Kevin Cash will throw Chris Archer (3-7, 4.75 ERA), Matt Moore (2-3, 5.46 ERA), and Jake Odorizzi (2-3, 3.33 ERA) over the next three days. Chip Hale will counter with Robbie Ray (2-4, 4.74 ERA), Zack Greinke (7-3, 4.29 ERA), and Archie Bradley (2-1, 4.94 ERA).
Rays series starters
Archer struggled again Wednesday, allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits over six innings. He struck out four and walked two. Archer has allowed at least four runs in each of his last three starts. The good news is that he has been a victim of the BABIP luck dragons to an extent, and both his batting average on balls in play and HR/FB rates are both primed for positive regression. That said, his fastball velocity is still down, and his slider isn’t as potent of a weapon as it once was.
Moore was lifted Thursday after throwing 96 pitches in five innings of work. Following the game, he expressed a desire to pitch deeper into games, saying,
It’s baseball. This is not Little League with pitch counts or high school where they are trying to keep you healthy and things like that. This is the major leagues – it’s time to go. This is something that we prepare for.
It should be noted, Moore blew leads on two separate occasions. Moore clarified that he wasn’t questioning Kevin Cash’s decision-making process, rather he feels that he (and the rest of the staff) is capable of working through some of the incurred trouble within his starts.
I’m not questioning the moves they’re making, I’m just saying we do have more in the tank. That if he does allow us to go out there for the sixth or the seventh or whatever inning it is, that we are going to be okay, that we are going to be able to compete in those moments. And to us starters it doesn’t matter how many times the lineups turn over. It doesn’t matter who we’re playing. The mentality within our group is we’re going to go out there until he takes the ball from us.
Currently sporting a bloated 5.46 ERA, Moore has made it past the fifth inning only once in his last six starts. As former Ray James Shields once said, “If you don’t like it, play better.”
Odorizzi allowed just two runs on five hits and three walks while fanning six, in a six inning start against Minnesota on Friday. The quality outing was enough to put Tampa Bay in a position to pick up the win. Odorizzi has allowed two runs or fewer in seven of his past eight outings, lowering his ERA to 3.33 along the way.
Diamondbacks series starters
Ray lasted just five innings in Houston on Wednesday, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out six. It took the 24 year-old righty 99 pitches just to get that far, and he’s failed to go six innings in seven of his last eight starts. Ray sports an excellent 10.42 K/9 rate, however, he’s accompanied that with a high BB/9 rate and that — combined with a bout with the BABIP luck dragons — left him with a 4.74 ERA so far. In 2016, Ray has relied primarily on a 95 mph swing and miss four seam fastball and a 94 mph sinker. He’s also mixed in an 86 mph 12-6 slider, a hard 87 mph changeup, and an 82 mph worm-killer curveball.
Greinke was really good in his start on Thursday, collecting his seventh win by throwing seven scoreless innings against Houston. He scattered just four hits and fanned a season-high 11 batters. The right-hander was in complete control of his pitches all game and didn’t walk a single batter, and he was able to lower his season ERA to 4.29. So far this season Greinke has relied primarily on a fairly straight 92 mph four seam fastball, an 89 mph hard changeup, and an 86 mph ground ball inducing slider. He’s also mixed in a 76 mph curveball with run and depth, and a 92 mph sinker. Key matchups: Desmond Jennings (2-8), Logan Morrison (5-10, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 2 BB), Steve Pearce (1-1, 2B, RBI)
Bradley put together a strong outing on Friday, allowing just one run on four hits while walking three and striking out a career-high 10. According to his scouting report, Bradley is hinting that he could be close to taking the next step. While he still loses his release point on occasion, it doesn’t happen as frequently as it once had. So far this season Bradley has relied primarily on a 94 mph ground ball inducing four seam fastball, and a sharp 82 mph knuckle curve with lots of bite. He’s also mixed in a firm 88 mph changeup that generates a good number of fly balls.
Noteworthiness
— Steven Souza Jr. has recorded three RBI and three runs scored during his three-game hit streak.
— Yasmany Tomas has rebounded from an 0-15 stretch and is currently on a five-game hit streak.
— David Peralta (right wrist inflammation) is expected to rejoin the team on Monday after being placed on the 15-day disabled list on May 1