After a 4-3 win over Oakland on Tuesday, the Tampa Bay Rays look to start a winning streak on Wednesday with Tyler Glasnow on the mound. A win would allow the Rays (12-12) to get back over .500.
The Rays have allowed three runs or fewer in four consecutive games, and four runs or fewer in nine of their last 14 games. On the offensive side of things, they collected six extra-base hits, and ten hits total, last night. Superlatives aside, they still went 1-for-12 wRISP last night, and are 1-for-their-last-30 overall.
The New What Next
Tyler Glasnow (2-1, 2.05 ERA) will get the start for the Rays, pitching opposite of Cole Irvin (2-2, 3.86 ERA).
Tyler Glasnow got the start on Friday and allowed five runs on five hits and two walks while striking out 10 across six innings against Toronto Dunedin. The right-hander fanned the first two batters he faced, then allowed the Blue Jays to put up four runs early in a first-inning two-out rally behind a three-run homer by Marcus Semien. While the Rays brought the game within a run in the bottom of the fifth, Glasnow gave up a solo home run in the top of the sixth — the second homer of the night. Glasnow now has a 2.05 ERA and a 0.75 WHIP with 46 punchouts in 30-2/3 innings across his first five starts of the season.
Just couldn’t execute. I got two outs then just wasn’t really landing pitches, falling behind, then got tagged for that three-run homer,. Just the rhythm was all wrong. It just didn’t feel right. … I was just pissed off the whole time, but I know I had to go out and keep my pitch count down. I wanted to go and get six innings, for sure. That was pretty much the only thing on my mind, so I tried to be as efficient as I could. I just ended up feeling a little better as it went on.
— Tyler Glasnow
Cole Irvin allowed one run on eight hits and one walk while striking out six across 5-1/3 innings against the Orioles on Friday. Irvin had some trouble limiting traffic on the basepaths, although he was able to minimize run production to earn his second consecutive win. The southpaw gave up four runs in each of his first two starts of the season, yet he’s given up just one run while striking out six in 11-1/3 innings across his last two starts. Irvin has never faced the Rays. Irvin relies primarily on a 91 mph four-seam fastball and an 84 mph changeup, while also mixing in a 91 mph sinker and an 83 mph slider.
You can read about the series in our preview, while the starting lineup and Noteworthiness are below.
Rays 4/28/21 Starting Lineup
- Arozarena DH
- Margot LF
- Brosseau 2B
- Diaz 3B
- Kiermaier CF
- Adames SS
- Tsutsugo 1B
- Zunino C
- Phillips RF
- Glasnow RHP
Noteworthiness
— The Rays announced that LHP Shane McClanahan will be on the taxi squad tonight and will start Thursday’s matinee contest against Oakland. The left-hander is the third pitching prospect to get called up in the first month of play, joining right-handers Luis Patiño — who is currently on the active roster — and Brent Honeywell Jr.
McClanahan, 24, made his big-league debut in the 2020 postseason, although this will be his regular-season debut and first start. The hard-throwing left-hander said he excited to help the team win.
McClanahan was told about the decision on Friday, then pitched Saturday at the alternate site, in Port Charlotte, so Thursday is his regular day. McClanahan, whose birthday it is today, told Neil Solondz (Rays Radio) it has been a great birthday, except that his car wouldn’t start and he needed a ride to the ballpark from Ryan Yarbrough, who lives about a half-mile away from him. His parents, sister, and former USF coach Billy Mohl will be on hand to watch him pitch.
McClanahan is stretched to about four or five innings, although there is still some buildup to occur. Cash says other members of the rotation (including Yarbrough, who was slated to pitch tomorrow afternoon), whether they’re used to begin a game or pitch in bulk, will be bumped back a day.
— On hobbled hurlers…
Pete Fairbanks (rotator cuff strain) threw his second bullpen of the week on Wednesday, and it reportedly went well. Collin McHugh and Cody Reed are slated to face hitters in Port Charlotte on Thursday, then will pitch at Tropicana Field against Rays hitters on Saturday. Fairbanks also will pitch against the Rays hitters over the weekend. Kevin Cash said it is conceivable for the three of them to be activated at some point during the upcoming road trip.