X-Rays Spex

A Below Average Rays Fan Blog

The New What Next: Rays vs Twins part two — a series preview

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How do you spell sweep? D-E-T-R-O-I-T T-I-G-E-R-S. (Photo Credit: X-Rays Spex)

After rattling off five consecutive wins, including a three-game seep of the Tigers, the Tampa Bay Rays are set to open a four game series against the Minnesota Twins, in Minneapolis. The Twins won the rubber game of their three game series with the Royals on Wednesday. The Rays, who enter the series four-games over .500 for the first time this season, swept the three-game series between the teams at home earlier this season (April 20-22).

(Stats Credit: ESPN)

Tampa Bay looks to build on its 48-44 record heading into the All Star Break. They still trail the Red Sox by 16 games in the AL East entering Thursday night, however, the Rays made up a game in a half in the Wildcard rankings, sitting 9.5 games out of the final spot with 70 left to play.

Minnesota bounced back from a loss in the middle game of the set with Kansas City, improving to 41-49 on the season with their sixth win in seven games. Although the Twins trail Cleveland by 8.5 in the AL Central, and the Rays by six games in the AL Wildcard rankings.

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

Minnesota has put 75 runs on the board over the last 14 days, as compared to Tampa Bay which has scored 23 fewer. Yet the Rays pitching staff has performed to a combined 2.47 ERA/3.19 FIP (1.66 ERA/2.21 FIP by starters, 3.00 ERA/3.84 FIP by relievers) over the same stretch. Compare that to the Twins, which have performed to a combined 4.95 ERA/4.69 FIP (4.92 ERA/5.33 FIP by starters, 5.00 ERA/3.83 FIP by relievers). Good pitching beats good hitting, advantage Tampa Bay.

If the Rays can win the series, they’ll enter the All-Star Break with a 51-45 record in the very least, six games over .500.

Pitching Probables

Over the next three days Kevin Cash will start Blake Snell (12-4, 2.09 ERA), Nathan Eovaldi (3-3, 3.35 ERA) and Chris Archer (3-4, 4.41 ERA), then rely on the bullpen (23-22, 3.46 ERA) in the series finale. Paul Molitor will counter with Kyle Gibson (3-6, 3.59 ERA), Jake Odorizzi (4-6, 4.28 ERA), Jose Berrios (9-7, 3.41 ERA), and a pitcher to be named before the game on Sunday.

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

Blake Snell allowed six hits and three walks while striking out nine across 7-1/3 scoreless innings against the Mets on Sunday. Snell threw 112 pitches (70 strikes, 63% strike rate), generated an impressive 16 swinging strikes (23% SwStr rate) and stayed out of trouble by coaxing 10 groundouts including two double plays. While the Mets typically struggle against left-handers, Snell has been dominant in his last three starts, fanning 29 batters across 21-2/3 innings. Those three turns on the mound have added to his impressive 2018 campaign, as Snell ranks among the AL leaders in wins, innings pitched, strikeouts, ERA and WHIP. (Cough, yet he was still snubbed for the All Star Game)

Kyle Gibson fired seven strong innings to earn the win over Baltimore on Saturday, allowing three runs on four hits and four walks while striking out nine. Gibson has been solid for most of the season and he continued that on Saturday, with most of the damage coming on a first-inning home run hit by Chris Davis. Even so, Gibson is 1-1 with a 5.21 ERA over his last three starts (19 innings), with seven walks but 19 strikeouts. The right-hander is 1-5 with a 6.81 ERA in eight career starts against Tampa Bay, including a 6-1/3 inning four run, five hit loss on April 21. Key Matchups: Ji-Man Choi (1-3, HR, RBI), CJ Cron (4-11, HR, 3 RBI, BB), Carlos Gomez (4-15, 2B, RBI), Adeiny Hechavarria (1-1, BB), Kevin Kiermaier (5-8, 3 2B, BB), Wilson Ramos (1-3, 2B, RBI), Joey Wendle (2-3, 3B)

Nathan Eovaldi blanked the Mets across seven innings, allowing just one hit while striking out nine. The right-hander has had his best stuff over his last three starts, allowing just two runs across 19 innings while striking out 23. Even considering the hefty number of punch outs he collected, Eovaldi was extremely efficient Sunday, needing just 79 pitches (59 strikes, 75% strike rate) to breeze through seven innings, but manager Cash decided to pull the starter due to a seven-run lead.

Jake Odorizzi allowed five hits and a walk while striking out five over six innings against the Orioles on Sunday. He now has thrown two scoreless outings in his last three starts. And while both of those starts have come against weak lineups — the White Sox and Orioles — the former Ray is making up for a rough stretch from late May and June, during which he allowed 22 earned runs across 20-1/3 innings. He has gone at least five innings without surrendering more than two earned runs in 10 of his 19 starts this season. Odo has never faced his former team, although a handful of batters have faced him over the last few years. Key Matchups: CJ Cron (2-4, HR, RBI), Matt Duffy (1-2, 2B), Carlos Gomez (2-7, BB)

Chris Archer did not fare well in his return outing after spending on the DL with an abdominal strain, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks over 3-1/3 innings Monday night. He struck out three. Archer threw 15 of 18 first pitch strikes and induced 11 whiffs, although he had a hard time putting batters away efficiently. He struggled in the third inning, when he allowed three runs on three hits and a walk, running up his pitch count before his removal with one out in the fourth. Archer appeared to be turning a corner leading up to his DL stint, firing off five quality starts over a stretch of seven appearances that was bookended by an injury marred, five inning outing against Seattle on the fifth of June. Over his last four previous starts against the Angels, Red Sox, Athletics and the Mariners, Archer allowed a total of three runs, while sporting a 2.18 K/BB.

Jose Berrios held the Royals to just one run on six hits over seven innings on Monday night. He struck out eight. Berrios has now thrown quality starts in six of his last seven outings. The right-hander leaned heavily on his curveball Monday, throwing it 41 times, inducing five swinging strikes and four outs in play with it. Overall, Kansas City’s batters whiffed 16 times (22% SwStr rate) on 111 (74 strikes, 67% strike rate) pitches as Berrios showed why he’s the ace in Minnesota. Aside from his 82 mph curveball, this season Berrios has relied on his 94 mph four-seam fastball and an 84 mph changeup. Key Matchups: CJ Cron (1-3), Kevin Kiermaier (2-6, 2B)

I will update this piece when the pitching probables for the series finale are announced.

LBWMF: Rays rally in extras to defeat Le Tigre, 10-9; David Cross on Tampa’s lights

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Thanks to Daniel Robertson’s extra inning walkoff hit, the Rays start the day two-games over .500, matching a season high. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays scored five first inning runs, and held leads of 5-0, 7-3 and 9-7. Yet after losing a two-run lead late in the ball game, the Rays scratched across a 10th inning run, allowing them to walk it off against the Detroit Tigers, 10-9. Tampa Bay starts the day two games over .500 — equaling the team’s high-water mark — having gone 12-1 in its last 13 home games.

Chris Archer got the start for Tampa Bay, his first since June 5, and instantly found himself in trouble in a long, 25-pitch first inning. Archer allowed the first two batters to reach via a leadoff walk and a single, although he worked around the jam by coaxing a ground ball out, sandwiched between a pair of swinging strikeouts.

Meanwhile, all nine Rays batters came to the plate in a five run first against Francisco Liriano. Matt Duffy started the rally with a one out single off the glove of sliding centerfielder, Victor Reyes. Daniel Robertson and Wilson Ramos followed with back-to-back singles to load the bases before CJ Cron — who is slashing .500 BA/.545 OBP/.900 SLG/1.445 OPS with a .400 ISO in the month of July — lashed an RBI single to left. Jake Bauers drove in the second run on a 3-6 fielder’s choice with Robertson crossing the plate. The inning probably should have ended on the next play, but a little bit of Tropicana Field’s serendipitous magic allowed Adeiny Hechavarria’s pop fly to right to get lost in the lights as it fell in front of Castellanos, allowing two runs to come across on what was scored a double. Carlos Gomez followed with a run-scoring hit to left, capping the five-run rally.

