evan Longoria said he just needed a day off due to “Total body soreness.” The third baseman based the decision on a “compilation” of things, like fouling ball off his shin over weekend, and taking grounder off his knee. He allowed the decision looks odd considering Zack Greinke is pitching tonight, and the team has an off-day on Thursday, Longoria said he has to “be smart” and “listen” to his body. Both Evan and Kevin Cash said he is available to pinch-hit tonight, or go in as a defensive replacement later if needed.

— Don’t forget, you can read about tonight’s pitching matchup in our series preview.

Tampa Bay Rays 6/6/16 starting lineup, Longoria named AL player of the week, etc

Chase Field, as seen through the lens of Rays beat writer Marc Topkin.

Rays 6/6/16 Starting Lineup

Mahtook LF
Beckham 2B
Longoria 3B
Morrison 1B
Souza RF
Jennings CF
Motter SS
Casali C
Archer RHP

Noteworthiness

— Evan Longoria was named the AL player of the week on Monday, after he hit .464 with five homers, nine RBI and seven runs over the past week. That stretch included the series against Twins, where he became the first Rays player to homer in each game of a four-game series.

— According to Rich Hollenberg (Fox Sports Sun) out of all the AL third basemen, only Longoria and Kyle Seager rank in the top five in hits, home runs, RBI, extra base hits, slugging percentage, and fielding percentage. Longo tops Seager in hits, home runs, extra base hits, and slugging percentage.

— I can go for that:

On pace for:

Career-high 41 HR
Club-record-tying 47 2B
Club-record 88 XBH
100 RBI, his most since 2010#RaysUp pic.twitter.com/AljNOJPTIR

— #VoteRays (@RaysBaseball) June 6, 2016

— Don’t forget, you can read about the pitching matchup, and so much more, in our series preview.

The New What Next: Rays vs Diamondbacks — an interleague series preview

Brad Miller's sacrifice-fly put the Rays ahead of the Twins on Sunday. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays) — Brad Miller’s sacrifice-fly drove home the go-ahead run in the series finale against the Twins on Sunday. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

Thanks to the power show provided by Evan Longoria and Logan Morrison, the Tampa Bay Rays have quickly changed their fortunes.

The dynamic duo belted nine of the team’s 11 homers over the last four games, helping Tampa Bay take three of four from the Minnesota Twins. They look to continue their blistering hot streak on Monday, when the Rays head to Arizona to close out their 10-game road trek with a three-game series against the Diamondbacks.

Longoria launched a franchise-record five homers over the four-game series, while Morrison went deep four times against Minnesota, helping Tampa Bay take three in a row after a lowly 2-11 stretch. Both players crossed the plate eight times during their respective nine-game hit streaks, although Longoria — who is batting .457 in his past nine contests — has collected 14 RBI to boot. That’s not to say LoMo has been a slacker…not in the least. Morrison, who hit four home runs in the last three games, has a .423 average over his last 20.

Both those guys, gosh, they’re on fire, manager Kevin Cash said following the series finale on Sunday. Just shows when you get two really good hitters on fire, they can carry a big load for you offensively and they’re doing that.

The Diamondbacks will try to keep the pair in check after salvaging the series finale against the Chicago Cubs on Sunday for just their fourth win in 13 contests. With the victory, Arizona snapped Jake Arrieta’s 20 game win streak.

(Beating Arrieta) is something no one has done for a while now, manager Chip Hale said. I’m very proud of the guys. They battled. I told them they have the guts of a burglar.

Arizona will begin a nine-game home stand on Monday, although the team has under performed at Chase Field this season, going just 9-20 at home.

Screen Shot 2016-06-05 at 9.47.48 PM

Kevin Cash will throw Chris Archer (3-7, 4.75 ERA), Matt Moore (2-3, 5.46 ERA), and Jake Odorizzi (2-3, 3.33 ERA) over the next three days. Chip Hale will counter with Robbie Ray (2-4, 4.74 ERA), Zack Greinke (7-3, 4.29 ERA), and Archie Bradley (2-1, 4.94 ERA).

Screen Shot 2016-06-05 at 9.44.31 PM

Rays series starters

Archer struggled again Wednesday, allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits over six innings. He struck out four and walked two. Archer has allowed at least four runs in each of his last three starts. The good news is that he has been a victim of the BABIP luck dragons to an extent, and both his batting average on balls in play and HR/FB rates are both primed for positive regression. That said, his fastball velocity is still down, and his slider isn’t as potent of a weapon as it once was.

Moore was lifted Thursday after throwing 96 pitches in five innings of work. Following the game, he expressed a desire to pitch deeper into games, saying,

It’s baseball. This is not Little League with pitch counts or high school where they are trying to keep you healthy and things like that. This is the major leagues – it’s time to go. This is something that we prepare for.

