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TNWN: Rays vs Padres — an Interleague series preview

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Emilio Pagan warming up before taking the mound in the series finale against the Mariners on Sunday. (Photo Credit: Rickie Dixon)

After sweeping the Seattle Mariners for the first time since 2012, three games to none, the Tampa Bay Rays make their way to San Diego, where they are set to begin a three-game Interleague series on Monday. The Padres took three-of-four from the Rockies over the weekend.

(Stats Credit: ESPN)

Although they have played well of late, the Padres have struggled offensively this season. Their .246 BA is 20th in the league, their .312 OBP is 23rd, while their .434 SLG is 17th. San Diego is also in the bottom third in runs scored, having plated 526 overall. They enter play 6-1/2 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals, who currently hold the second NL Wildcard spot, however, the Padres are still seven games under .500 on the season, and have a sub .500 record at home.

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

The Rays won their last six games away from the Trop and have played well on the road. They also have an 11-4 record in Interleague play this season and are 35-16 against sub .500 teams. Tampa Bay’s pitching staff has performed like the should over the last week, maintaining a 2.78 ERA and 3.05 FIP overall. Much of their recent success is due in large part to the relief corps, which has been pretty good since the trade deadline, performing to a combined 1.03 ERA and 2.45 FIP. Taking National League rules into consideration, expect Kevin Cash to be bullish with the ‘pen at any given opportunity.

The Rays swept the Padres in three games the last time the two teams met in 2016.

Pitching Probables

Over the next three days, Kevin Cash will throw Austin Pruitt (1-0, 5.16 ERA) behind an opener, Brendan McKay (2-2, 4.55 ERA), and Jalen Beeks (5-1, 3.71 ERA) presumably behind an opener. Andy Green will counter with Joey Lucchesi (7-6, 4.19 ERA), Eric Lauer (6-8, 4.51 ERA), and Cal Quantrill (5-3, 3.21 ERA).

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

Austin Pruitt was recalled from Triple-A Durham last Monday. In his most recent outing against Toronto, Pruitt allowed just two hits across two innings while striking out one. Still, the right-hander has thrown 20-2/3 unremarkable innings for Tampa Bay this season over seven relief appearances, maintaining a 5.66 ERA and an unsightly 18.2% strikeout rate.

Joey Lucchesi allowed two runs on five hits and a walk across 5-1/3 innings in a loss on Wednesday to the Mariners. He struck out eight. Lucchesi was unable to secure a quality start, as he was lifted after retiring the first batter of the sixth inning with his pitch count at 102. He has performed to a 4.19 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and a 3.05 K/BB over 122-1/3 innings this season. Lucchesi relies primarily on a 91 mph sinker with little arm-side run and a whiffy 80 mph changeup that has surprising cut action, while also mixing in a 91 mph four-seam fastball with some natural sinking action. Key Matchups: Jesus Aguilar (1-2, BB), Guillermo Heredia (1-2)

Brendan McKay allowed three earned runs on six hits and a walk while striking out eight over five innings against the Blue Jays on Wednesday. McKay continued to post impressive strikeout totals, backed by 14 swinging strikes on 93 total pitches (15% SwStr). His outing was soured by two homers, although both were solo shots. He now has a 4.55 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP with 33 punchouts across 29-2/3 innings on the season.

Eric Lauer threw four innings and gave up three runs on 10 hits while striking out two. Lauer did little to stifle Colorado’s offense as he allowed at least one hit in each inning and induced only four whiffs. The result could have been worse if not for a number of defensive plays behind him, including a putout at home plate followed by a double play to end the threat after Lauer allowed three consecutive singles to begin the fourth inning. The 24-year-old maintains a 4.51 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, and a 2.87 K/BB across 109-2/3 innings. Lauer relies primarily on a 92 mph four-seam and an 88 mph cutter with strong cutting action, while also mixing in a 77 mph 12-6 curveball that has some two-plane movement. Key Matchups: Tommy Pham (2-5)

Jalen Beeks allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks across 3-2/3 innings Friday. He struck out four. Beeks started for only the second time this season, although he wasn’t able to complete four innings in the appearance. He allowed RBI base hits to Domingo Santana in the third inning and Ryan Court in the fourth. The southpaw has a steadily increasing 3.71 ERA with 2.17 K/BB in 80 innings across 24 games this season.

