After winning 13 consecutive ball games to start the season, the Tampa Bay Rays have dropped the last two contests to the Blue Jays in sloppy fashion. They look to salvage the series this afternoon with Shane McClanahan on the mound.
Tampa Bay had been averaging over six runs per game until they landed in Toronto, where they’ve scored just five total runs. They’ve been done in by errors, gaffes in general, and walks, as Tampa Bay committed two errors in the first contest, a balk on Saturday, and walked 13 batters. The Blue Jays have capitalized on those situations for a pair of wins and the series. The run prevention troubles are uncharacteristic though and will be corrected.
Meanwhile, as Ben Whitelaw (RBLR Sports) notes, the ump show has left an indelible mark on the series, too. So far, the Rays have seen 13.2% of pitches taken outside of the zone called for strikes. Because of it, Tampa Bay’s batters, who have been fairly disciplined to start the season, have had to expand their strike zones. Relatedly, while I’m not one to be a conspiracy theorist, the Blue Jays have seen 6.1% of pitches taken outside of the zone called for strikes.
This isn’t to blame the umps wholly for the losses, even though the poor strike/ball calls came at rather disadvantageous times the last two days. Regardless, these things are flukey (unless you’re the Yankees) and will continue to ebb and flow throughout the season.
Tampa Bay made some roster moves Saturday, placing right-handed reliever Ryan Thompson on the Injured List (retroactive to April 13) with a lat strain. Thompson last pitched Wednesday against the Red Sox, allowing two runs in two-thirds of an inning.
They recalled Trevor Kelley to fill Thompson’s slot in the bullpen.
Meanwhile, it would appear that Jeffrey Springs (ulnar neuritis) is headed to IL. Manager Kevin Cash said on Friday that Springs feels the same as he did when he exited in the fourth inning of Thursday’s win over the Red Sox with left arm discomfort. The team is gathering opinions from team doctors and a sharper timeline will be established — although a stint on the IL is likely.
It’s very fair to say that he’s gonna miss some time.
— Kevin Cash
With Springs, Tyler Glasnow (oblique), and Zach Eflin (lower back) all sidelined, it could be assumed the Rays’ rotation is in rough shape. Yet, Tampa Bay recalled Yonny Chirinos the other day, while Taj Bradley and Luis Patiño are waiting in the wings in Durham. Eflin will be back sooner than later, and Glasnow should be back in May. Suffice it to say, the Rays can weather this storm.
The New What Next
Shane McClanahan (3-0, 1.59 ERA, 2.52 FIP) will get the start Monday, pitching opposite beloved right-hander Alek Manoah (1-0, 4.91 ERA, 7.02 FIP).
Shane McClanahan allowed one run on two hits and four walks over five-plus innings against the Red Sox. He struck out nine. The southpaw blanked Boston for the first five innings, but after McClanahan led off the sixth with a walk to Rafael Devers and a single by Justin Turner, he got the hook and eventually had to watch Devers come around to score. Despite that, McClanahan generated a massive 23 swinging strikes on 95 pitches (24% SwStr%) in another dominant outing. In 17 innings of work, Sugar Shane owns a 1.59 ERA and a 2.52 FIP, with a 2.33 K/BB, and a 1.18 WHIP. McClanahan is 2-2 with a 2.87 ERA in six career starts against the Blue Jays.
Alek Manoah gave up three runs on four hits and five walks over 4.1 innings on Monday. He struck out three. All the damage came on a three-run homer by Nick Maton in the second inning, although Manoah had trouble finishing off hitters and got the hook after 85 pitches (58 strikes, 68% strike rate). The big-right-hander has an ugly 4.91 ERA and a 7.02 FIP on the season, with a shaky 1.00 K/BB, and a 1.70 WHIP through his first three starts (14.2 innings) this season. The swarthy Manoah relies primarily on an 81 mph slider that sweeps across the zone and boasts some two-plane movement, a 92 mph sinker, and a 93 mph fourseam fastball that generates an extremely high number of swings and misses, while also mixing in a firm 86 mph changeup that has slight arm side fade. He is 4-2 with a 1.42 ERA in seven starts against the Rays. Key Matchups: Randy Arozarena (3-12, 2B), Vidal Bruján (1-2, 2B), Brandon Lowe (3-10, RBI, 2 BB)
You can read about the series in our preview, while the starting lineup is below.
Rays 4/16/23 Starting Lineup
- Díaz 1B
- Lowe 2B
- Ramírez DH
- Franco SS
- Raley LF
- Walls 3B
- J. Lowe CF
- Bruján RF
- Bethancourt C