X-Rays Spex

I attended a couple of games against Boston this weekend past, with the audacious idea that the Rays would walk away with a series win against the worst team in the AL East. The chutzpah, right? In all fairness, I kind of expected a loss to Rick Porcello ‒ after all, he has pitched the Rays well over his career. My premonition skills were strong on that one. However, the win against Wade Miley ‒ a pitcher who posited a career 0.47 ERA in three previous starts against Tampa Bay ‒ was somewhat unexpected, encouraging, and frankly pretty great. The added benefit of the winning contest was the blossoming of my cocksure attitude toward the overbearing Bostonians in attendance ‒ pink hatters, or otherwise.

But just as a series win seemed imminent, the Red Sox teed off against Chris Archer to the tune of a career high three home runs. The baseball gods taketh away sole possession of first place in the AL East.

Monday is another day, and the Rays are set for a four game home series against the Cleveland Indians. Among the high expectations heaped upon the team this week, the return of a pair of starters just might hold the highest amount of anticipation ‒ Erasmo Ramirez and Matt Moore should get the start Tuesday and Thursday (respectively).

Ramirez threw a bullpen session on Saturday, and felt great afterward. All signs suggest that the smiley one is amped and ready to throw on Tuesday against Danny Salazar. As for Moore, the lefty threw 94 pitches (56 strikes, 60% K%) over five innings on Saturday for the Durham Bulls. He allowed five hits and two earned runs. Skipper Kevin Cash said the team will wait until the lefty returns from North Carolina before they map out the exact date of his return, although it’s reasonable to assume he’ll toe the rubber opposite of Corey Kluber on Thursday.

A question of Moore’s command lays in the wake of his rehabilitation assignment ‒ a combined 3.27 BB/9, and lack of efficiency during his rehab stint speak to that. Yet one thing* bodes in his favor, each outing was progressively better than the last. Too, what more could you expect from someone who has essentially been out of commission for almost a year and a half?

Also taking the mound for the Rays are Nathan Karns and Erasmo Ramirez. Karns has been outstanding in his last three starts, yielding only two runs and scattering 16 hits over 17-1/3 combined innings of work. The 27 year-old righty has given up two or fewer runs in 11 of his 15 starts, although he’s managed to complete more than six innings just twice. Colome allowed five walks in a no-decision against the Red Sox on Friday. He allowed three runs on four hits while striking out two over six innings.

Tampa Bay took two of three at Cleveland earlier this month, and the Tribe is only 1-5 since that series after being shut out in both ends of a doubleheader at Baltimore on Sunday. They’ve also fallen to 12 games behind first-place Royals in the AL Central and is 23rd in the majors in run scoring. The Indians, who are 18-18 on the road and 15-23 at home, took two-of-three from the Rays at the Trop last season.

Cody Anderson: Anderson (0-0, 0.00 ERA) did not factor in the decision despite turning in a stellar performance in his major-league debut against the Rays on June 21. The righty tossed 7-2/3 innings of scoreless ball, allowing six hits while fanning four and walking one. Anderson kept the Rays off balance with a 94 mph four seam fastball, an 84 mph change-up, and a 90 mph cutter. Key matchups: Asdrubal Cabrera (1-3), David DeJesus (1-3), Logan Forsythe (2-3), Kevin Kiermaier (1-4), Steven Souza Jr. (1-3).

Danny Salazar: Salazar (6-3, 4.06 ERA) gave up seven runs (six earned) on six hits and three walks while striking out eight in 4-1/3 innings Tuesday against the Tigers. Salazar boasts an impressive change-up to go along with his fastball, splitter, slider, and curveball. However, his command leaves a lot to be desired and he’s had a hard time keeping the ball in the park because of it. The Rays have never faced the 25 year-old righty.

Carlos Carassco: Carrasco (9-6, 4.16 ERA) held Detroit to two runs on five hits over eight innings Wednesday, striking out seven and walking one. Carrasco took a loss against the Rays on June 19th when he allowed three runs over 6-2/3 innings of work. As I wrote previously, Carrasco leans heavily on a 96 mph four-seam fastball that boasts natural sinking action, and an 89 mph slider generates a good number of ground balls. He also features a worm-killer of an 89 mph change-up that generates an extreme number of ground balls, a 95 mph sinker, and a hard 83 mph curveball that also generates an extreme number of grounders. Key matchups: Joey Boutler (2-3, HR, RBI), Asdrubal Cabrera (2-3, HR, RBI), Rene Rivera (2-5), Steven Souza Jr. (1-3).

Corey Kluber: Kluber (3-9, 3.66 ERA) notched a quality start, allowing three runs on seven hits, walking one and striking out 10 over seven innings on Friday night. He, however, was tagged with a 7.0 IP/4 H/4 ER/4 BB/6 K slash line by the Rays on June 20th. Still, the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner can be tough. As I wrote previously, he won’t blow you away with his fastball, rather he pounds all quadrants of the zone and tries force weak contact. A new weapon, Kluber has started to throw his fastball at the top of the zone for whiffs (ala Brad Boxberger, Jake Odorizzi, and Jake McGee). Key matchups: Joey Butler (1-2, BB), David DeJesus (4-12, 3 2B, 2 RBI), Kevin Kiermaier (2-4, 3B, 2 BB), Marc Krauss (1-2, 2B), Evan Longoria (4-10, HR, 3 RBI, BB).

Noteworthiness

‒ Asdrubal Cabrera has been red hot of late, going 15-40 over his last 10 contests.

‒ Speaking of the return of a pivotal starter, Jake Odorizzi will make a rehab start on Wednesday for the Stone Crabs, slotting he and Moore on different days. An aside, Odorizzi told Marc Topkin his bullpen was “exemplary.”

‒ Jason Kipnis went 6-10 against the Rays in the most recent series and stands second in the AL with 100 hits.

‒ David Murphy is 7-13 in his last six games after his walk off sac-fly against Tampa Bay on June 21.

‒ In 1934, an American Legion team from Massachusetts traveled to North Carolina for a tournament. When organizers refused to let their black pitcher take the mound, they turned back around, writes Marty Dobrow (Vice Sports). The article is great, and well worth your time.

‒ Ben Lindbergh (Grantland) wrote about how Chris Archer (among others) rode his slider to become one of the better pitchers in major league baseball.

‒ Robinson Cano left a game Saturday after getting drilled in the head by an errant warmup throw. I’m not certain if hilarity ensued, however, he was seen sporting a catchers mask in the dugout Sunday afternoon.

‒ It looks like the Home Run Derby during this year’s All Star Week will be different, although…ahem, I’m pretty sure no Rays will be tapped to participate. The revamped event will move to an eight-player bracket and timed rounds.

‒ Don’t forget, less than a week until our next watch party at Green Bench Brewing Company. Bring your friends and family out Friday, and watch the Rays/Yankees game with us and the Brewery Bay. More information can be found here.