Cal Quantrill allowed just five hits over seven shutout innings against the Rockies on Friday. He struck out five. It was the longest outing of the season for Quantrill, and the third time in his last five starts that he hasn’t allowed a run. The right-hander has allowed just five runs (three earned) across his last 29 innings of work, lowering his ERA from 4.83 to 3.21 in that span. Quantrill takes a 3.17 K/BB over 70 innings into his start in the series finale, on Wednesday. He relies primarily on a 95 mph sinker, a 95 mph worm-killer four-seam fastball, and a whiffy 87 mph Slider, while also mixing in an 85 mph changeup with cutting action and a lot of backspin.

Noteworthiness

— Jose Alvarado put down the only batter he faced for Triple-A Durham on Sunday. It is not yet clear if the right-hander will rejoin the team in San Diego or have additional outings in Durham.

— Blake Snell is expected to play catch on Monday for the first time since having bone chips removed from his throwing elbow. He is still on track to return in September.

Rays look to bounce back from the ugliest loss of the season in the finale

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  • Willy Adames hit one of two three-run homers in the second inning of the Rays 10-9, extra inning loss to the Blue Jays on Saturday. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

Following a season-worst 10-9, 12-inning loss on Saturday, the Tampa Bay Rays look to bounce back in the rubber match on Sunday and take the series from the Blue Jays. Tampa Bay enters play a half-game behind Oakland and Boston for the final playoff spot after both teams won yesterday.

I’ve said it twice before, but I’ll say it again: a series win in Toronto, and a good showing in the first game of the upcoming series in Boston, on Tuesday, could push the front office to look to the trade market to acquire players to bolster the roster, including arms for the rotation…but more importantly, the bullpen.

In all, the Rays bullpen allowed five late home runs in the loss, accounting for the game’s final seven runs. All five homers can be attributed to relievers Hunter Wood (who allowed a pair of two-out homers), Oliver Drake (who allowed a three-run homer), and Colin Poche and Emilio Pagan (each of whom allowed solo shots).

Poche’s limited repertoire (the southpaw relies on his fastball 93.5% of the time) and too-frequent mistakes are costing the Rays games in the present tense. For his part, Kevin Cash took the blame for putting the left-hander in a bad position, saying that he favored the left-on-righty matchup as opposed to placing de facto closer, Emilio Pagan, into the game in the ninth.

In theory, we liked the matchups that we had, but they made us pay for them.

— Kevin Cash

Still, they lost a game that was reminiscent of another bitter loss in Toronto last September, when the Rays allowed a six-run lead to evaporate in the ninth inning and dropped the ballgame. Yesterday, Tampa Bay had a 9-3 advantage with four outs needed and couldn’t hold it. Yet the Rays enter the day 6-2 against the Blue Jays in the season series, and they could leave Toronto on a high note, and with momentum, going into Boston having won the series.

The New What Next

Yonny Chirinos (8-5, 3.29 ERA) will get the ball this afternoon, pitching opposite of Aaron Sanchez (3-14, 6.06 ERA).

Yonny Chirinos allowed just two runs on six hits and no walks over 5-2/3 innings against the Red Sox on Tuesday. He struck out five. Chirinos all his damage on three hits and a wild pitch in the first inning, and settled in after that, allowing only three baserunners across the next four-plus frames. The right-hander has a 3.29 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and a 4.25 K/BB across 117-2/3 innings. Chirinos is 2-0 with a 3.32 ERA in four career outings (one start) against the Blue Jays.

Aaron Sanchez allowed one run on five hits with zero walks and six strikeouts across five innings against Cleveland on Tuesday. The performance broke a 10-game losing streak. Before Tuesday, the last time Sanchez received anything but a loss was May 22, and the last time he captured a victory was April 27. Sanchez is 3-14 with a 6.06 ERA, 1.72 WHIP, and 89 strikeouts across 107 innings this season. Sanchez is 2-3 with a 2.02 ERA in his career against Tampa Bay, and 0-1 on the season after the Rays tagged him for six hits and two walks in a three-inning outing earlier this year. Key Matchups: Willy Adames (3-5), Travis d’Arnaud (1-1), Brandon Lowe (1-3, 2 BB), Austin Meadows (2-2, RBI), Tommy Pham (1-1, 2B)

You can read about the series in our preview, while the starting lineup is below.

