After thumping the New York Yankees 8-1 on Sunday afternoon, the Tampa Bay Rays return home to open a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles.
It was a glorious end to a less than glorious series against the Yankees. After dropping the first two games 6-3 and 3-2 respectively, the Rays’ offense woke up, plating eight runs on 12 hits including five home runs. Birthday boy Steven Souza Jr. crushed two of the five, while Corey Dickerson, Steve Pearce and Logan Forsythe each hit one apiece.
Tampa Bay, overall, has looked rather lackluster at the plate. However, when looking at things through a different set of lenses, the Rays are getting better. Even though the scoring opportunities haven’t really presented themselves, they’ve done a fairly good job of bringing runners home when they’ve had men in scoring position. Consider this: their wRISP batting averages over the last three series have been, well…better than most of last season: .222 vs the White Sox, .267 vs the Red Sox and .571 vs the Yankees. They are leaps and bounds better than a few weeks ago when the Rays last faced Baltimore, a series in which Tampa Bay hit .203 wRISP and had just two hits with runners in scoring position. I certainly wouldn’t expect the team to hit +.500 with runners in scoring position regularly, however, there is hope that they can drive in runs at a far greater clip than they had in the first three series.
We’ve been a little bit quiet here and there, but these guys can hit, manager Kevin Cash said following Sunday’s contest. Evident today.
After starting the season on a torrid seven-game win streak, the Orioles have come down to Earth ― dropping seven of their last 11. That’s not to say they aren’t a good team; at 11-6 on the season, the O’s are the only +.500 team in the AL East. That they are second in the American League in runs (80), first in the AL in SLG (.494) and first in the AL in homers (27) proves that Baltimore indeed is a formidable opponent.
What better time than now for Chris Archer to prove that he’s a true ace, and for Jake Odorizzi and Matt Moore to bounce back from a pair of starts where each hurler gave up four runs or more.
Archer (0-4, 7.32 ERA) was torched for six runs in just 4-1/3 innings of work Wednesday night. The righty is still winless on the season and has yet to pitch past the fifth inning of any game. Wednesday marked the second time in three starts that he’s given up six runs. Suffice it to say, Archer has performed well below expectation. Nevertheless he has the talent to turn things around, and he has pinpointed what he thinks may be the problem. We’ll see if the adjustments made can make a difference in the outcome on Monday.
Odorizzi (0-1, 3.97 ERA) threw four innings Thursday afternoon and allowed five runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out three. Thursday’s game marked the first time this season (four starts) that Jake did not make it into the sixth inning. Through 22-2/3 innings, Odorizzi sports an attractive 23/4 strike-to-walk ratio.
Moore (1-1, 3.60 ERA) allowed four runs on eight hits, while walking two and striking out five over 6-2/3 innings Friday night. The southpaw battled, but the Yankees kept chipping away at Moore. He, however, continues to show good control while maintaining a solid 26/5 strike-to-walk ratio.
Kevin Gausman (shoulder) is slated to start Monday. The righty cleared the final hurdle on his road back from a shoulder injury, tossing 5-2/3 innings for Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday (91 pitches). Across three levels during his rehab assignment, Gausman collected a 19/5 strike-to-walk ratio. In 2015 he relied primarily on his four seam fastball (96 mph) that had good “rising” action, also mixing in a splitter (86 mph) that tends to result in ground balls, curve (81 mph) that generates fly-balls, and a sinker using a one-seam fastball grip (94 mph) according to Brooks Baseball. Tampa Bay has taken advantage of Gausman over the last three seasons, tagging him with a 2-3 record and a 6.16 ERA. Key matchups: Tim Beckham (1-3), Curt Casali (1-3), Logan Forsythe (4-5, 2 2B, HR, 3 RBI, BB), Kevin Kiermaier (4-16, HR, 2 RBI), Evan Longoria (6-18, 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 3 BB)
Ubaldo Jimenez (1-1, 3.71 ERA) tossed five innings against the Blue Jays, allowing two runs, five hits and four walks while striking out six. Through three starts in 2016, Jimenez has a sub-four ERA, but a concerning 1.59 WHIP. And while he’s been nipped by a .378 BABIP, he’s managed to strand 80% of runners. More concerning though, his 2.5 strike-to-walk ratio and 89.9 mph average fastball. Jimenez is 2-0 with a 0.68 ERA over his last two starts against the Rays. Key matchup: Logan Morrison (3-3, 2 2B, 2 RBI)
Chris Tillman (1-1, 4.42 ERA) allowed two runs on four hits and three walks over six innings against Toronto. He fanned four and didn’t factor into the decision. Tillman was actually in line to lose, however, the offense bailed him out. Tillman didn’t fare well last season, and he doesn’t look much better now. That being said, he allowed just one run on four hits in five innings of work against Tampa Bay on April 8. Key matchups: Tim Beckham (1-4, RBI, BB), Corey Dickerson (1-2, 2B), Logan Forsythe (7-22, 2 2B, RBI, BB), Brandon Guyer (3-11), Evan Longoria (17-51, 4 2B, 7 HR, 10 RBI, 5 BB), Steven Souza Jr. (4-14, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB)
Noteworthiness
― According to Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times), the Rays swung their way to history, the first team to hit five homers and strike out 15 or more times in a nine-inning game. It was the third time they won in regulation with 16 or more Ks, also at the White Sox on Sept. 29, 2012, and at the Red Sox on May 6, 2000.
― Manny Machado has been a nemesis to Chris Archer. Machado is 9-22 with a home run off the Rays ace, while Chris Davis is 5-14 with two homers and Jonathan Schoop 4-7 with one homer. All three homered on April 8.
― The good folks at the Process Report put together an excellent, easy to understand, recap of the Rays/Yankees series. It’s worth your time.