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The New What Next: Rays vs. Astros, Part Two — A Series Preview

August 17, 2015 By Schmitty Leave a Comment

I think we all feel your pain, Asdrubal. (Photo Credit: Jerome Miron/USA Today Sports)

In July, the Tampa Bay Rays were in the throes of an extended 2-13 slump when the Houston Astros visited Tropicana Field for a three-game set. Although the odds were largely stacked against them, the Rays put together a morale building sweep, subsequently holding the home run mashing Astros to just four runs. Fast forward to the present, as the team readies itself for another series against Houston after dropping three consecutive games to that other team from Texas.

Despite the continued quality performance in the box, the Ray’s pitching staff failed in the previous series — the team batted .315 and averaged four runs per game, however, the pitching staff compiled a combined 7.88 ERA, while surrendering seven homers and allowing 11 free passes.

We ran into a pretty hot team, manager Kevin Cash said.

Aside from the lack of solid pitching in the series with the Rangers, the Rays’ biggest problem was the inability to get that crucial hit that could have altered the outcome of each game. Despite racking up 12 hits Sunday, Tampa Bay went 3-for-11 wRISP and left nine on base.

After putting together a disappointing 2-7 road trip, Houston did a good job of erasing the sour memory by taking three of four at home from the Tigers this weekend. The Astros rebounded from Saturday’s 4-2, extra-inning loss with a 6-5 walk off victory Sunday.

At 64-54 on the season, Houston improved to a major league-best 16-3 home record since June 28. During that 19-game span, the Astros are batting .282 and averaging 5-1/2 runs per game while totaling 31 homers. The pitching has also compiled a 2.53 ERA, with the starters posting a 1.55 mark in the past eight games.

The last Tampa Bay pitcher to record a quality start was Erasmo Ramirez (9-4, 3.59), who was outstanding in a 2-0 win Tuesday over Atlanta. He’ll take the mound in the series opener and be followed by Jake Odorizzi (6-6, 3.09 ERA), Nathan Karns (7-5, 3.53 ERA), and Chris Archer (10-9, 2.93 ERA). Ramirez has tossed 12 consecutive scoreless innings since allowing five in the first inning against the White Sox on August 5. One of his nine victories came against the Astros on July 10, when he yielded one run in six innings.

I just feel like everything is working, Ramirez said. It’s been great to have that feeling.

Odorizzi struggled Wednesday, relinquishing six runs on nine hits and a walk, while striking out six in six innings against the Braves. Karns came away with a no-decision after allowing two runs on two hits, walking five and striking out four over 4-2/3 innings to Texas on Friday night. Archer took a rough loss against the Rangers on Saturday, allowing seven earned runs on 11 hits in 5-1/3 innings.

Rays and Astros series starters over the last 14 days.

Rays and Astros offensive production over the last 14 days.

Scott Kazmir (6-7, 2.12 ERA) is tied for second with a .210 opponent batting average. The lefty has posted a 1.04 ERA in four starts since coming over in a trade from Oakland, yet he’s only 1-2 in those games since he’s twice received little to no run support. He’s lost his last two starts — both on the road — despite giving up just three earned runs over 11-1/3 innings. Kazmir yielded three runs and eight hits over 5-2/3 innings in a 5-2 loss to the Rays on May 22. Key matchups: Tim Beckham (1-3), Brandon Guyer (2-3), James Loney (3-9, 3B), Rene Rivera (2-7).

Scott Feldman (5-5, 4.17 ERA) tossed six shutout innings in Wednesday’s win over the Giants, allowing just four hits and a walk while fanning four. The 32 year-old cutter/curveball/change-up/fastball throwing hurler owns an 0-1 record and a 3.86 ERA against Tampa Bay in his last two appearances (one start). Key matchups: Asdrubal Cabrera (4-7, 2B, RBI), John Jaso (3-11, HR, 2 RBI, 3 BB), Desmond Jennings (3-9, 2B), Daniel Nava (5-10, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, BB), Grady Sizemore (4-8, HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB).

Dallas Keuchel (14-6, 2.36 ERA) gave up one run on six hits and a walk while striking out eight over seven innings in a win over Detroit. The lefty gave up three runs on seven hits and two walks over seven innings in a loss against the Rays on July 11. Keuchel’s allowed four or more runs in just five of his 24 starts this season (three losses). Key matchups: Asdrubal Cabrera (3-9, 2B, HR, RBI), Logan Forsythe (4-10), Brandon Guyer (3-6), Evan Longoria (4-9, RBI), Rene Rivera (2-3, 2B, 2 RBI).

