Jake Odorizzi threw a superb eight inning affair Friday night, and LHP Drew Smyly (2-11, 5.64 ERA) will try to replicate that success for Tampa Bay, opposite of Kendall Graven (6-6, 4.25 ERA).
Odorizzi boasted a fantastic fastball — especially up in the zone — and some good breaking stuff that kept the Athletics off balance. He scattered just five singles, while fanning five and walking none. Oakland got runner past first base base only once, and that was due to a rare error by Kevin Kiermaier. If the Rays hope to win Saturday, it will be incumbent on the them to do two things:
- Smyly must snap out of his current funk that, with the exception of a few good starts here and there, extends back to May 10 (at Seattle).
- The offense needs to play as they had the previous four nights. Tampa Bay cannot expect to win by collecting another combined 2-for-18/five strikeout night by Evan Longoria, Steven Souza Jr., Steve Pearce and Corey Dickerson.
Smyly is 0-7 over his past 10 starts, and winless since May 16, and has posted the highest ERA of any pitcher in the big leagues (minimum of 90 innings). Smyly is 1-2 with a 6.87 ERA in six games (three starts) against the Athletics, and 1-2 with a 4.91 ERA in Oakland. Graveman is 5-0 with a 3.29 ERA over his past nine starts. The 26 year-old right-hander was 1-6 with a 5.36 ERA over his first nine, including a four run/six hit, 5-2/3 inning loss against Tampa Bay on May 14. Graveman is 2-3 with a 2.91 ERA at home, and 1-1 with a 2.04 ERA in three starts against the Rays. You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.
Rays 7/23/16 Starting Lineup
Forsythe 2B
Miller SS
Longoria 3B
Dickerson DH
Pearce 1B
Arcia RF
Guyer LF
Kiermaier CF
Casali C
Smyly LHP
Noteworthiness
— If you’re keeping track, Tampa Bay now must go 48-18 (.727 baseball) from here on out for the Rays to have a shot at an AL wildcard berth.
— Rays manager Kevin Cash, with the foresight that he will likely need to depend upon another hurler this evening (considering Smyly’s lack of quality outings over the last two months), opted wisely to place Dylan Floro into Friday night’s marathon, not Matt Andriese. Cash went as far as to tell the media that, instead of Andriese, he may have leaned upon Alex Colome without the lead.
— According to Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) Logan Morrison’s right forearm/wrist felt better after a Thursday night cortisone shot and a diagnosis of tendinitis. Cash hopes that he will be available tonight in some capacity.
— Injury news… RHP Brad Boxberger (oblique) is expected to make his third rehab appearance tonight for the Class-A Charlotte Stone Crabs in Port Charlotte. He could rejoin the team shortly if all goes as planned. RHP Alex Cobb (Tommy John surgery) will throw live batting practice this afternoon in Port Charlotte, with a return to minor-league game action likely next week. RHP Chase Whitley (Tommy John surgery) will make his second rehab appearance on Sunday with the Stone Crabs. RHP Ryan Garton was placed on the disabled list at Triple-A Durham. INF Nick Franklin did not incur a fracture after being hit on the hand with a pitch Thursday.