Chris Archer is encouraged by teammates after giving up a two-run home run during the fifth-inning on July 19, 2015. (Photo Credit: Aaron Vincent Elkaim/The Canadian Press via AP)The Tampa Bay Rays hope that interleague play will knock them out of their malaise, and provide the team’s scuffling offense a boost when they visit the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday, to start a three-game series.
Tampa Bay is 6-3 against the National League this season while batting .279 and averaging five runs per game — much better than the team’s overall marks of .238 and 3.59. The Rays are coming off a subpar three game set against Toronto in which they totaled just five runs while losing two of three. They managed only four hits in a 4-0 loss in the series finale, on Sunday. On the other hand, at 32-62 the Phillies own the worst record in baseball. Philadelphia finished a three-game sweep of the Marlins with an 8-7 victory.
Kevin Cash will look throw Matt Moore, Nathan Karns, and Jake Odorizzi over the next three games. Moore (1-0, 7.07 ERA) continues his search for consistency since returning from Tommy John surgery. The lefty is coming off best of his three starts since returning from DL, where he limited Houston to three runs on five hits in five innings, earning his first victory since September 29, 2013. Moore has eight strikeouts and seven walks overall in 2015, and has allowed eight runs and 15 hits in nine innings combined over his first two starts since April 2014. Karns (4-5, 3.63 ERA) was ambushed in a loss to the Royals on July 9, allowing seven runs on nine hits in six innings. Odorizzi (5-6, 2.80 ERA) was roughed up for six runs on six hits, while walking five and striking out just one over 4-1/3 innings of a 6-2 loss to Toronto on Friday night.
The Rays have won four of six meetings since losing to the Phillies in five games in the 2008 World Series.
Rays and Phillies series starters over the last 30 days.Rays and Phillies offensive production over the last 30 days.Rays and Phillies by the numbers.David Buchanan: Buchanan (0-5, 7.58 ERA), who is winless in 2015, is coming off his best start of the season, yielding just one run while scattering eight hits over five innings in a no-decision against the Giants on July 11. However, the 26-year-old Atlanta native allowed 24 runs over 24-2/3 innings in five April starts before being demoted to Triple-A. Buchanan rejoined rotation just before the All-Star Break. The 26 year-old righty went 6-8 with a 3.75 ERA in 20 starts last season. He has never faced the Rays.
Aaron Nola: Nola (3-1, 3.58 ERA) will be called up to make his major league debut Tuesday night. The Phillies top prospect features an 89-93 mph fastball (ranked 50/55+ by FanGraphs) that has a touch of run, a 76-79 mph curveball (ranked 55/60)that starts behind right-handed hitters’ backs and crosses through the zone late, and an 80-84 mph change-up (ranked 40/50+) that features a bit of fade and sink. Per Nathaniel Stoltz (FanGraphs),
Nola has a good idea of what he’s doing on the mound and can spot his pitches well. While his mechanics are unconventional, they are relatively simple and he’s coordinated enough to repeat his motion. He didn’t command his off-speed pitches particularly well in the outing–they tended to either be get-me-over offerings or chase pitches far out of the zone–and he’ll need to get more precise in that area as he advances, but there’s no reason he can’t have solid-average command in the future.
Adam Morgan: Per Rotowire, Morgan (1-2, 3.91 ERA) allowed two runs on four hits, walking three and striking out three over 6-1/3 innings of a no-decision against Miami on Friday night. The 25 year-old lefty has relies primarily on his 90 mph four seam fastball that results in a fair number of fly-balls, and a swing-and-miss 81 mph slider. He also mixes in a whiff worthy 78 mph change-up, and rarely throws a 73 mph curveball that generates weak poppers. He too has not faced the Rays.
Noteworthiness
— Evan Longoria is 2-20 with five strikeouts in his last six games for Tampa Bay.
— Steven Souza Jr. (finger), the team’s leader in homers with 15, is expected to return from the disabled list on Tuesday. Outfielders Joey Butler (5-for-his-last-45) or Grady Sizemore (1-for-his-last-27) the most likely candidates to be optioned or designated for assignment to make room on the 25-man roster for Souza.
— Jim Hickey on the Phillies fan’s belligerence:
#Rays Hickey on ’08 Philly fans’ belligerence: They wear it as a badge of honor, but it really ought to be a source of embarrassment to them
This time the Splash Bro’s left the bucket on Curt Casali’s head. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)The Tampa Bay Rays hit a pair of homers against the Toronto Blue Jays bullpen late, and held on to beat Toronto 3-2 on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Rays moved back over .500 in the W/L column, and has split the first two games of the series against their AL East foe.
Tampa Bay scored first, taking a 1-0 lead in the third inning against RA Dickey. Tim Beckham worked a lead off four pitch walk to start the frame, but was nearly picked off first by the knuckle baller. Manager Kevin Cash sought to have the play reviewed, and the replay overturned an initial call. Beckham caught another break when he was balked to second, then moved to third on a groundout by Curt Casali. John Jaso continued his hot hitting with an RBI double to right, giving the Rays a one run advantage.