Archer worked around more traffic on the base paths in the second inning, but gave up three runs in the third when Victor Reyes and Ronny Rodriguez singled, and Nick Castellanos walked, loading the bases. Niko Goodrum doubled to right, driving in a pair before Archer retired the next three batters (although Jim Adduci was able to push across another run on a ground out) to end the frame.

Archer did receive a little help from INF/OF Daniel Robertson, who laid it all out to end the frame with a diving grab.

Be that as it may, the Rays got two of those runs back against Liriano. Ramos led things off with an opposite field homer, on a fastball that caught too much plate.

Rod Gardenhire had seen enough of Liriano, and pulled him from the game after Cron doubled to left and Hechavarria walked. With two on and one out, reliever Drew Ver Hagen appeared to get an inning-ending double play off the bat of Gomez, but the ball took an awkward hop off the second base bag for a run-scoring double, pushing the lead to four.

Archer, who was on a pitch count, again took the mound in the fourth, although he was lifted with one out and two on after throwing 78 pitches. He gave up six hits and two walks, while fanning three. Hunter Wood came on in relief and settled things down for a bit, tossing 2-2/3 innings of scoreless baseball.

Seesaws are going to seesaw, and the lead got away in the seventh inning with right-hander Jamie Schultz on the mound.

Schultz allowed a free pass to Rodriguez, hit Castellanos, and allowed a run-scoring double to Niko Goodrum, all in the span of 16 pitches. With the lead in jeopardy, Adam Kolarek entered the fray and threw one pitch to Victor Martinez, who lined a ball to right-field which Gomez caught for the first out. Gomez threw a bullet to the home plate that would have gotten Castellanos for the second out … had Ramos held onto the ball. Diego Castillo entered the game and got pinch-hitter John Hicks to pop out to first, however, the right-hander walked former Ray Mikie Mahtook and hit James McCann to load the bases. Jose Iglesias proceeded to line a game tying, 1-0 double to left.

Tampa Bay reclaimed the lead back in the bottom of the seventh against Louis Coleman, because seesaws are going to seesaw. Cron led off the inning with a double to right, his third hit of the night, before Jake Bauers singled Johnny Field, who pinch-ran for Cron, to third. After Hechavarria lined out to second, Gomez laid down a perfectly placed bunt single toward third, allowing Field to score. Pinch-hitter Joey “he can hit” Wendle connected for a double to right, with Bauers crossing the plate to put the Rays up by two, but Gomez was thrown out at third, ending the rally.

And in true seesaw fashion, Detroit scored two runs in the eighth inning, again tying the game. Ryne Stanek started the frame by coaxing a popper to right from Rodriguez for the first out, but followed by allowing a double to Castellanos. Jose Alvarado entered the game and got Goodrum to ground out on the first pitch of the at-bat, but V-Mart hit an RBI single to draw Detroit within one.

Closer Sergio Romo was summoned from the bullpen to get the final out of the eighth, but quickly gave up a first pitch single to John Hicks, allowing Martinez to move into second. It then looked like Mahtook on a would be ground out softly wide of first, but Bauers fielded the play and responded by throwing the ball well over the head of Romo, who was covering the bag, and into the Rays dugout. The error allowed pinch-runner Jacoby Jones to score the game tying run. Romo finished the eighth and pitched the ninth as well, retiring the final four batters he faced.

After Matt Andriese threw a scoreless top of the tenth, Tampa Bay rallied against Blaine Hardy, who threw a zero up in the ninth.

Wendle led off the frame innocuously enough with a ground out to short, yet Kevin Kiermaier tripled to left-center with one, putting the winning run just 90 feet from home plate. Duffy, the next batter, quickly fell behind 0-2, although he inevitably worked a nine-pitch at-bat before he drew a walk. Robertson proved to be the final batter of the game, and after he squared around to bunt on the first pitch of the at-bat, he lined a ball through the middle, giving the Rays a walk off victory.