TNWN: Rays vs Blue Jays — a series preview, part three

Rays 7/28/19 Starting Lineup

  1. Choi DH
  2. Pham LF
  3. Meadows RF
  4. d’Arnaud C
  5. N. Lowe 1B
  6. Duffy 3B
  7. Wendle 2B
  8. Heredia CF
  9. Adames SS

Noteworthiness

— Needing a fresh arm in the ‘pen, the Rays recalled Jake Faria from Triple-A Durham. They optioned C Michael Perez as the corresponding move.

— Kevin Kiermaier (left thumb sprain) went 1-for-5 with two strikeouts at DH as he began a short rehab assignment for the Class-A Charlotte Stone Crabs on Saturday in Clearwater. He is scheduled to play nine innings in centerfield today and should be reinstated from the Injured List when eligible on Wednesday, in Boston.

— Daniel Robertson (right knee surgery) moved his rehab assignment to Triple-A Durham and went 1-for-3 with a home run. He played all nine innings at short.

— Anthony Banda (Tommy John surgery) is approaching the end of his rehab assignment, having gone 0-1 with a 5.19 ERA since moving up to Durham. He is an option to help at some point this season, presumably ahead of Jose De Leon, who is 1-1 with a 3.47 ERA in 12 games in Durham.

7/5/19 pregame notes; Rays draw +20K fans for the fourth consecutive game and 13th time this season

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In spite of a late, game-tying rally, the Rays dropped the series opener against the Yankees on the Fourth of July, 8-4. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

After an 8-4, extra-inning loss on Independence Day, the Tampa Bay Rays will try and figure out a way to overcome the Yankees on Friday night. The Rays have lost five consecutive games against the Yankees and eight-of-ten this season. New York enters play with the best record American League, having gone 28-7 within the division.

After winning four consecutive ballgames, the Rays have dropped two in a row while allowing 17 runs. As Neil Solondz (Rays Radio) noted, 11 of those 17 runs have come in the final inning of those two games.

On the bright side, the Trop has now hosted four consecutive games of 20-thousand plus baseball fans, allowing the Rays to increase their average attendance to 15,099 per game — a difference of 455 fans per game over this time last season. They are one of just twelve teams in the league whose attendance has increased over last season. In fact, the Yankees have seen their average attendance fall by 2,923 fans per game. A modest increase? Absolutely, but positive change is positive change, and I’ll take it.

Furthermore, Tampa Bay has hit the 20-thousand home attendance mark 13 times in 2019, and we aren’t at the halfway point yet. For context, 20-thousand plus fans attended just nine of 81 home ballgames last season.

If the Rays can net at least 21-thousand fans over the final three games of this homestand, they will end the ceremonial first half of the season with an average attendance of 16,499, putting them between Oakland and Pittsburgh…but more importantly, above the lowest two teams.

To the Tampa Bay Rays, thank you for the family-friendly promotions and affordable ticket flash sales — they, indeed, are showing returns at the gate. Giving away free flags is also a good start, although we shouldn’t be happy until this town is painted with sunbursts and Rays signage. To the fans, I know it’s been a tough slog with the owner proclaiming doom and gloom, and making inflammatory proclamations that do nothing more than pit fan against fan, and municipality against municipality (and yes, I still think the sister season concept is nothing more than a leverage ploy). Good on all of us for keeping our head down and focused on something other than Stu.

Let’s continue to push those attendance numbers up. Get out to the ballpark and show Sternberg that WE CAN support our guys! At the end of the day, WE are on the up and up regardless of what anyone says about us.

The New What Next

Brendan McKay (1-0, 0.00 ERA) will make his second big league start tonight, pitching opposite of Masahiro Tanaka (5-5, 3.74 ERA).

Brendan McKay pitched six scoreless innings in his big league debut, allowing just one hit (tracked at 66.5 mph off the bat) and one walk with three punch outs. The left-hander took a perfect game into the sixth inning when he gave up two baserunners. McKay’s curveball was especially sharp, as he held Texas to 1-for-18 on his breaking pitch and generated 11 swings and misses.

Masahiro Tanaka allowed six runs on four hits and two walks across 2/3 of an inning on Saturday. He did not record a strikeout. The first game in London saw neither team’s starter make it out of the opening frame, with Tanaka delivering his worst start of the season by a significant margin. The 30-year-old now has a 3.74 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and a 3.70 K/BB over 98-2/3 innings this season. Tanaka has been very tough against the Rays this season, going 2-0 with a 0.41 ERA in three starts (22 IP). Key Matchups: Willy Adames (3-12, 2B, RBI), Guillermo Heredia (1-4), Kevin Kiermaier (8-31, 2B, 3B, HR, RBI, BB), Tommy Pham (4-15, 2B, HR, 2 RBI), Joey Wendle (3-8, 2B 2 RBI), Mike Zunino (5-19, 2 2B, HR, RBI)

You can read about the series in our preview, while the starting lineup and Noteworthiness are below.

TNWN: Rays vs Yankees — a series preview, part four

Rays 7/5/19 Starting Lineup

    null
  1. Meadows RF
  2. Pham LF
  3. Kiermaier CF
  4. Diaz DH
  5. Lowe 1B
  6. Adames SS
  7. Wendle 2B
  8. Brosseau 3B
  9. Zunino C

Noteworthiness

— The Rays are expected to have Kevin Kiermaier in the lineup tonight. Kiermaier has missed the last two games because of wrist soreness.

— Matt Duffy went 1-for-2 yesterday in a rehab outing with the Gulf Coast League Rays and played third base for five innings. He is scheduled to DH today.

—Brandon Lowe was placed on the 10-day IL yesterday.

TNWN: Rays vs Angels — a series preview

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One of the few highlights from Wednesday’s matinee series finale against the Athletics was Tommy Pham gunning down Khris Davis as he attempted to go from first to third on a liner into left. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

On the heels of the three-game set against the Athletics, the Tampa Bay Rays continue their homestand on Thursday evening, when they open a four-game series against the Los Angeles Angels. The Rays dropped their previous series against the Athletics, while the Angels are coming off a two-game sweep against the Dodgers.

(Stats Credit: ESPN)

Even though Tampa Bay has been one of the best teams in the league, they have been mediocre at home overall going just 18-16. Compare that to 23-10 on the road. The Rays won the first game of their current homestand, but then dropped the next two games and are now just 1-5 in their last six home games. They look to get back on track during this series, although they will have to be careful since the Angels are coming in with a bit of momentum. Tampa Bay allowed 10 runs in the last two games after relinquishing just 12 total runs total in the previous seven games. The culprit: The Rays’ pitching staff couldn’t keep the ball in the yard — it allowed four game-changing homers in the last two contests. Four context, they gave up the fewest homers in all of baseball (52) prior to Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Angels took down the mighty Dodgers and they continue to hang around contention — entering the series just 3-1/2 games out in the AL Wildcard race. The Dodgers have been far-and-away the best team in the National League this season, while the Angels are two-games under .500. Still, the Dodgers went into Angel Stadium on Monday and Tuesday and they lost both games by identical 5-3 scores. Now the Angels would love to build on the sweep, although it will not be easy seeing that the Angels are just 14-17 on the road this season.

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

INF Christian Arroyo has been put on the 10-day IL with right forearm tendinitis. Arroyo was initially optioned to Triple-A Durham in order to make room for INF Joey Wendle — who is slated to come off the Injured List after suffering a right wrist fracture — yet was put on the 10-day IL once the injury was revealed. Hunter Wood has been recalled to add an extra arm to the bullpen. Arroyo went 6-for-32 (.188 BA) since he was recalled in late May. Wendle went 7-for-15 in four rehab games with the High-A Charlotte Stone Crabs and the Triple-A Durham Bulls.

It would also appear that the Rays will promote RHP Andrew Kittredge, who was placed on the taxi squad Wednesday in Durham. Who might be sent down, or designated for assignment, to clear roster space isn’t yet known?

Los Angeles could get reinforcements during the series. Justin Upton, who has been out all season with a toe injury, is set to return at some point during the Angels’ road trip. However, while injured shortstop Andrelton Simmons is “progressing quickly” after suffering a Grade 3 left ankle sprain, he has yet to start taking live at-bats and will not be activated from the IL anytime over the next four days.

The Rays took six of the seven meetings between these teams a year ago.