Collin McHugh (13-6, 4.09 ERA) took a hard-luck loss Saturday night, allowing just one run in seven innings while striking out seven. McHugh went 0-2 with a 2.45 ERA in two starts against the Rays last season, and allowed three runs on four hits in his sole start against Tampa Bay on July 10. When relies on his fastball, he throws is with less velocity and higher in the zone. Because of it, right-handed hitters have tattooed McHugh. Key matchups: Desmond Jennings (2-5, 2B, BB), James Loney (2-8, BB), Daniel Nava (1-3, 2B, RBI), Rene Rivera (1-2), Grady Sizemore (1-3).

Noteworthiness

— Asdrubal Cabrera enters as the Rays’ hottest hitter, batting .475 with 11 extra-base hits in 16 games since returning from the DL.

— The Rays typically dependable pitching is showing signs of concern. In 13 August games, the starters have a 6.13 ERA in August after working to a 3.35 mark through the front 104 games. And, as Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) was quick to point out, that’s just as the bats have come to life: The Rays’ .302 August average is second best in the majors, their five runs per game solid, but their record only 7-6.

For a team that depends upon strong starting pitching, that inflated ERA isn’t acceptable. It also prevents the team from making a real run in the Wildcard race. The offense cannot be depended upon to bail out the pitching staff every night.

Nevertheless, pitching coach Jim Hickey believes the rotation is good enough to keep the Rays in the hunt:

I feel good overall, absolutel. We certainly need to perform a little bit better. This is a little bit disappointing in this month where we’ve swung the bats considerably better than we have and failed to capitalize on that, and for the most part that’s due to the pitching, so we need to step it up a little bit, and there’s time to do it, but it needs to start (tonight).

— Speaking of pitching, the Rays have optioned 3B/1B/OF Richie Shaffer to Triple-A Durham and recalled LHP Enny Romero. With Alex Colome picking up an extensive amount of work in relief of Drew Smyly on Sunday, the team would have entered the upcoming series short staffed in the bullpen. Shaffer, who made a big splash with the team upon his recent promotion, will be available to return to the bigs in 10 days. If he isn’t recalled then, it should be assumed that he’ll be added to the active roster once more with the September roster expansion.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Handcuffed, 12-4; Smyly “Anxious” For His Return

August 16, 2015 By Schmitty Leave a Comment

Asdrubal Cabrera tags out Delino DeShields as he attempted to steal second base during the fifth inning of a baseball game on August 15, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo Credit: Brandon Wade/Getty Images)

The Texas Rangers scored in each of the first two innings against ace righty Chris Archer on Saturday night, and then blew the game open with a seven-run sixth, as the Tampa Bay Rays fell to Texas by a 12-4 margin. Tampa Bay has dropped the first two games of a ten-game road trip.

When Chris Archer takes the bump, there is an expectation that he, in the very least, will keep his team in the ball game. Yet on this fair eve, he was clearly out of sorts. Archer left his stuff up and all over the place, and not even his plus fastball/slider combo could get him out of the self inflicted, sticky situations.

Archer put Tampa Bay in an early one run hole when he allowed back-to-back doubles to Shin-Soo Choo and Prince Fielder in the first, however, he limited the damage and things could have been worse. In the second inning, former Ray Chris Gimenez belted a two-run homer to put the Rangers up by three. At this point in the game, it seemed like Archer was spending more time trying to miss bats rather than trying to attack the zone. His misses were egregious, and his mistakes were hammered. Still the Rays were in the game, and an early three run difference certainly wasn’t an unbridgeable chasm.

Up to this point, Tampa Bay had its best scoring opportunity in the third inning after Rene Rivera and John Jaso went back-to-back with singles, putting a pair of runners on the base paths with just one out. Although the team came up empty-handed when Grady Sizemore hit a hard liner right to Prince Fielder, who turned an inning ending double play. Had it settled in for a hit instead, at least one run would have scored.

The Rays finally got a run back in the fifth when a hustling Kiermaier, who initially reached on fielder’s choice to second, rounded third and headed home to score the first run of the game. Scoring on a shallow base hit seemed like a gutsy move, yet The Outlaw crossed the plate as the ball popped out of the glove of Giminez.

