After splitting a doubleheader against Baltimore on Saturday, the Tampa Bay Rays look to take three of four from the Orioles this afternoon. Tampa Bay hit six homers and won 12-4 in the nightcap after being held to just one run on three hits by Baltimore in the opener.
Following the nightcap, Tampa Bay optioned Jake Faria and recalled Ryan Yarbrough (7-3, 4.55 ERA), who will act as the bulk inning guy this afternoon. Ryne Stanek (0-2, 3.26 ERA) will open for Tampa Bay. Tom Eshelman (0-0, 3.60 ERA), who takes the place of Andrew Cashner, will pitch in opposition.
Ryne Stanek will open for the 26th time this season. He last pitched on July 5th, when he allowed four extra-inning runs to New York in an 8-4 loss, with all of the runs coming via the long ball. Stanek has much better opening games, logging a 2.08 ERA as compared to a 7.59 ERA out of the pen. The right-hander has thrown four scoreless frames in three prior appearances against the Orioles.
Ryan Yarbrough last pitched for Durham on July 6th and allowed six runs across five innings against Gwinnett, allowing all but one run in his final inning of work. The lefty gave up one run in three innings in his last big league appearance (July 1) against Baltimore in a 6-3 Rays win.
Tom Eshelman had a promising big league debut against Tampa Bay on July 1, limiting the Rays to two runs on six hits and a walk across five innings, although he failed to fan a batter. The soft-tossing right-hander could be in danger of a demotion back to Triple-A if he turns in a poor outing. Key Matchups: Ji-Man Choi (1-2, RBI), Yandy Diaz (1-3), Avisail Garcia (1-2, RBI), Kevin Kiermaier (1-2), Austin Meadows (1-3), Mike Zunino (1-2)
You can read about the series in our preview, while the starting lineup and Noteworthiness are below.
Rays 7/14/19 Starting Lineup
- Meadows RF
- Pham LF
- Kiermaier CF
- Lowe DH
- Brosseau 3B
- Choi 1B
- Adames SS
- Wendle 2B
- Zunino C
Noteworthiness
— In spite of the 2-1 loss in the opening game of the doubleheader yesterday, Rays starters have pitched deep in each of the last three games. Because of it, the bullpen should be rested; only Colin Poche has worked more than an inning out of the ‘pen. Neither Oliver Drake nor Hunter Wood has pitched in the series.
— Matt Duffy (hamstring, back) played in a third straight ballgame for Durham yesterday. The injured third-baseman played all nine innings in the field and went 1-for-5 with a double and three RBI. Duffy will have an off-day today. Rays skipper Kevin Cash said Duffy is “champing at the bit” since he has yet to appear in a big league game this season. He will most likely see 25-30 rehab at-bats before being re-evaluated.
When he is eventually activated from the IL, the Rays will have to make another roster move, as the 40-man is full after Peter Fairbanks was acquired from Texas yesterday.
— Daniel Robertson’s rehabilitation from right knee surgery is progressing quickly. Cash said Robertson, who has been out since June 19th, could move onto a rehab assignment in the next week or so.