Robertson ended the night with three hits, as did Gomez and Cron, and the Rays collected 18 in total.

The New What Next

The Rays play game two of the series on Tuesday with Matt Boyd (4-7, 4.58 ERA) starting for Detroit, pitching opposite of the bullpen for Tampa Bay. Ryan Yarbrough (7-4, 3.75 ERA) is expected to throw the bulk of the innings since Andriese pitched Monday night.

Ryan Yarbrough allowed two runs on four hits and one walk over three innings of a no-decision against Miami on Tuesday. He struck out three. Yarbrough ran into a bit of trouble in the second inning, loading the bases on an IBB before the opposing pitcher, Trevor Richards, laced a two-run single to center. Even though he limited the damage and breezed through the third inning with ease, Yarbrough didn’t come back out for the fourth despite tossing 6-1/3 innings and 90 pitches in his previous outing. He has allowed four runs total in his last 15-1/3 innings of work.

Matthew Boyd allowed seven runs (six earned) on seven hits over four innings in his last start against the Rangers. He struck out three. Boyd didn’t allow a run in the first inning, yet allowed multiple runs thereafter before receiving the early hook in the fourth. The key blows were a pair of two-run homers by Joey Gallo and Ronald Guzman. Boyd has been hit or miss since limiting the Rays to one run on May 1, allowing five or more earned runs three times over his past four starts — pushing his ERA up from 3.23 before his rough stretch to 4.58. He is 1-0 with a 3.27 ERA in two career starts against Tampa Bay. Key Matchups: CJ Cron (1-3), Johnny Field (1-2), Adeiny Hechavarria (1-3), Kevin Kiermaier (1-1), Wilson Ramos (1-2, BB), Mallex Smith (1-3)

You can read about the series in our preview.

The New What Next: Rays vs Tigers part two — a series preview

Rays 7/10/18 Starting Lineup

Kiermaier CF
Duffy 3B
Robertson LF
Ramos C
Cron DH
Bauers 1B
Hechavarria SS
Gomez RF
Adames 2B
Stanek RHP

Noteworthiness

— Tampa Bay Rays:

David Cross:

Golly, look at all them buildings lit up! I didn’t think it could be physically possible to do that! Look at that one! …Gasp… Look at that one! Gosh glorifying us with his magnificent fluorescence!

— Your requisite reminder: The Rays are now 29-1 when they score at least five runs.

The New What Next: Rays vs Tigers part two — a series preview

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Much to Jon Heyman’s chagrin, the Rays walloped the New York Mets on Sunday, 9-0. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays return home for a brief, three-game series against the Detroit Tigers on Monday, before they hit the road once again ahead of the All-Star Break. Tampa Bay most recently took two of three from the Mets, while Detroit split a four-game set with the Rangers.

(Stats Credit: ESPN)

After starting the series against the Mets on a rather frigid note, the Rays’ offense showed signs of life in the series finale — hammering New York for nine runs on nine hits (including three home runs). Nathan Eovaldi and Andrew Kittredge held the Mets to just two hits and no runs, allowing the Rays to earn their league leading eighth shutout in the last 38 games.

Moving runners was a monumental task for Tampa Bay in the first two games, as the Rays went 2-for-25 with runners in scoring position. However, they inevitably showed they could both hit home runs and play small ball — going 5-for-13 (.385 batting average) wRISP the rest of the way.

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

The Rays should be able to continue that bourgeoning success against a Tigers’ pitching staff that has fared poorly on the road — performing to an 4.71 ERA/4.56 FIP/.258 opponents BA/.337 opponents OBP/.438 opponents SLG/.334 opponents wOBA over 372-1/3 innings away from Comerica Park. Furthermore, the Rays have won 11 of their last 15 (eight vs. contending teams) and allowed just 31 runs — 17 fewer than any other team.

In the end, there is a score to be settled with the Tigers, as Tampa Bay dropped two of three in Detroit, between April 30 and May 2, after picking up a win in the lead game. Hopefully all facets of the Rays will be up for the task.