Archer could keep Texas down for so long, and the Rangers blew the doors open with a seven run sixth inning. The righty allowed a luck-dragon bloop hit to Josh Hamilton to start the frame, then Elvis Andrus followed with a double to left that just missed being a two-run homer by a couple of feet. With runners in scoring position, Rougned Odor reached on fielder’s choice to third — Evan Longoria was able to make a heads up play to nab Hamilton at home for the first out. But Gimenez, Delino DeShields and Choo followed with a trifecta of RBI seeing-eye singles, signaling the end of Archer’s night.

Archer allowed eight runs (seven earned) on 11 hits and three walks in 5-1/3 innings. Coincidentally, Felix Hernandez allowed 10 earned runs against the Red Sox on Saturday.

It could just be me, but I’ve noticed a trend with Kevin Cash. When it seems like a roster move is imminent, the Rays skipper gives a player, who is tangled up in roster move rumors, an opportunity to earn his keep one last time. It happened previously with Everett Teaford, and this time it was Kirby Yates’ turn to put-up-or-shut-up. Yates was not successful. He first coaxed a comebacker out of Fielder, but instead of taking the easy out at first, he attempted to cut down DeShields at home. Sadly his throw sailed over Rivera’s head, allowing a run to score. Two pitches later, the always dangerous Adrian Beltre launched a no-doubter to center, putting Texas up by nine; sounding the death knell for Tampa Bay and Yates, who was optioned back to Triple-A Durham following the game.

The Rays plated two on a Longoria single in the seventh, however, Longo was immediately picked off of first. Asdrubal Cabrera capped the Rays scoring with a homer in the eighth. You usually assume that the Rays put up ten hits and four runs, they walk away with a win. Usually is the operative word in this case, because a victory clearly escaped Tampa Bay Saturday night.

The New What Next

Left-hander Drew Smyly was reinstated from the 60-day DL following the game. Smyly told the media that he is eager for his return to the mound after a 102 day stint on the disabled list:

I feel very anxious, I feel ready. My arm feels ready. I haven’t had any pain throwing. My next step is to go out there and compete with Major League hitters. I look forward to the opportunity. I know it will be tough. They have a lot of heavy hitters in that lineup. But you know, you have to get thrown in there sooner or later.

Smyly made four rehab starts — three with Durham and one with Charlotte — going 0-2 with a 9.64 ERA, although results aren’t indicative of readiness. Rather, how a player feels, both mentally and physically, can go a long way. For Smyly, it wasn’t until his final rehab start that he was able to pitch without having lingering thoughts of getting re-injured.

When you’re hurt for an extended period of time, it’s a tough mental game. It wears and tears on you and it’s hard to get that out of your head. Protecting your arm, babying it, so to speak. But sooner or later you have to get over it. It is what it is.

Everything happens for a reason. So for right now, I feel healthy. My last game I felt healthy, clear conscious. And who knows what will happen in the future. But right now I feel ready to go and I can’t wait for tomorrow.

He’ll be opposed by Yovani Gallardo, who will make his 25th start of the season. Gallardo (8-9, 3.33 ERA) has not been as sharp in the second half of the season. He’s 1-3 with a 4.71 ERA in his past eight starts, but he is coming off a no-decision in which he did not allow a run in 5-1/3 innings. You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.

Rays 8/16/15 Starting Lineup

Jaso DH
Sizemore RF
Longoria 3B
Loney 1B
Forsythe 2B
Cabrera SS
Jennings LF
Kiermaier CF
Casali C
Smyly LHP

Noteworthiness

— According to Marc Topkin, the Rays have been active, but thus far unsuccessful, in waiver claims, looking for relief help among other areas. RHP Trey McNutt, who was the other choice to RHP Chris Archer in the January 2011 Matt Garza trade with the Cubs, was released last week from the rookie-level Arizona League team.

— As I mentioned above, the Tampa Bay Rays followed their 12-4 shit show by reinstating LHP Drew Smyly from the 60 day DL, and optioning RHP Kirby Yates to the Durham Bulls. The team also has to clear a spot on the 40-man roster. In doing so, the Rays have designated RHP Jose Dominguez for assignment.

