After winning the first of three games against the White Sox on Monday, 5-2, the Tampa Bay Rays look for a series win tonight. The team is also hoping for a good prognosis on right-hander Tyler Glasnow, who exited Monday’s game with right elbow inflammation.
At 43-24 on the season, Tampa Bay enters play with the best record in baseball and a season-high 19 games over .500. They are also an MLB-best 24–10 on the road, having won four consecutive games. Meanwhile, at 25-12 at home, the White Sox have the best home record in baseball despite losing last night.
The Rays hit three home runs on Monday, including two against Lance Lynn, who has been one of the best pitchers in baseball this season.
In the first inning, Austin Meadows got the Rays on the board with a two-run homer to right.
Then in the third inning, Brandon Lowe gave Tampa Bay all the run support it would need when he hit a towering solo shot down the right-field line and into the bleachers for a three-run lead.
Up by a run in the eighth, Big RAAAAAAAANDY Arozarena hit a solo shot to give the Rays a little breathing room.
As I mentioned in the series preview, Tampa Bay needed to battle, scratch across a few early runs, and let the pitching staff do what it does best — shut down run production. They did just that last night, and they will look to do it again on Tuesday.
If Glasnow needs to be placed on the Injured List, his spot does not come up again until Saturday. In the interim, Kevin Cash could use different relievers to fill the spot on the roster. The Rays have eight healthy pitchers on the 40-man roster in Durham: right-handers Louis Head, Brent Honeywell Jr., Chris Mazza, Luis Patiño, Sean Poppen, Drew Strotman, and Drew Rasmussen, and left-hander Ryan Sherriff. Chaz Roe also is nearing the end of his rehab stint and is currently on the 60-day IL.
As I mentioned yesterday, I will update the previous piece on Glasnow’s injury once any updates become available.
The New What Next
Shane McClanahan (2-1, 4.54 ERA) will get the start Tuesday night, pitching opposite of Dallas Keuchel (5-1, 4.14 ERA).
Shane McClanahan struggled in his outing Wednesday against Washington, surrendering three runs on five hits and three walks over three innings. He struck out four. McClanahan was wildly inefficient in the start, needing 77 pitches (45 strikes, 58% strike rate) to retire nine batters. He was stung by a pair of homers and could have had an even worse outcome if not for the Nationals, who stranded five runners during his outing. This was the second consecutive poor outing for McClanahan, who has allowed seven total runs and 10 hits over his past 6-1/3 innings of work.
Dallas Keuchel gave up two runs on six hits and two walks across six innings Thursday against Toronto. He struck out eight. Over his last seven starts, Keuchel is 4-0 with four quality starts and a 2.5 K/BB. The veteran southpaw has also given up two runs or fewer runs in three of his last four starts, and he has improved his ERA to a respectable 4.14 as a result. He relies primarily on an 88 mph sinker with heavy sinking action, an 80 mph worm-killer changeup that dives down out of the zone, and an 86 mph cutter with natural sink and strong cutting action, while also mixing in a 77 mph slider that sweeps across the zone and has exceptional depth. Keuchel is 1-5 with a 4.78 ERA in eight career starts against the Rays. Key Matchup: Mike Zunino (7-27, 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB)
You can read about the series at the link, while the starting lineup and Noteworthiness are below.
Rays 6/15/21 Starting Lineup
- Margot RF
- Arozarena LF
- Meadows DH
- Díaz 1B
- Brosseau 2B
- Mejía C
- Wendle 3B
- Walls SS
- Kiermaier CF
- McClanahan LHP
Noteworthiness
— The Tampa Bay Rays announced Tuesday that Tropicana Field will return to “full capacity” on July 5.
With vaccination rates increasing across Florida and continued health and safety protocols in place at Tropicana Field, capacity at the ballpark will increase to approximately 25,000 fans, matching the capacity from the conclusion of the 2019 regular season. Socially distant seating pods will no longer be available.
— Tampa Bay Rays
The upcoming single-game tickets go on sale for Rays Season Members at 2:00 PM on June 22, and the general public at 10:00 PM on June 25.
Tickets for games between now and June 27 are already on sale through the MLB Ballpark app and RaysBaseball.com.
As with 2019, the team will keep the 300 level closed.
Masks remain optional for fully vaccinated guests, while masks will be required for anyone not fully vaccinated.
Fans two years and older who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are required to wear a face mask at all times while at the ballpark.
— Tampa Bay Rays