Colome had been perfect in 21 previous save chances, and hadn’t given up a run — much less three — in any of those opportunities. He also allowed just one home run to a right-handed batter in 2016 before Saturday (80 plate appearances).
On the other hand, Drew Smyly did post a quality start for the first time since June 15 — the fifth consecutive quality start Tampa Bay; the first time this year the Rays have had five straight quality starts. I have nothing nice to say otherwise.
The New What Next
Blake Snell (2-4, 3.11 ERA) will start for the Rays in the series finale, opposite of Jesse Hahn (2-4, 6.49 ERA). Snell surrendered only one hit and three walks, while fanning nine, over six scoreless innings of a win against the Rockies on Tuesday. It was the best start of Snell’s young Major League career, as he collected a new career high in strikeouts and posted his first big league shutout. Snellzilla was nasty, inducing 16 whiffs on 96 pitches, while dominating the Rockies at Coors Field — an impressive feat for a rookie.
Originally drafted by the Rays, Hahn has been recalled from Triple-A Nasvhille to face his original organization for the first time. Hahn was initially traded to the Padres in the deal that netted Logan Forsythe, Matt Andriese and Brad Boxberger. Hahn, who was traded again in December 2014 to the Athletics, told Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) he would like to even the score with Tampa Bay Sunday afternoon:
There’s a little bit of a chip on my shoulder. I’ve always wanted to throw against them just because they were the first team to trade me, and I have a lot of friends over there, a lot of guys I still talk to. It’s going to be cool to do that.
Rays 7/24/16 Starting Lineup
Forsythe 2B
Miller SS
Longoria 3B
Dickerson LF
Pearce 1B
Arcia DH
Souza Jr. RF
Kiermaier CF
Maile C
Snell LHP
Noteworthiness
— In his third rehab appearance, Boxberger threw an inning for the Charlotte Stone Crabs on Saturday, allowing a run.
Rays skipper Kevin Cash said no decision will be made (on Boxberger’s return) until he first speaks with team officials and the hurler, who made just one appearance between lengthy disabled list stints for a pair of ailments. There’s a line of thought that he may pitch again in the minors and wait until Friday to be activated.
We’ve got to do what’s right for us and obviously Box, Cash said. I know Box is itching to get back, but at the same time this has been quite the process, quite the season for him. We want to make sure he is totally healthy.
— RHP Alex Cobb (Tommy John surgery) threw two “innings” of live batting practice in Port Charlotte Saturday afternoon. The Rays now must decide if Cobb is ready to return to minor-league rehab games, after being pulled from his first assignment totaling two starts.
— OF Desmond Jennings (hamstring) hit against Cobb and ran the bases, “indicating he might be close to starting a rehab assignment,” writes Topkin.
— RHP Chase Whitley (Tommy John surgery) will make his second rehab start on Sunday for the Stone Crabs in Port Charlotte.
— OF Mikie Mahtook (left hand fracture) is expected to start hitting off a tee Sunday.
— We’ve been quiet about the trade rumors surrounding the Rays leading up to the August 1st deadline. That’s partially by design; rumors, by definition, are circulated unverified accounts of a given event. There is a lot of misinformation swirling about an “imminent fire sale,” and, well…trying to keep up can be a bit overwhelming. Nevertheless, with off-days on Monday and Thursday, we’ll try to touch on some of the more reasonable trade rumors this week.