— Archer had a lot to say on the subject of his start:

I’ll save you guys a couple questions. From a team standpoint it (stinks) because I know the guys rely on me to give a better performance. I would say a better effort, but obviously the effort from me is always there.

AThey’re relying on me to do a lot better job.

And to boil it down to one thing, just pitch execution with two strikes. I wasn’t able to put guys away like I normally can. Very aggressive team. I didn’t make some pitches early, and I didn’t make some pitches late in the count, but to narrow it down to one thing, I have to make pitches with two strikes. Not allow them to get hits. Or at least not consecutively.

Outside of that, you guys saw the game. I didn’t do my job. I let the team down.

From a personal standpoint, it’s motivating because there’s always room for improvement. So I’ve identified that, and I’m going to grow. This is going to make me better. It (stinks) right now because I want the guys to know what they’re going to get out of me every single night. And probably 23 out of my 25 starts, they have. But it doesn’t hurt any less just because I’ve had a couple rough ones, or just because I’ve been good for the most part.

And I want to do a better job.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Fall in a Stinging 5-3 Loss

August 15, 2015 By Schmitty Leave a Comment

Kevin Kiermaier is congratulated by his teammates for robbing Prince Fielder of a two-run homer. (Photo Credit: Rick Yeatts/Getty Images)

The first game of the Tampa Bay Rays’ critical 10-day road trip got off to a bad start after Nathan Karns put together a shaky start Friday night, while the bullpen faltered late. The team ended the night with stinging 5-3 loss, as their four-game win streak come to an end.

Karns took the hill in front of more than 100 family and friends, yet his outing did not go as he hoped for him or the team.

Tampa Bay fell behind in the bottom of the first when Karns hit his first batter, then walked the next two hitters to load the bases with none out. The righty was able to limit the damage, getting Adrian Beltre to ground into a 5-3 double play for a 1-0 lead. He followed by forcing Mitch Moreland to fly out to center to end the inning.

Tampa Bay answered in the top of the second after the red hot Asdrubal Cabrera doubled to left with one out in the second against the Rangers’ hurler Martin Perez, then moved to third on an errant pickoff attempt. The newly activated Desmond Jennings lashed a hard hit RBI single into left in his first at-bat off the DL, tying the game at one.

Unfortunately for Karns, Josh Hamilton deposited a 1-1 fastball in to the right-center stands in the bottom of the second, putting the Rangers back in front by one. The early seesaw scoring continued in the next half inning, as the Rays took their first — and only — lead of the night.

The rally started when Kevin Kiermaier beat out an infield single to second and Curt Casali was hit by a pitch. Brandon Guyer grounded into what was initially ruled a double-play grounder to third, but at the suggestion of video coordinator “Chico” Fernandez, Rays manager Kevin Cash challenged the call and it was overturned on replay review — the first of three on the night.

With two outs, Evan Longoria hit a line drive double to left-center that scored two. For Longoria, it was his eighth hit in his past 11 at-bats with runners in scoring position

Karns got into more trouble in the fourth, however, he was able to hold Texas scoreless in the frame. Adrian Beltre led the inning off with a single to center, yet Moreland came up with an unproductive out after he reached on a fielder’s choice; Beltre was out at second. Two batters later, Karns walked Elvis Andrus to put runners on first and second with two outs. Karns forced Rougned Odor into a grounder at first to end the threat.

Nathan was lifted in the fifth inning after he walked Shin-Soo Choo with two outs. Karns allowed base runners in each of the five innings in which he pitched, also allowing a season high five walks.

Xavier Cedeno came on, and thanks to The Outlaw, he finished the inning after Kiermaier robbed Prince Fielder of a two-run homer.

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Cedeno followed by throwing a hitless sixth, although Hamilton reached on a fielding error by the Rays LOOGY. Still, Cedeno got through the frame cleanly.

The Rays caused some of their own problems as well. They stranded seven — including a huge bases loaded opportunity in the sixth — while hitting into three double plays. They also had runners thrown out at second and third.

They were unable to capitalize on another scoring opportunity in the seventh. Curt Casali doubled to right to start the frame, but pinch-hitter Grady Sizemore grounded hard to first. Mitch Moreland stepped on first and then fired off a throw to third in an attempt to get Casali, who was running on the play. And while Casali was initially called safe at third, he was called out after a review — the third overturned call of the night.