They had an opportunity to extend that lead in the fifth, as Beckham attempted to score from second on Jaso’s two-out single to Kevin Pillar in center field. However Pillar had other ideas and gunned Beckham down at the plate. As BA pointed out on the broadcast, Beckham was a bit tentative as he came to third base — looking behind him to see where the play was, instead of putting his head down and charging home. His hesitancy cost him a few steps ahead of Pillar’s throw, and thus a run.
Meanwhile Erasmo was in the midst of another solid start, working around a few blips to get to the fifth with a 1-0 lead. However the luck dragons nipped at Ramirez’s heels in the fifth, and ultimately spelled his doom.
With Kevin Pillar on third (after a leadoff double by Pillar) and a productive infield out by Ezequiel Carrera, the smiley guy caught an unlucky break when first baseman James Loney couldn’t hang on to a popper in foul territory that drifted into the stands as a fan hit his glove. Devon Travis took advantage of the second chance with a double that made tied the game at one apiece.
Ramirez got Jose Reyes to pop out for the second out of the inning, but still had the dangerous Josh Donaldson at the plate and the go-ahead run at second. While his pitch count sat at an efficient 65 pitches, one of the American League’s top pitchers for the past few months couldn’t stave off the dreaded visit to the mound by Cash. The Rays skipper summoned Steve Geltz, whom he said simply was the better matchup following the game.
The move to pull the righty was confounding to many, Ramirez included:
Of course, you’re just one out away from (the end of the inning), and there’s a righty coming and you’re feeling good, you’re throwing strikes, I was surprised, Ramirez said. But at the same time you have to say, ‘Okay, he’s coming with the relievers.’ I have no problem, I did my job and now I have to cheer for my teammates and wish they do the job and we get the win.
To be clear, despite what Cash may say, he does not trust Ramirez. The Rays manager allowed Odorizzi to give up five runs in one inning (six overall) the day prior, yet he pulled Ramirez two outs into the fifth after he allowed just one run on 65 pitches. Erasmo deserved better.
Geltz got the final out in the fifth, and now has stranded 18 of 20 inherited runners. Yet the plan blew up in the face of Cash after Joey Bats hit his 18th homer to start the sixth for a short-lived 2-1 advantage.
Down by one in the seventh, the Rays tied the game when John Gobbons turned the ball over to the Jays bullpen. Brandon Guyer hit a bomb to left off lefty Aaron Loup on a 1-2 pitch.
Ryan Tepera pulled a Geltz and got the final out in the seventh, but allowed a leadoff homer to Curt Casali in the eighth for a 3-2 Tampa Bay advantage.
Cash leaned on the three-headed monster that is Kevin Jepsen, Brad Boxberger, and Jake McGee in the final three innings of the game. Jepsen threw a 1-2-3 seventh inning and was credited the win. Boxberger entered the game in the eighth, and after giving up a single to Jose Reyes, got Josh Donaldson to ground into a 5-4-3 double play. Bautista was hit by an errant curveball, then was balked to second. Boxberger walked Edwin Encarnacion on four pitches — a glaring example of an intentional/unintentional walk if ever there was one — but Justin Smoak grounded into the shift to Logan Forsythe to end the rally. McGee then pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the save.
The New What Next
Chris Archer (9-6, 2.74) will make his first start of the second half after ending the first half on a sour note — Archer allowed nine earned runs in six innings against the Royals on July 8. He has made four consecutive starts against the Blue Jays of seven-plus innings pitched in which he allowed three hits or fewer and one earned run or fewer. He’ll be opposed by Marco Estrada, who is 5-2 with a 3.21 ERA since June 2. Estrada has made one start against the Rays in 2015, pitching a season-high 8-2/3 innings in a no-decision on June 24. That night, he carried a perfect game into the eighth inning. You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.
Rays 7/19/15 Starting Lineup
Jaso DH
Sizemore RF
Longoria 3B
Loney 1B
Forsythe 2B
DeJesus LF
Beckham SS
Kiermaier CF
Rivera C
Archer RHP
Noteworthiness
— John Jaso has now hit safely in eight of his nine games (with a plate appearance) since his return.
— The Rays said Steven Souza Jr. (pinky) came through Saturday’s rehabilitation game well, and is slated to play seven innings in right field today for the Charlotte Stone Crabs. He will rejoin team Tuesday in Philadelphia.
— LHP Blake Snell has been promoted from Double-A Montgomery to Triple-A Durham. The move sets up the potential for a September call-up.
This is the second promotion this season for Snell, who started the year with the Class-A Charlotte Stone Crabs.