It should be noted, Moore blew leads on two separate occasions. Moore clarified that he wasn’t questioning Kevin Cash’s decision-making process, rather he feels that he (and the rest of the staff) is capable of working through some of the incurred trouble within his starts.

I’m not questioning the moves they’re making, I’m just saying we do have more in the tank. That if he does allow us to go out there for the sixth or the seventh or whatever inning it is, that we are going to be okay, that we are going to be able to compete in those moments. And to us starters it doesn’t matter how many times the lineups turn over. It doesn’t matter who we’re playing. The mentality within our group is we’re going to go out there until he takes the ball from us.

Currently sporting a bloated 5.46 ERA, Moore has made it past the fifth inning only once in his last six starts. As former Ray James Shields once said, “If you don’t like it, play better.”

Odorizzi allowed just two runs on five hits and three walks while fanning six, in a six inning start against Minnesota on Friday. The quality outing was enough to put Tampa Bay in a position to pick up the win. Odorizzi has allowed two runs or fewer in seven of his past eight outings, lowering his ERA to 3.33 along the way.

Diamondbacks series starters

Ray lasted just five innings in Houston on Wednesday, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out six. It took the 24 year-old righty 99 pitches just to get that far, and he’s failed to go six innings in seven of his last eight starts. Ray sports an excellent 10.42 K/9 rate, however, he’s accompanied that with a high BB/9 rate and that — combined with a bout with the BABIP luck dragons — left him with a 4.74 ERA so far. In 2016, Ray has relied primarily on a 95 mph swing and miss four seam fastball and a 94 mph sinker. He’s also mixed in an 86 mph 12-6 slider, a hard 87 mph changeup, and an 82 mph worm-killer curveball.

Greinke was really good in his start on Thursday, collecting his seventh win by throwing seven scoreless innings against Houston. He scattered just four hits and fanned a season-high 11 batters. The right-hander was in complete control of his pitches all game and didn’t walk a single batter, and he was able to lower his season ERA to 4.29. So far this season Greinke has relied primarily on a fairly straight 92 mph four seam fastball, an 89 mph hard changeup, and an 86 mph ground ball inducing slider. He’s also mixed in a 76 mph curveball with run and depth, and a 92 mph sinker. Key matchups: Desmond Jennings (2-8), Logan Morrison (5-10, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 2 BB), Steve Pearce (1-1, 2B, RBI)

Bradley put together a strong outing on Friday, allowing just one run on four hits while walking three and striking out a career-high 10. According to his scouting report, Bradley is hinting that he could be close to taking the next step. While he still loses his release point on occasion, it doesn’t happen as frequently as it once had. So far this season Bradley has relied primarily on a 94 mph ground ball inducing four seam fastball, and a sharp 82 mph knuckle curve with lots of bite. He’s also mixed in a firm 88 mph changeup that generates a good number of fly balls.

Noteworthiness

— Steven Souza Jr. has recorded three RBI and three runs scored during his three-game hit streak.

— Yasmany Tomas has rebounded from an 0-15 stretch and is currently on a five-game hit streak.

— David Peralta (right wrist inflammation) is expected to rejoin the team on Monday after being placed on the 15-day disabled list on May 1

Brandon Guyer placed on 15-day DL, Rays recall Nick Franklin

The Tampa Bay Rays placed OF Brandon Guyer on the 15-day DL on Sunday. (Photo Credit: TBO.com)

The Tampa Bay Rays were forced to place to place OF Brandon Guyer on the 15-day disabled list on Sunday due to a left hamstring strain. The move comes after Guyer missed Saturday afternoon’s game after previously starting 14 straight.

Guyer, one of the Rays hottest hitters over the last month, told reporters that he felt his hamstring grab in the series opener against Kansas City, but thought the injury was minor and would improve. However, the condition persisted and he felt it worsen during a game ending ground out Friday night. Guyer told the the team’s medical staff, who made the decision to place him on the DL now rather than risk inflaming the hamstring more.

Guyer slashed .271 BA/.365 OBP/.472 SLG/.837 OPS in 40 games this season, with six homers and 14 RBI. As of ,writing there is no concrete plan on when Guyer will return, although he hopes to have just the minimal 15-day stay on the DL.

The team announced that INF Nick Franklin will take his place on the roster. Franklin has been hot of late at Triple-A Durham, with six multi-hit games in his last 10.

#Rays Cash said Franklin has been hitting well at @DurhamBulls and Motter’s versatility to play OF helps make it work.

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) June 5, 2016

The team can make the move because of Taylor Motter’s versatility — he can play in the outfield as well. To that end, neither Jaff Decker nor Dayron Varona — the two outfielders at Durham worthy of consideration — are on the 40-man roster.