It was a questionable play at best. Ian Malinowski (DRaysBay) wrote about it in their game recap:

There was a weird replay where Casali was caught by a throw to third base. He slid past the bag, reaching back to hold onto it with his finger tips. The umpire at third called him out on the tag, but then called him safe when the ball popped out of Beltre’s glove after the swipe. There was a definite pause before the ball popped out, and the Rangers challenged, perhaps thinking it had happened on the transfer. The replays turned out to clearly show that Casali’s hand had never come off the bag, but he was called out, with the replay officials perhaps deciding that Beltre had gotten his shoulder with the swipe before the rest of the play even started.

Cash told the media after the game the overturned play was right call, “Beltre tagged him on the back before Casali reached the bag.”

Steve Geltz took the mound in the bottom of the seventh and quickly collected the first two outs of the inning on eight pitches. But with two outs in the seventh, Geltz allowed a 3-1 homer to Delino DeShields to tie the game at three. It was the first Major League homer for DeShields.

Malinowski wrote about Geltz’s errant meatball as well:

…against Deshields he made a mistake. Brian Anderson broke it down well. Geltz was trying to go down and away, but he lost his mechanics and the ball sailed high and armside on him. Usually when this happens, the pitch misses the strike zone by about three feet, the batter dives out of the way, and everyone has a good chuckle and tries again, but because of the intended location, Geltz’s straight meatball sailed right into Deshields’s wheelhouse…

But the team looked like they may rally in the eighth after Cabrera and Jennings collected a pair of two out, back-to-back singles. Reliever Sam Dyson had other plans in mind, however, and the righty fanned Tim Beckham (looking) on three pitches to end that threat. It was questionable for Cash to send Beckham to the plate against Dyson with the left handed bat of James Loney available off the bench. Despite a down year at the plate, the likelihood of Loney putting the ball into play was greater than Beckham.

Finally tasked with preserving the tie, Jake McGee allowed two runs in the bottom of the frame and the Rangers pulled ahead. With one out, Beltre singled to center and moved to third on Moreland’s single up the middle. Kiermaier fielded the play and threw to third instead of second, which allowed Moreland to advance 90 feet. Kiermaier called the throw, “a bonehead play on my part.” Josh Hamilton hit a deep sacrifice-fly to center (allowing both runners to advance) giving Texas a 4-3 lead, and finally Andrus capped the rally with an RBI single to center.

Per FanGraphs, Tampa Bay ended the night with a 16.3% chance of a postseason birth. This, after starting the night with a 22% chance of making the playoffs. They simply cannot afford to lose winnable games like this at this point of the season.

The New What Next

Chris Archer (10-8, 2.62 ERA) will make his 25th start of the season Saturday night, opposite of RHP Colby Lewis. According to STATS LLC, opposing hitters have missed on 31 percent of swings against Archer, which ranks second in the American League to Chris Sale of the White Sox. He last faced the Rangers on May 7, allowing five earned runs and going a season-low 3-1/3 innings. Lewis is 8-2 with a 4.55 ERA in his last 13 starts and he is 2-1 with a 1.42 ERA in three starts against Tampa Bay (in regular season starts) since joining the Rangers in 2010. You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.

Rays 8/15/15 Starting Lineup

Jaso DH
Sizemore RF
Longoria 3B
Loney 1B
Forsythe 2B
Cabrera SS
Jennings LF
Kiermaier CF
Rivera C
Archer RHP

Noteworthiness

— Tonight’s lineup has Jennings in LF, Sizemore in RF, Loney at 1B, Forsythe back at 2B, and Rivera catching.
— A big thank you to all who attended our watch party last night; that’s why we do what we do! Our next watch party is tentatively scheduled for September 25, when the Rays take on the Blue Jays in Toronto. It should be a doozy of a ballgame!

Rays 8/14/15 Starting Lineup, X-Rays Spex Watch Party, Etc

August 14, 2015 By Schmitty Leave a Comment

Never Forget.

As the Blue Jays and Yankees ready themselves for a battle for the top seed in the AL East, the Tampa Bay Rays, too, are set for a three-game series that could have postseason implications in Arlington Texas. Tonight Nathan Karns will toe the rubber opposite of Martin Perez and the Rangers in the first of three meaningful games.