Pitching Probables

Kevin Cash will lean on a rehabilitated Chris Archer (3-4, 4.24 ERA), and likely Matt Andriese (1-3, 3.71 ERA) and Ryan Yarbrough (7-4, 3.75 ERA) over the next three days. I will update this piece when that situation becomes clear. Ron Gardenhire will counter with Francisco Liriano (3-5, 4.03 ERA), Matthew Boyd (4-7, 4.58 ERA) and Jordan Zimmermann (4-0, 3.51 ERA).

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

Chris Archer will return from the disabled list on Monday, although he will likely be limited to about 75 pitches. The 29-year-old has been on the DL since June 5 with an abdominal strain, posting a 4.24 ERA and 1.34 WHIP over 76-1/3 innings prior to the injury. Archer appeared to be turning a corner though, firing off five quality starts over a stretch of seven appearances that was bookended by an injury marred, five inning outing against Seattle on the fifth of June. Over his last four starts against the Angels, Red Sox, Athletics and the Mariners, Archer allowed a total of three runs, while sporting a 2.18 K/BB. The secret to his success? He kept the ball inside the park.

Francisco Liriano took a loss Wednesday even though he allowed three runs on five hits, but five walks, across six innings. He struck out five. The five walks marked a new season high, and the southpaw is lucky that he only allowed three runs to cross the plate with so much traffic on the base paths. Liriano has posted back-to-back quality starts, yet he has taken a loss each time thanks to a lackluster offense that scored just two runs or fewer in each of Liriano’s last two outings. Despite that, he is 3-4 with a 5.40 ERA in 15 starts against the Rays, and 1-2 with a 9.73 ERA in seven games (five starts) at Tropicana Field. Key Matchups: Matt Duffy (3-6), Carlos Gomez (11-24, 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 3 BB), Daniel Robertson (2-6, HR, RBI, 2 BB), Mallex Smith (1-3), Jesus Sucre (1-2, RBI)

Matt Andriese fired two scoreless innings on Wednesday, allowing a hit and two walks. He recorded three strikeouts and threw 36 pitches overall. Andriese has become one of the most flexible options out of the Rays ‘pen, given his extensive starting and relief experience. After a rocky June (6.39 ERA over 12-2/3 innings), Andriese has posted four scoreless innings across a pair of appearances.

Matthew Boyd allowed seven runs (six earned) on seven hits over four innings in his last start against the Rangers. He struck out three. Boyd didn’t allow a run in the first inning, yet allowed multiple runs thereafter before receiving the early hook in the fourth. The key blows were a pair of two-run homers by Joey Gallo and Ronald Guzman. Boyd has been hit or miss since limiting the Rays to one run on May 1, allowing five or more earned runs three times over his past four starts — pushing his ERA up from 3.23 before his rough stretch to 4.58. He is 1-0 with a 3.27 ERA in two career starts against Tampa Bay. Key Matchups: CJ Cron (1-3), Johnny Field (1-2), Adeiny Hechavarria (1-3), Kevin Kiermaier (1-1), Wilson Ramos (1-2, BB), Mallex Smith (1-3)

Ryan Yarbrough allowed two runs on four hits and one walk over three innings of a no-decision against Miami on Tuesday. He struck out three. Yarbrough ran into a bit of trouble in the second inning, loading the bases on an IBB before the opposing pitcher, Trevor Richards, laced a two-run single to center. Even though he limited the damage and breezed through the third inning with ease, Yarbrough didn’t come back out for the fourth despite tossing 6-1/3 innings and 90 pitches in his previous outing. He has allowed four runs total in his last 15-1/3 innings of work.

