After the second consecutive win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday — this time by a 3-1 margin — the Tampa Bay Rays look for a series win this afternoon. With another “W,” the Rays can extend their current win streak to 10 games.
In the words of the inimitable Neil Solondz (Rays Radio), it’s only the third time in franchise history Tampa Bay has won nine games or more in a row. The Rays have only won 10 or more in a row one other time, in 2004 when the club won 12 straight.
Tampa Bay has outscored the opposition 75-31 over this stretch, and also have won at least five games on the last three road trips — going 15-3 across that stretch of play.
The two most recent additions to the team — Taylor Walls and J.P. Feyereisen — made an instant impact in Saturday’s contest.
Walls went 2-4 on the day with a pair of doubles and a run scored. He flashed his speed on his first extra-base hit, then later, in the ninth inning, manufactured a run when he moved into third on a wild-pitch, and came home on a throwing error by Danny Jansen.
Meanwhile, Feyereisen pitched in the bottom of the sixth inning (in relief of Shane McClanahan) and faced the minimum on 16 pitches, coaxing a strikeout of Bo Bichette and a double play sandwiched around a walk to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Feyereisen had fantastic command of the zone with his “rising” fastball and his changeup, which he kept at the bottom of the zone.
The bullpen was fantastic overall last night, blanking the Jays across four innings. After a lone first inning run, McClanahan also shutout Toronto across four frames.
The New What Next
Michael Wacha (1-1, 4.76 ERA) will come off the Injured List to open for the Rays, pitching in front of Josh Fleming (3-3, 2.34 ERA). They will pitch opposite of Hyun Jin Ryu (4-2, 2.51 ERA).
Michael Wacha (hamstring) has not pitched in a game since May 2nd, although he faced live hitters in a simulated game on Wednesday. It’s the first time he’s facing Toronto this season. He is 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA in one career start against the Blue Jays.
Josh Fleming tossed five scoreless innings against the Mets on Sunday, giving up one hit while fanning five. The left-hander has moved in and out of the rotation, yet he delivered one of his best outings of the season thus. He’s now given up one run or fewer in five of his seven appearances this season and has improved his ERA to an excellent 2.34 mark (4.17 FIP) with a 1.91 K/BB and a 0.98 WHIP across 34-2/3 innings. Fleming is 1-1 with a 1.89 ERA in two career outings (one start) against the Blue Jays.
Hyun-jin Ryu tossed seven scoreless innings against the Red Sox on Monday, allowing four hits while fanning seven. Ryu has now allowed one run or fewer in three of his last four starts, but Monday’s performance was perhaps his most dominant of the season — he tossed 67 of his 100 pitches for strikes (67% strike rate) and just one runner reached scoring position. The left-hander owns a 2.37 ERA and a 2.82 FIP in three starts this month. Ryu is 0-0 with a 2.70 ERA in three career starts against the Rays, and 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA in one 3-2/3 inning outing at the Trop in April. Key Matchups: Willy Adames (2-3, 2B), Mike Brosseau (2-6, 2B, RBI), Kevin Kiermaier (1-3), Francisco Mejía (1-3), Joey Wendle (1-3)
You can read about the series in our preview, while the starting lineup and Noteworthiness are below.
Rays 5/23/21 Starting Lineup
- Arozarena DH
- Díaz 3B
- Meadows LF
- Margot RF
- Brosseau 2B
- Choi 1B
- Mejía C
- Walls SS
- Phillips CF
- Wacha RHP
Noteworthiness
— Kevin Kiermaier is not in the lineup due to eye irritation that caused him to leave Saturday’s game.