After a tough loss to the Houston Astros last night, the Tampa Bay Rays look to — and stop me if you’ve heard this one before — get off the schneid this afternoon. The Rays will need to win the next two contests to have a .500 homestand, as they are 3-5 after Friday’s 9-2 loss. What’s more, the Rays are just 6-9 at home this season (and just 1-5 when I’ve been in attendance … not that that matters).
Tampa Bay has been, frankly, abysmal with runners in scoring position during their homestand, going 5-for-56 (.089) in those situations. A two-out, two-run single by Willy Adames was the only hit with runners at second or third last night, while they stranded eight on the bags.
It would appear that the big bat of Brandon Lowe could be heating up, as his xwOBA is trending up. The Rays could really use his right now.
Meanwhile, Houston has won seven of nine games and is hitting .275 against left-handed starters, which brings up another point — Ryan Yarbrough just didn’t have it last night.
Ryan Yarbrough gave up five runs on nine hits and a walk over six innings against the Astros on 103 pitches (71 strikes, 69% strike rate). He struck out five. The lefty wasn’t particularly effective, allowing runs to cross the plate in the first, third, and fourth innings. Yarbrough now has a 4.86 ERA/3.10 FIP and a 4.33 K/BB overall through 33-1/3 innings. However, when he pitches out of the bulk role, his ERA and FIP look much different, dropping to a 0.84 ERA/2.60 FIP and a 3.34 K/BB across 10-2/3 frames. The lesson to be learned here is that, perhaps, Yarbrough should pitch behind an opener.
The New What Next
Josh Fleming (1-2, 1.23 ERA), not Rich Hill — who is on the COVID-19 IL due to the effects of a vaccination shot — will take the mound on Saturday, pitching opposite of José Urquidy (1-2, 4.67 ERA).
Josh Fleming allowed one run on four hits and two walks while striking out three across 4-1/3 innings against the Blue Jays on Sunday. Fleming entered Sunday’s contest as the bulk guy behind right-hander Luis Patiño and was relatively effective in Sunday’s series finale, although he was charged with the loss since he gave up the only run of the game in the top of the fifth inning. Fleming has posted a 1.23 ERA and 0.95 WHIP across 14-2/3 innings to start the year.
José Urquidy held the Mariners to two runs on five hits and no walks while striking out a pair of batters across six innings on Monday. All of Urquidy’s damage came from a pair of solo homes off the bats of Kyle Lewis and Kyle Seager. The right-hander did not issue any free passes for the second time this season while throwing 67 of his 96 pitches for strikes (70% strike rate). The 25-year-old carries a 4.67 ERA and 1.26 WHIP on the season. Urquidy has never faced the Rays. He relies primarily on a 92 mph four-seam fastball, while also mixing in an 83 mph changeup, a 79 mph slider, and a 76 mph curveball.
You can read about the series in our preview, and I’ll post the starting lineup upon availability.
Rays 5/1/21 Starting Lineup
- Meadows LF
- Margot CF
- B. Lowe 2B
- Arozarena RF
- Wendle 3B
- Díaz 1B
- Tsutsugo DH
- Adames SS
- Zunino C
- Fleming LHP
Noteworthiness
— Pete Fairbanks is slated to throw a simulated game to Ji-Man Choi this afternoon at the Trop before the Rays play. Choi will face Collin McHugh on Sunday and then Choi will join Triple-A Durham for a rehab stint.
— The Rays made several more roster moves on Saturday, optioning RHP Trevor Richards to Durham after optioning RHP Louis Head following Friday’s game. The moves created room for LHP Rich Hill, who was taken off the COVID related IL, and LHP Cody Reed from the 10-day IL (left thumb weakness).