Jordan Zimmermann allowed one run on four hits over eight innings in a win against Texas on Friday. He fanned a season-high 11 batters. After serving up a leadoff homer to Shin-Soo Choo, Zimmermann was all but untouchable the rest of the way, throwing 67 of 96 pitches for strikes including 15 swinging strikes (70% strike rate, 22% whiff rate). Zimmermann has been outstanding since returning from the DL in mid-June, posting a 1.80 ERA, 0.72 WHIP and a 24 K/BB over four starts (25 innings). He two-hit the Rays in a seven inning scoreless outing on April 30, and is 1-1 with a 3.68 ERA in six career starts against Tampa Bay. Key Matchups: Matt Duffy (2-3), Kevin Kiermaier (3-7, 2B)

Noteworthiness

— Another unfortunate break for the Rays, RHP Chaz Roe has been placed on the 10-Day DL with a torn meniscus in his left knee, requiring arthroscopic surgery. He is expected to miss 4-to-6 weeks.

(Screen Grab Credit: FoxSportsSun)

According to Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times), the injury means further changes to the already amorphous bullpen roles, with rookie Diego Castillo likely replacing Roe in facing the toughest right-handed hitters in late-inning situations, and others, including Jaime Schultz, who was called up Sunday, taking on more challenging work.

We’re going to have a bunch of guys probably moving now, manager Kevin Cash said.

Roe had a 3.60 ERA in 41 appearances overall and hadn’t allowed an earned run in 17 of his previous 18 games before Friday.

It’s definitely disappointing, Roe said. I’d been feeling great on the mound and to end it like this right now kind of sucks. But I thought this was the best time to get it done, pitching well right now and hopefully come back even better.

To fill Roe’s spot on the 25-man roster, the team has recalled RHP Jaime Schultz from Triple-A Durham.

— 1B/DH CJ Cron is starting to get toasty, slashing .438 BA/.500 OBP/.813 SLG/1.313 OPS/.375 wOBA in the month of July, with seven hits (four for extra bases) and four runs batted in. He’s struck out just twice in 18 July plate appearances.

Tampa Bay Rays 7/8/18 pregame notes and starting lineup

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The Rays can square up their current road trip with another win this afternoon. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays look to win a series on Sunday in New York after a 3-0 win over the Mets, behind Blake Snell, on Saturday. Tampa Bay has the opportunity to square up its current road trip, and can move back over .500 with a win.

Snell was outstanding once again, pitching 7-1/3 shutout innings on 112 pitches (70 strikes, 63% strike rate). He scattered six hits and walked three, but struck out nine and coaxed 10 ground balls — including a pair of double plays — to help him dodge a slew of early base runners. The southpaw lowered his overall ERA to a league leading 2.09 (3.36 FIP), yet more impressively he has allowed just two runs or fewer in nine of his last 10 turns on the mound and is 4-0 with an 0.63 ERA over his last four outings.

If the eye popping numbers don’t scream All-Star, I’m not sure what does.

Snell spoke about the potential to pitch in the Mid Summer Classic, saying,

I’d be pumped, I’d be stoked.

After being held scoreless in 34 of their previous 36 innings, the Rays finally broke through with a crooked number yesterday. Even so, they still have gone 2-25 wRISP, while stranding a total of 18 base runners, over the first two games of the series against the Mets. What’s more, the 16-inning game against Miami is the only one where Tampa Bay has scored more than three runs. The Rays have not scored more than four runs in a nine inning road contest since May 30th (at Oakland, a 6-0 win). They hope to defy that trend this afternoon.

The New What Next

Nathan Eovaldi (2-3, 3.92 ERA) will get the start, pitching opposite of Chris Flexen (0-1, 10.80 ERA).

Eovaldi threw six innings of two-run ball on Monday against the Marlins. Eovaldi allowed eight hits and walked one, while punching out five along the way. Eovaldi endured his share of baserunners in this outing, although he allowed just two extra-base hits and induced 11 groundball outs to limit the damage. The righty allowed a run on three hits in the second inning and another on a solo home run in the fifth. Things are looking up for Eovaldo, who’s thrown two consecutive quality starts, posting a 4.67 K/BB while allowing just two earned runs across 12 total innings of work.

