Hot-Stove: Rays Acquire Five In Seven-Player Trade

The Rays finalized a seven-player trade with the Padres Wednesday, sending LHP Alex Torres to San Diego, along with right-handed pitching prospect Jesse Hahn. In return, Tampa Bay will receive five players: utility infielder Logan Forsythe, RHP Brad Boxberger, infielder Maxx Tissenbaum, and right-handers Matt Andriese and Matt Lollis.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Beat Up On the Yankees, 8-3

The Rays have put together their best post-All Star Break streak, winning six straight games while eliminating both the Yankees and the Oriole from playoff contention in the process. The Tribe defeated the ChiSox, so the Rays maintain just a one game lead over Cleveland with four left to play. They’ll attempt their second consecutive streak with Alex Cobb on the mound. Cobber will take on Ivan Nova, and you can read about the pitching match-up here. I’ll post the starting lineup when it becomes available.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Dodgers Trounce Tampa Bay, 8-2

The Rays first trip into Dodgers Stadium certainly left a lot to be desired — that is unless you’re a Dodgers fan. The Dodgers put together a dominating three-game sweep against the Rays, holding Tampa Bay to eight total runs in 27 innings. Tampa Bay will make its way home for a six game home stand following the disastrous 0-6 road trip. The Rays lost their season-worst fifth in a row, but remained three games behind AL East-leading Boston following the Red Sox’s loss to Juego G and the Royals Sunday afternoon. Thanks Big Game James! Game peripherals follow.

This Week in Rays Baseball: A Status Report at the Half-Way Point

The Rays have had an interesting first half of the season. Filled with exceeded expectations and dashed hopes, Tampa Bay has played the role of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde well. They’ve been both dominant and anemic offensively, have had good starting pitching no starting pitching whatsoever, and the same can be said about the bullpen. In this edition of This Week in Rays Baseball, we’ll take a brief look at the first 81 games of the season, and see how the 2013 Rays compare to the Rays of the previous two seasons.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Drop Doubleheader, Eight of the Last Ten Games

The Rays dropped both games of a double-header Tuesday, in a day where the hype surrounding the call up of prospect Wil Myers overshadowed their inept ability to put runs on the board. Picking up where they left off in the previous series against Boston, Tampa Bay combined to go 1-for-10 wRISP, while stranding four men on second or third throughout the balance of both games. The Rays have now dropped three consecutive games, while going 2-8 in their last ten. You guessed it, it’s time for another episode of The Good, The Bad, and the Argyle: A Bulleted Game Summary.