After a 6-4, extra-inning loss on Saturday, the Tampa Bay Rays look to end the ceremonial first half of the season on a high note.

At 50-41 on the season, the Rays enter play nine games over .500, maintaining the first AL Wilcard spot by .5 games over the Mariners.

Ryan Yarbrough got the start against Baltimore on Saturday, allowing two runs on five hits and no walks while striking out four across 5.1 innings. Yarbrough was activated from the taxi squad prior to the start after spending most of June and the first half of July with Triple-A Durham. The left-hander looked good against the Orioles, throwing 43 of 65 pitches for strikes (66% strike rate) and departing in the sixth inning in line for the win. Of note, the left-hander leaned on his fastball 28% of the time — about twice as much as his season average. And while there wasn’t anything instantly remarkable about the 88 mph heater, although he was able to use it to great effect, as Yarbrough’s secondary pitches became that much more effective. It was a promising start for the southpaw after surrendering 10 runs over seven innings and two big-league appearances in June. Overall, he ended the first half with a 5.49 ERA and a 4.84 FIP, with a 2.18 K/BB and a 1.47 WHIP across 39.1 big-league innings.

The Rays made a roster move on Sunday, adding right-handed reliever Pete Fairbanks (lat tear) to the 26-man roster. Fairbanks has been out since Spring Training. Since Fairbanks was on the 60-day Injured List, Dusten Knight was designated for assignment to clear space on the 40-man roster. However, LHP Jalen Beeks was placed on the 15-day IL with lower leg tightness retroactive to July 15th. Because of the All-Star Break though, Beeks can return July 30th.

A pair of Rays prospects — RHP Taj Bradley and INF Curtis Mead — participated in the Futures Game on Saturday, in Los Angeles. Bradley threw a scoreless first inning for the American League, while Mead went 0-for-3 playing second and third base.

The New What Next

Corey Kluber (5-5, 3.58 ERA) will get the start this afternoon, pitching opposite Jordan Lyles (6-7, 4.37 ERA).

Corey Kluber got the start against Boston and struck out seven in six innings while allowing two runs on four hits and a walk on 88 pitches (52 strikes, 59% strike rate). Kluber faced the minimum through the first four frames, striking out five and eliminating the lone baserunner on a double-play ball. After allowing two singles, he gave up a two-run triple to Bobby Dalbec (that should have been caught by Brett Phillips if not for interference by Randy Arozarena, who also attempted to track down the deeply hit ball) with two outs in the fifth. The seven strikeouts were his most in a start since he recorded eight on May 16. Kluber now maintains a 3.58 ERA and 3.29 FIP, with a 1.09 WHIP, and a 5.64 K/BB across 88.0 innings on the season. He is 0-1 with a 2.63 ERA in three starts against Baltimore this season.

Jordan Lyles allowed two runs on seven hits and a walk with five strikeouts in seven innings against the Cubs on Tuesday. Lyles settled down after permitting runs in each of the game’s first two innings to pitch into the seventh for the second time in four starts. The 31-year-old has now completed seven innings or allowed two runs or fewer in each of his last five turns, accumulating a 2.76 ERA across 32.2 innings. Overall, Lyles owns a 4.37 ERA ERA and a 4.14 FIP, with a 2.69 K/BB, and a 1.38 WHIP across 105 innings on the season. He is 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA in one start (5.0 innings) against the Rays this season. Key Matchups: Christian Bethancourt (1-2), Ji-Man Choi (1-2, BB), Josh Lowe (2-3, 3B), Francisco Mejía (3-4, HR, 3 RBI), Brett Phillips (1-4, RBI)

You can read about the series in our preview, while the starting lineup and Noteworthiness are below.

TNWN: Rays vs Orioles — another series preview

Rays 7/17/22 Starting Lineup

  1. J. Lowe RF
  2. Ramirez 1B
  3. Arozarena LF
  4. B. Lowe DH
  5. Paredes 3B
  6. Walls SS
  7. Phillips CF
  8. Mejia C
  9. Chang 2B

Noteworthiness

— Read Ben’s preview: