Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays, Price Shut Down Twins, 7-3

Going into this series, the Rays had one simple task at hand: take (at least) two of three from a team they could beat. In the interim, while Alex Cobb and Jeremy Hellickson are on the DL, Tampa Bay needs to win series’ against teams like the Twins, while putting together a .500 record against teams like Boston and New York. David Price knew this well, and he responded in kind Tuesday night — putting together an impressive 112 pitch, complete game victory against Minnesota.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: O’s Handcuff Rays 7-1, Matt Moore to Receive Tommy John Surgery

Perhaps you could blame it on his inability to throw quality strikes. Or, maybe you could blame it his lack of command, leaving fastball after fastball up, and over the plate, in very hittable locations. Then again, it could have been his seeming inability to keep batters off balance by not throwing his change-up often. I’d argue it was choice D, all of the above. Whatever the case, Chris Archer did the Rays no favors Monday night, tossing the Orioles hitters meatball after meatball in his less than stellar 5 IP/12 H/7 R outing. The Rays fell to the Orioles — a team who hit five doubles off Archer — by a score of 7-1

The New What Next: Rays Vs. Royals — A Series Preview of Sorts

The Tampa Bay Rays bid adieu to the Trop Sunday afternoon following their 3-0 loss to the Texas Rangers. All is not lost however, the Rays went 4-3 in their first home stand of the year, leaving the confines of the big top as the only team in the AL East with a +.500 record. I know… It’s still really early, but it feels really good to mention that Tampa Bay is in first place. They’ll begin a long nine game road trip in Kansas City, Monday. The Royals are coming off of a tough 5-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox, one in which James Shields tossed seven innings of one run ball. The ChiSox blew the game open after Juego G was pulled.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rodriguez, Hanigan Power Rays Past Rangers, 8-1

The Tampa Bay Rays have strung together a pair of wins on the heels of an 8-1 bloodletting of Joe Saunders and the Texas Rangers, Friday night. If I had to summarize the game in a sentence; Sean Rodriguez and Ryan Hanigan powered the Rays past the Rangers, while Jake Odorizzi stifled the boys from Arlington in his first start of the season.

The New What Next: Rays vs Red Sox – A Series Preview of Sorts

The Rays will make their way to Boston Tuesday to start a big three game series against the Red Sox, following a disappointing series loss to the Kansas City Royals. I cannot emphasize enough that the next two series are incredibly important — the Rays have an excellent opportunity to gain at least a game on the Red Sox, while also getting a chance to bury the Yankees. It is incumbent for the good guys to make sure they’re clicking on all fronts: pitching, defense, and hitting. That all starts Tuesday.