The Tampa Bay Rays look to bounce back from a 15-5 loss to the Orioles Friday night. Tampa Bay found itself in a one-run game before Austin Pruitt entered the contest in an eight-run seventh. The ultimate irony, had Kevin Cash leaned on someone else, or had Pruitt pitched better, the Rays would have won the game since they scored a pair in the ninth inning.
As Neil Solondz (Rays Radio) wrote, Tampa Bay is 6-5 against Baltimore, playing eight of the 11 games at Camden Yards. Surprisingly the team’s two most lopsided defeats this season have been in that ballpark.
Look at the bright side, even though the Rays were unable to gain any ground in the Wildcard race, they also didn’t lose any ground thanks to losses by both the Mariners and Athletics. Furthermore, if you are someone who hopes that Chris Archer isn’t traded before or at the non-waiver trade deadline, quell your fears with his less than eye-popping turn on the mound. Let’s just say Archer neither helped his team, nor his trade value. Jim Turvey (DRaysBay) wrote a game recap that’s worth your while.
Moving on.
The New What Next
Ryne Stanek (1-2, 1.86 ERA) will open for the Rays tonight. Stanek has allowed just three runs total since June first, and has had two days off after pitching in four of the previous five games. He pitched three times in May against the Orioles and allowed one run (on a Manny Machado homer) in 3-2/3 innings of work. Jaylen Beeks (5-5, 2.89 ERA at AAA), acquired in the Nathan Eovaldi trade, is expected to make his Rays debut and pitch the bulk of the innings.
Beeks is 34-28 with a 3.63 ERA in parts of five Minor League seasons, including a 5-5 record and a 3.29 ERA with Triple-A Pawtucket this season. He had two appearances for Boston in 2018, but he didn’t fare too well. In his first start against Detroit, Beeks allowed six runs over four innings of work, and in a relief appearance against the Rangers he allowed three runs in 2-1/3 innings. Yet in in Triple-A, he was named to the All-Star Game thanks in part to a 33% strikeout rate which leads qualified pitchers in the league. He’s also only walking seven percent of opposing batters.
Stuff wise, Beeks previously relied on a two-seam fastball and a slider at the start of his career, although he currently relies on a 92 mph four-seam fastball, a whiffy 86 mph changeup, a 75 mph curveball with sharp downward bite, and an 88 mph cutter with good “rise,” which has aided in his growth.
Kevin Gausman gave up five runs on three hits and three walks while striking out two over 4-2/3 innings on Monday against the Red Sox. Gausman allowed a second inning solo homer, followed by four runs in the fifth on just three hits. He exited the ballgame with a five-run deficit after tossing 79 pitches (44 strikes, 56% strike rate). The right-hander has struggled over his past two outings, surrendering 10 runs over 9-2/3 innings while striking out just four. Gausman is 1-1 in two starts this season against Tampa Bay. In his first outing he surrendered just two runs on 11 hits over 7-1/3 innings of work, but his second start against the Rays didn’t go nearly as well, as Gausman allowed seven runs on six hit over 2-2/3 innings on May 27. Key Matchups: CJ Cron (5-15, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, BB), Matt Duffy (2-4), Mallex Smith (3-12, 3B, RBI, BB), Jesus Sucre (2-6, 2 2B, RBI), Joey Wendle (2-6, RBI)
You can read about the series in our preview.
The New What Next: Rays vs Orioles part four — a series preview
Rays 7/28/18 Starting Lineup
Kiermaier CF
Duffy 3B
Bauers 1B
Cron DH
Wendle LF
Robertson 2B
Smith RF
Sucre C
Adames SS
Stanek RHP
Noteworthiness
— Jacob Faria, on rehab with Triple-A Durham, allowed six runs over 4-2/3 innings last night.
— Blake Snell played catch Thursday and will increase the distance and intensity on Saturday before throwing from the mound Sunday.
It feels a lot better, so we’ll see how it all goes, Snell said.
If all goes well, Snell is slated to rejoin the Rays’ rotation on Tuesday or Wednesday against the Angels.
— Wilson Ramos is expected to catch a Vidal Nuno bullpen session Saturday, and play in a rehab game Sunday. If all goes well, he could return before the trade deadline.