Pitching Probables

Over the next four days, Kevin Cash will sandwich starters Blake Snell (4-5, 3.50) and Charlie Morton (8-0, 2.10 ERA) between bulk guys Ryan Yarbrough (5-2, 5.31 ERA) and Jalen Beeks (5-0, 2.55 ERA) — the latter two listed, but not in the order they will be used, will be utilized in some capacity (starter or otherwise). Brad Ausmus will counter with Tyler Skaggs (4-6, 4.97 ERA), Andrew Heaney (0-1, 5.40 ERA), Jose Suarez (1-1, 4.35 ERA), and Griffin Canning (2-2, 3.65 ERA).

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

Ryan Yarbrough allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits and no walks across 7-2/3 innings in the first game of a doubleheader against Boston on Saturday. He struck out seven. The left-hander was outstanding, winning his third decision in his last four appearances, permitting only an eighth-inning solo homer to Jackie Bradley Jr. and three singles. Yarbrough has a 4.0 K/BB in his last four games (25-2/3 total innings). The 27-year-old still has a lackluster 5.31 ERA, although that’s down from +8, but a solid 1.09 WHIP. Yarbrough is 2-0 with a 5.56 ERA over 11-1/3 career innings against the Angels.

Tyler Skaggs was originally lined up to start Tuesday against the Dodgers but instead had his turn through the rotation pushed back by a game. The left-hander has a 4.97 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and a 2.68 K/BB through 11 starts this season. In his last outing, Skaggs surrendered six runs on six hits and four walks while striking out four through four innings of work — tying for his shortest outing of the season dating back to April 12 against the Cubs. Skaggs relies primarily on a 92 mph four-seam fastball which is bereft of movement and a 76 mph curveball with exceptional bite and glove-side movement, while also mixing in a firm 84 mph changeup with some surprising cutting movement. He is 0-0 with a 9.39 ERA in three career starts against the Rays. Key Matchups: Travis d’Arnaud (1-3, HR, RBI), Avisail Garcia (1-3, RBI), Guillermo Heredia (4-8, 2 2B, HR, RBI 3 BB), Kevin Kiermaier (1-2, 3B, 2 RBI, BB), Daniel Robertson (1-3, 2 RBI, 2 BB)

Blake Snell allowed one run on five hits with seven strikeouts and one walk on Sunday. With this win, Snell bounced back from his last outing, where he yielded six runs. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner hasn’t pitched poorly over the last month (he’s posted a 2.88 ERA over his last seven outings), rather he hasn’t been given enough run support to win games regularly. He enters play with a 4-5 record and a 3.50 ERA, with a 1.10 WHIP, a .224 batting average against, and 98 strikeouts across 72 innings this season. Snell is 1-1 with a 2.82 ERA in two career starts against the Angels.

Andrew Heaney was tagged for five runs on six hits and two walks while striking out 10 over 5-2/3 innings. In just his third start since recovering from his elbow issues, Heaney punched out 10 batters for the second straight game. Skaggs retired the first eight batters before giving up a pair of singles and a walk in the fourth inning to knot the score at one apiece. Heaney then allowed a home run to Domingo Santana in the fifth inning and a three-run homer to Tom Murphy in the sixth to give Seattle a four-run lead. The 28-year-old now owns a 5.40 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and a 9.33 K/BB. Heaney relies primarily on a whiffy 93 mph sinker with little movement and a swing-and-miss 80 mph curveball. He is 0-2 with a 3.00 ERA in two career starts against Tampa Bay. Key Matchups: Avisail Garcia (3-8, 2B, BB), Guillermo Heredia (3-11, 2B, RBI), Daniel Robertson (3-6, 2B, HR, 4 RBI)

Charlie Morton allowed just two hits (with a combined exit velocity of 121.7 mph) and two walks across seven scoreless innings. He struck out seven batters on an efficient 83 pitches (55 strikes, 66% strike rate). After allowing base runners in the first and third innings, Morton retired his final 14 batters…although he did get a little help from his friends. In the fifth inning, Tommy Pham leaped at the wall in left to rob Chapman of an extra-base hit. In two June starts, Morton has tossed 14 scoreless frames with a 7.5 K/BB. His season ERA is down to a sparkling 2.10, while his FIP sits at 2.66 across 81-1/3 frames.