Flexen will make his first start for New York this season, and 10th of his big league career. The right-hander allowed eight runs (four earned) over 3-1/3 relief innings for the Mets this season and is 4-6 with a mediocre 4.84 ERA in 67 innings for Triple-A Las Vegas. For the most part, he has relied on his 94 mph four-seam fastball, a hard 89 mph slider with short glove-side cut but little depth, and a 93 mph sinker, while also mixing in an 83 mph changeup, and a hard 82 mph curveball with little depth.

You can read about the series in our preview.

The New What Next: Rays vs Mets — an interleague series preview

Rays 7/8/18 Starting Lineup

Wendle LF
Duffy 3B
Bauers RF
Cron 1B
Robertson 2B
Hechavarria SS
Smith CF
Sucre C
Eovaldi RHP

Noteworthiness

— Jake Faria made his first rehab start for the Charlotte Stone Crabs on Saturday, throwing 17 of 26 pitches for strikes in two innings of work, and allowing a run on two hits and a walk. The right-hander isn’t eligible to come off the DL until July 22nd.

— Christian Arroyo could play for the Stone Crabs on Monday although the team is not fully committed to that plan, according to Rays manager Kevin Cash.

— Click bait!

Rays to unveil Ybor City stadium renderings Tuesday

Tampa Bay Rays 7/4/18 pregame notes, roster moves

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Daniel Robertson tied a club record by reaching base six times last night. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

After a wild, 16-inning marathon — resulting in a 9-6 victory — the Tampa Bay Rays look to win the first leg of the 2018 Citrus Series this afternoon in Miami.

There’s too much to unpack from last night’s contest, so in lieu of half-assing a game recap, check out these three:

Rays: 9, Marlins: 6 – OMG (DRaysBay)

Game 85: Rays 9 Marlins 6 (16 innings) -Postgame News and Notes (Rays Radio)

The secret to Rays 16-inning success vs. Marlins (Tampa Bay Times) 

The New What Next

The Rays are planning to rely on a “heavy, heavy” bullpen day against the Marlins, having used nine pitchers in the 16-inning win over Miami.

Matt Andriese (1-3, 3.86 ERA), who pitched Monday, will start for Tampa Bay, pitching opposite of Jose Urena (2-9, 4.40 ERA).

Andriese has allowed runs in four of his six appearances since the start of June, pitching to a 5.52 ERA.

Urena will make his first appearance since being placed on the 10-day DL on June 21 with right shoulder impingement. He had his best outing of the season two turn ago, throwing eight scoreless innings and holding the Orioles to three hits. Urena, however, wasn’t as fortunate five days later, allowing five runs on eight hits over 5-2/3 innings to the Giants. The right-hander is 0-0 with a 1.59 ERA against Tampa Bay in 5-2/3 innings in six relief appearances. This season he has relied primarily on his 96 mph four-seam fastball with heavy sinking action and obvious tail, and a hard 87 mph 12-6 slider, while also mixing in a 91 mph changeup with backspin and slight armside fade. Key Matchups: Wilson Ramos (1-3), Daniel Robertson (1-1)

You can read about the series in our preview.

Rays 7/4/18 Starting Lineup

Kiermaier CF
Robertson 2B
Bauers LF
Cron 1B
Wendle 3B
Gomez RF
Adames SS
Sucre C
Andriese RHP

Noteworthiness

— Send reinforcements!

Vidal Nuno was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a right hamstring strain, while Austin Pruitt was optioned back to Triple-A Durham.

Andrew Kittredge was recalled from Durham, and right-hander Ryan Weber was selected from Durham.

To make room for Weber on the 40-man roster, Wilmer Font was transferred to the 60-day DL.

— Chris Archer was sharp on Tuesday in his first, and potentially only, rehab start as he works his way back from an abdominal strain. Archer threw four no-hit innings for the Class-A Charlotte Stone Crabs, striking out seven and walking one, while throwing 37 of his 54 pitches for strikes (68% strike rate). Archer’s fastball velocity was good, clocking in at 93-96 mph. If all goes well, and Archer feels good over the next few days, the Rays could bring him back as soon as Monday against Detroit at Tropicana Field, giving him two starts before the All-Star Break.