Snell boasts an impressive 9-2 overall record, with a 1.20 ERA. He’s allowed just 55 hits in 89-2/3 innings, with 40 walks and 120 strikeouts — a 3-to-1 K/BB.
One step closer, Rays manager Kevin Cash was quoted as saying.
— Today is seventh consecutive day (including the All Star Break) without a roster move for Tampa Bay — the longest they’d gone previously was five. That will likely change Tuesday with the activation of Souza from the DL.
— Saturday was only the 11th game in Rays history that they hit the game-tying and game-winning homers in seventh inning or later. The last game they did so came on September 28, 2011 — commonly referred to as Game 162.
Logan Forsythe reacts after being hit by pitch in the second inning. (Photo Credit: Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
Well that certainly was an inauspicious start to the ceremonial second half of play. The Tampa Bay Rays finally saw first hand what the highest scoring team in the majors can do on Friday, as the Blue Jays scored five times in the fifth, knocking out Jake Odorizzi en route to a 6-2 victory over Tampa Bay. Both teams are now 46-46.
It was clear that Odorizzi didn’t have his best stuff from the jump, as the righty labored through the first three innings and needed more than 50 pitches to do so. He allowed four free passes through the front three and struggled to find his location. In short, he found himself in far too many deep counts Friday night, and seemed timid on the mound — lacking the confidence and attack we’ve become accustomed to.
The Rays took a 1-0 lead in the third inning, after Grady Sizemore homered to right-center against Drew Hutchison.
Hutchison, who posited a 2.12 ERA at home, kept Tampa Bay in check otherwise, allowing his only other run in the sixth, when Evan Longoria doubled to center field to start the inning, and Logan Forsythe later doubled him home.
Odorizzi didn’t give up his first run until fourth inning after Justin Smoak hit a one-out double. Smoak went to third on a Russell Martin single and scored on Chris Collabello’s sacrifice fly to deep center field.
And that’s when it all came crashing down.
In the fifth, after Devon Travis singled, Josh Donaldson sent an Odorizzi offering into the left field seats, breaking a 1-1 tie. After the Donaldson round-tripper, Jose Bautista worked a walk, Edwin Encarnacion hit a double to center, and Smoak capped the Blue Jays scoring with a three-run, opposite field blast.
Rays manager Kevin Cash finally pulled Odorizzi one out in the fifth.
His final line: 4.1 IP/6 H/6 ER (season high)/5 BB (season high)/1 K on 93 pitches (55 strikes). Alex Colome followed Jake Odorizzi with 1-2/3 scoreless innings. Steve Geltz followed with another zero in the seventh — with a little help from Kevin Kiermaier who made an excellent, leaping catch at the wall.
Brandon Gomes completed the relief trifecta with a perfect eighth, but the Rays were unable to score against Toronto’s bullpen.
The New What Next
Erasmo Ramirez (8-3, 3.63) will make his 14th start of the season, opposite of knuckle-baller R.A. Dickey (3-10, 4.87 ERA). Ramirez has allowed two runs or fewer in each of his last eight starts (extending back to May 30) — the third longest streak in team history. Since moving into the starting rotation, he has made 11 starts and gone 8-2. Dickey has allowed three earned runs or less in seven of his last eight starts and has a 3.73 ERA over that same span of games. You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.
Rays 7/18/15 Starting Lineup
Jaso DH
Butler LF
Longoria 3B
Loney 1B
Forsythe 2B
Guyer RF
Kiermaier CF
Beckham SS
Casali C
Ramirez RHP
Noteworthiness
— John Jaso has hit safely in eight of nine games since being activated off the disabled list, batting .385 (10-26) in that span.
— A day after the Rays came to terms with second round draft pick Chris Betts, the team announced that Betts will undergo Tommy John surgery. The injury was discovered during the team physical before the catcher signed with the team. Betts was limited to DH duties during his senior high school season, thanks to what he and the Rays called a forearm strain.
An aside, the Rays have signed their top 15 selections, 25 of their first 26, and 32 of 40 picks overall.
Jaso DH
Sizemore RF
Longoria 3B
Loney 1B
Forsythe 2B
DeJesus LF
Elmore SS
Kiermaier CF
Rivera C
Odorizzi RHP
Noteworthiness
— After another good bullpen session, Drew Smyly (torn labrum) is scheduled to throw a simulated game on Tuesday.
— The Rays are offering free tickets to all remaining home games to military personnel, writes Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times).
The Honor Pass program announced Friday provides two lower-level tickets to any — or all — games at the Trop for active-duty military personnel, retired or honorably discharged veterans, and dependents (spouse, child or widow) with proper ID.
The pass program goes into effect July 24 — the Rays’ next home game.
— According to Mark Simon (ESPN), the Tampa Bay Rays rank in the top three in defensive runs saved via the shift (16) and top four in total runs saved (30).
— According to Joe Roegele (Hardball Times), the Rays’ organization ranks toward the bottom in reported Tommy John surgeries.
