• The face of a man who watched Colin Poche give up not one, but two late homers (and consequently the lead) last night in the Bronx (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Rays look to bounce back in a doubleheader today after a washout in the Bronx Wednesday night. On Tuesday, the Rays saw their three-game win streak end, not to mention their three-game streak against New York. Tampa Bay is 5-10 against the Yankees this season, and enter play six games behind the Yankees, and a half-game in front of Cleveland and Oakland for the top Wildcard spot.

The Rays have had a difficult time limiting homers the last two nights. Left-hander Colin Poche gave up not one, but two homers in the eighth inning, including a grand slam. The Yankees have scored all 12 of their runs via the longball — hitting seven thus far.

The New What Next

Yonny Chirinos (8-4, 3.11 ERA) will get the ball for the Rays, pitching opposite of Domingo German (11-2, 3.40 ERA). In the second game, Charlie Morton (11-2, 2.35 ERA) will take the mound against a pitcher to be named before game time — Chad Green could open if he’s not used in game one.

Yonny Chirinos allowed just two runs on four hits with no walks and eight strikeouts across seven innings. The Orioles scored two-out runs in the third and fourth innings, their only tallies against the Rays starter. The 25-year-old turned in his best outing since June 7, although he has pitched well over the last month-plus. Overall, Chirinos is 8-4 with a 3.11 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and 89 punch outs across 107 innings this season.

Domingo German tossed six scoreless frames against the Blue Jays on Friday, fanning seven and walking none while allowing just three hits. He coaxed 13 whiffs on his curveball in the outing. German’s breaking ball may not have a reputation yet, but it is one of baseballs best curves. He hit a bit of a rough patch in four starts from the middle of May to the beginning of June (7.32 ERA, 1.53 WHIP), but has pitched well otherwise this season. German is 2-0 with a 6.75 ERA in four career outings (three starts) against the Rays. Key Matchups: Willy Adames (2-7, 2B, BB), Ji-Man Choi (1-2, HR, RBI, BB), Avisail Garcia (1-2), Brandon Lowe (1-3), Austin Meadows (2-3, 2B, HR, 2 RBI)

Charlie Morton gave up two runs on six hits over six innings on Saturday. He struck out six and walked one. Morton got into a bases-loaded jam in the fourth inning, consequently allowing a two-run single, yet he kept the Orioles in check otherwise. The 35-year-old has allowed up 10 runs (eight earned) total and has a 6.83 K/BB in his last five starts (31-1/3 innings).

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

TNWN: Rays vs Yankees — a series preview, part five

Rays 7/18/19 Starting Lineup Game One

    null
  1. Meadows LF
  2. Diaz 3B
  3. Lowe DH
  4. Kiermaier CF
  5. Garcia RF
  6. Choi 1B
  7. d’Arnaud C
  8. Wendle 2B
  9. Adames SS

Rays 7/18/19 Starting Lineup Game Two

  1. Meadows RF
  2. Pham LF
  3. Lowe 1B
  4. Diaz DH
  5. Kiermaier CF
  6. Adames SS
  7. Wendle 2B
  8. Brosseau 3B
  9. Zunino C

Noteworthiness

— The Rays have yet to score more than three runs against a conventional New York starter while Chirinos has been on the mound.

— Due to the fact the doubleheader was set up with less than 48 hours notice, a 26th man is only available for game two. Austin Pruitt would have been a candidate, however, he was placed on the injured list for Durham yesterday.

— Matt Duffy went 2-for-3 with a sacrifice fly and two runs batted in for the Durham Bulls on Wednesday. The third baseman is close to rejoining the team after missing the entire season so far with hamstring and back injuries.

Talked to him today, and he’s in a really good spot. He’s champing at the bit. … He wants to be playing tonight for us, which is a good thing. It’s nice to see him get to that spot, and now we know that he’s getting closer. I expressed to him to get a couple more games in, and we’ll see how it plays out, but look for him, if everything keeps going (well), to join us shortly.

— Kevin Cash

— Brandon Lowe (right shin contusion) ran at Tropicana Field on Tuesday and reportedly didn’t feel “anything really that bad,” according to the Rays manager. Lowe has been sidelined since July 3 after fouling consecutive pitches off the shin.

The infielder is projected to return to the lineup this weekend in St. Pete.

He’s doing OK; he’s going to hit and get on the field. We just have to get him baseball activity now. It’s been a while.

— Kevin Cash

Leave a comment