The New What Next
Chris Archer (7-17, 4.11 ERA) will get the start for Tampa Bay this afternoon, opposite of Doug Fister (12-8, 3.59 ERA).
Archer is tops in the AL with 192 strikeouts and looks to add to that total against the free swinging team from Houston. He allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks over five innings on Tuesday, striking out six. The 109 pitches thrown after five frames ended his night early, marking his shortest stint since May 22. Be that as it may, the righty continues to pitch much better in the second half of the season, owning a 2.94 ERA with 61 strikeouts over 53 innings since the All-Star Break. Archer’s collected five quality starts over his last seven games — allowing him to lower his ERA to 4.11, the lowest its been since Opening Day.
Fister shut out the Pirates over seven innings on Monday, earning a win. The righty allowed just three hits and a walk, while striking out six. Fister, vacillating between very good (three shutout starts) and very bad (three starts of four-plus runs) starts over his last seven games, had allowed nine runs over his previous two starts before Monday. He’s relied upon a slow 88 mph sinker this season, while also mixing in a 71 mph curveball that generates a lot of whiffs, an 80 mph splitter with arm side fade, an 82 mph worm killer of a slider, an 85 mph cutter, and a whiffy 88 mph four-seam fastball. Key matchups: Matt Duffy (1-1), Logan Forsythe (2-3, 2B), Kevin Kiermaier (1-3), Evan Longoria (4-13, RBI, BB), Steven Souza Jr. (1-3), Bobby Wilson (1-2)
Rays 8/28/16 Starting Lineup
Dickerson LF
Kiermaier CF
Longoria DH
Miller 1B
Duffy SS
Franklin 2B
Souza RF
Beckham 3B
Maile C
Archer RHP
Noteworthiness
— Just as he started to get toasty at the plate, Tampa Bay optioned OF Mikie Mahtook back to Triple-A Durham following Saturday’s ball game in order to add a fresh arm to the depleted bullpen. Their means to an end was to recall RHP Steve Geltz. In the past six games, the Rays have needed their relievers to cover 21-1/3 innings thanks to a pair of starts of fewer than four innings, as well as an extra inning game.
It’s probably a 1-day thing for Geltz; #Rays have to make room Monday to activate Cobb https://t.co/P32v67Uji2
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) August 28, 2016
The move should be temporary, as Alex Cobb is slated to return to the 25-man roster on Monday. The righty hurled four innings Saturday for the Durham Bulls, allowing one run on five hits and no walks on 58 pitches (44 strikes), while striking out one. Tampa Bay has room for Cobb on the 40-man roster thanks to the release of Desmond Jennings.
Mahtook is likely to return when the rosters expand later this week.