After an awe-inspiring victory (checks notes) After a 12-0 pummeling by the Minnesota Twins, the Tampa Bay Rays look to get back on the winning side of the ledger this afternoon at Target Field. The Rays look to close out an otherwise successful road trip with one last win.
At 76-41 on the season, Tampa Bay enters play 25-games above .500 and still boasts the top record in the American League. Yet, while they are 6-2 on this three-city road trip, both defeats have come by 12 runs.
Yandy Díaz (sprained left thumb) didn’t play yesterday, and is out of the lineup today. Díaz will be available, but only if needed. Mike Brosseau has been recalled from Durham, while RHP Louis Head has been optioned to Triple-A Durham to make room on the roster.
Michael Wacha got the start Saturday against the Twins, and in an act of self-immolation, the right-hander allowed seven runs on 11 hits and one walk with five strikeouts across five innings. Max Kepler greeted Wacha with a leadoff solo shot two pitches into the ballgame, setting the tone for the entire outing. The right-hander allowed four runs in the first inning and three more in the third, punctuated by a Luis Arraez two-run homer. He did settle in to retire six of the seven batters he faced in the fourth and fifth innings, but the damage was already done. Wacha has now surrendered an astounding 30 hits and 18 earned runs in his last 14 innings pitched.
Following the game, Wacha told Tricia Whitaker (Bally Sports FL) that he intends to keep working through whatever is hampering him.
I believe I’m a better pitcher than what I have shown recently. It’s a terrible feeling putting the team in that situation today. But there’s no quit in me, I’m going to keep working.
— Michael Wacha
With Chris Archer’s return pending, as well as the specter of Shane Baz looming, it would be safe to say Wacha is fighting to keep his job. Overall, Wacha maintains a 5.91 ERA and a 5.09 FIP across 85.1 innings, with a 1.51 WHIP and a 3.17 K/BB.
The New What Next
Luis Patiño (2-3, 4.64 ERA) will get the start for Tampa Bay in the series finale, pitching opposite of Charlie Barnes (0-2, 6.08 ERA).
Luis Patiño got the start Tuesday against Boston and allowed four runs on six hits (including two home runs) and three walks while striking out seven. Patiño threw 60 of 103 pitches for strikes (58% strike rate) and got 10 swinging strikes (10% SwStr%, which is just under his season average). Boston only scored twice against the right-hander, who pitched better than his line might suggest. Rafael Devers homered off Patiño in the second inning, while Boston put together a two-out rally in the fourth which preceded a Hunter Renfroe three-run homer to centerfield. He settled down and left the bases full in the fifth inning, while also striking out a pair in the sixth to keep the Rays within striking distance. Most impressive about the 21-year-old: he showed poise and confidence on the mound despite the fact that he staked himself to a three-run deficit. While a four-spot against his ledger isn’t pretty, Patiño was able to navigate through one of the league’s toughest lineups with spotty command and still averaged more than one punchout per inning.
Charlie Barnes will be making his fourth big-league appearance and third start. In his last turn, Barnes threw the final 4.2 innings against the White Sox, allowing three runs. He has not thrown more than five innings in a game since July 8th. Overall, Barnes has allowed nine runs on 17 hits and five walks while striking out six across 13.1 innings. The left-hander relies primarily on a 91 mph sinker without any special qualities, a changeup, and a slider.
You can read about the series in our preview, while the starting lineup and Noteworthiness are below.
Rays 8/15/21 Starting Lineup
- Arozarena RF
- Cruz DH
- Meadows LF
- Franco SS
- Margot CF
- Luplow 1B
- Zunino C
- Brosseau 2B
- Wendle 3B
- Patiño RHP
Noteworthiness
— After making his first rehab start on Thursday, working through a clean seventh inning on just five pitches, Nick Anderson is set to appear with Durham today. Rays skipper Kevin Cash said he would like to have seen a larger pitch count from Anderson on Thursday, although he also mentioned that Anderson “threw enough in the bullpen to where he got what he needed out of it.”
Because the right-hander did not have a normal Spring Training, Cash said he will have a “fairly lengthy buildup” before he can rejoin the Rays,” although “it’s good that he’s just back out there competing, putting a uniform on.”
— Chris Archer is slated to pitch on Tuesday with Triple-A Durham, where the team will monitor “how many pitches he can get under his belt,” according to Cash. His return outing will help determine when the right-hander can rejoin the big league roster.
— Ryan Thompson (right shoulder inflammation) and J.P. Feyereisen (shoulder tendinitis) are slated to throw Monday in the Florida Complex League.