Jose Suarez gave up two runs on four hits and two walks over 4-2/3 innings on Sunday against the Mariners. He struck out six. Suarez missed bats — 14 of 87 pitches were swinging strikes (16% SwStr) — but his command was spotty which contributed to the decision to pull the rookie early from the contest. The 21-year-old has acquitted himself reasonably well through his first two big-league outings, posting a 4.35 ERA/5.19 FIP across 10-1/3 innings with a 1.36 WHIP. He relies primarily on a whiffy 92 mph four-seam fastball with little arm-side movement and an 82 mph swing-and-miss changeup with a little arm-side movement and some natural sink, while also mixing in a whiffy 76 mph curveball with glove-side movement.

Jalen Beeks allowed one run (unearned) on two hits and a walk across four innings on Tuesday. He struck out two on 50 pitches (32 strikes 64% strike rate). Jurickson Profar singled to center to lead off the fifth inning, then moved into second when Mike Zunino allowed a passed ball. The ever-aggressive Profar came around to score on Chad Pinder’s single to center, tagging Beeks for the only damage he would relinquish. In three outings extending back to May 31, Beeks has allowed just two earned runs across 11-2/3 innings with a 4.00 K/BB. His season ERA is down to an impressive 2.55, while his FIP sits at 2.86 across 53 innings of work.

Griffin Canning gave up three earned runs on five hits while striking out five and walking across six innings in his last start. Canning tossed a quality start for the third time in his last five outings although he had to settle for a no-decision after exiting with a 3-1 deficit. After a rough start to the season, the rookie has been impressive sporting a solid 3.65 ERA, a 0.99 WHIP and a 4.7 K/BB across 44-1/3 innings. He relies primarily on a 94 mph four-seam fastball and a hard 89 mph worm-killer slider with 12-6 movement, while also mixing in an 82 mph curveball with little depth, and an 89 mph changeup with a lot of backspin.

Brent Honeywell fractures elbow; Rays roster notes

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RHP Brent Honeywell fractured his elbow during a bullpen session.

Top Tampa Bay Rays prospect, right-hander Brent Honeywell, fractured a bone in his right elbow during a scheduled bullpen session in Port Charlotte and is out for the season. Dr. James Andrews will perform surgery on Monday, in Pensacola, and the team will have a timetable after the procedure. Honeywell was already on the mend from 2018 Tommy John surgery.

The team said the fracture is of the right medial epicondyle — a bone on the inside of the elbow connected to the ulnar collateral ligament, which was repaired during TJ surgery.

Honeywell had already experienced a major setback in his rehabilitation this April when he was put on the shelf temporarily with forearm soreness, which stemmed from nerve irritation in his upper arm. At the time, the Rays were not overly concerned because it was neither structural nor connected to the elbow ligament surgery.

It is a big hit for both team and Honeywell, as he was projected for a big league promotion at some point during the 2019 season. The outlook, however, is now unclear even for the 2020 season.

Roster Update

— Joey Wendle (fractured wrist) and catcher Michael Perez (oblique) were slated to appear in a rehab game with Triple-A Durham, yet the contest was rained out on Saturday.

Interestingly enough, Wendle was going to take the field at shortstop, with Rays manager Kevin Cash saying “when he gets back … we definitely want to have that option.’’

— Called up from Triple-A as the 26th man for the doubleheader, Austin Pruitt, worked in relief in the nightcap and is headed back to Durham.

— After spending seven days on the family medical emergency list, LHP Jose Alvarado will be transferred to the restricted list with the expectation that he will rejoin the team early this week.

— Jose De Leon’s 30-day rehab assignment ended last week, but he was given the first of three potential 10-day extensions for pitchers coming back from Tommy John surgery. So far De Leon is 0-0 with a 3.72 ERA in seven MiLB outings. With Honeywell shelved indefinitely, De Leon could play a crucial role with the Rays as the season progresses.

— Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) wrote that Yonny Chirinos’ dazzling eight-inning start on Friday still might not be enough to officially get him in the starting rotation:

Righty Yonny Chirinos was dazzling again Friday in throwing eight shutout innings, retiring the first 15 hitters for the second time in his last three outings, improving his record to 7-2, 2.87 overall and 4-2, 2.27 in seven starts. But that is still not enough to earn him a promotion to (a) full-time starter, not even just temporarily until Tyler Glasnow returns in July. “We’re still going to make the decision (what’s) best to help us win that game, win that series,’’ manager Kevin Cash said. “And if we feel it’s best to use an opener we’ll continue to do that.’’

— Marc Topkin