Rays 8/14/15 Starting Lineup

Guyer RF
Shaffer DH
Longoria 3B
Forsythe 1B
Cabrera SS
Jennings LF
Beckham 2B
Kiermaier CF
Casali C
Karns RHP

Noteworthiness

― Desmond Jennings is back in the lineup for the first time in 3-1/2 months, hitting sixth and playing in left field. Richie Shaffer, too, is in the lineup as the designated hitter.In reinstating Jennings from the 60-day DL, the Rays today made their 110th roster move since opening day.

― Read about tonight’s Karns/Perez pitching matchup in our Rays/Rangers series preview. If you already have, make it a two-fer.

― As if you really needed a reminder, just a few short hours remain until our watch party at Green Bench Brewing Company. Tell a friend, and bring a friend!

The New What Next: Rays vs. Rangers, Part Two ― A Series Preview

August 14, 2015 By Schmitty Leave a Comment

Nathan Karns, who is scheduled to take the mound on Friday, reacts after striking out Travis d’Arnaud during a game against the Mets earlier this month. (Will Vragovic/Tampa Bay Times)

Down by three runs on Wednesday, the Tampa Bay Rays rallied for six runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to walk away with a 9-6 win against the Braves, a series sweep, and their third consecutive series win. At 58-56 on the season the Rays now have won four straight games, and they’ll make their way to Arlington where they are set to start a three-game series against the Rangers.

Tampa Bay will try to continue its ascension in the Wildcard race with its fourth consecutive series win, while the Rangers (56-57) seek a season-high fifth consecutive home win. And though they rank near the bottom of the majors in most offensive categories, they Rays have been toasty of late ― hitting .296 with 13 home runs, while averaging 5.6 runs per game over a seven game span.

On the other hand, despite winning 14-of-25 since the All Star Break, the Rangers amassed just five runs during a three-game skid before salvaging a 2-4 road-trip with a 6-5 win in the series finale against Minnesota, on Thursday.

Nathan Karns, Chris Archer, and Drew Smyly will take the mound for the Rays against Martin Perez, Colby Lewis, and Yovani Gallardo. Karns (7-5, 3.52 ERA) has limited opponents to two or fewer runs in 14 of his last 18 starts, although he allowed four runs over five innings of Saturday’s 5-4 win over the New York Mets. In his only other meeting with Texas on May 8, Karns allowed two runs on four hits while fanning nine over seven innings of an 8-2 win. Archer (10-8, 2.62 ERA) allowed three runs on four hits and four walks while striking out 10 on Sunday against the Mets, but received no decision. Smyly (0-1, 2.70 ERA) will return to the mound on Sunday; his status was initially dependent upon a pre-game bullpen session he tossed Friday, in Arlington (more on that below).

The teams split a four-game series at the Trop in May, but the Rays have won five of six in Arlington since 2013, including a game 163 play-in.

Rays and Rangers series starters over the last 14 days (unless noted otherwise).

Rays and Rangers series starters over the last 14 days (unless otherwise noted).

Rays and rangers offensive production over the last 14 days.

Rays and Rangers by the numbers.

Martin Perez (1-2, 5.81) will make his sixth start since returning from Tommy John surgery. After going 0-2 with a 10.50 ERA in his first three outings, the left-hander has gone 1-0 with a 1.88 mark in his past two. Perez is 0-1 with a 4.35 ERA in two games against Tampa Bay. Key matchups: Asdrubal Cabrera (1-2, 2B), Desmond Jennings (1-2), Evan Longoria (3-4, HR, 2 RBI), Grady Sizemore (2-3).

Colby Lewis (12-5, 4.61 ERA) picked up his 12th win despite allowing seven runs on 10 hits over six innings Monday against Houston. All seven runs came on three homers, including a fourth inning grand slam with the Rangers up 11-3. It’s been written of Lewis, “With an offense like that, it’s no wonder Lewis can have a 12-4 record with a 4.68 ERA.” The fastball/slider/change/curveball throwing Lewis owns a 1-1 record with a 2.45 ERA against the Rays in two starts since 2012. Key matchups: Grady Sizemore (1-2, 2B, BB).

Yovani Gallardo (8-9, 3.33 ERA) took a no decision Tuesday against the Twins despite throwing 5-2/3 shutout innings. He allowed two hits, walked three, and struck out one. However, Gallardo ― being a nibbler ― needed 100 pitches (55 strikes) to get through those 5-2/3 innings. The name of his game weak contact. Nevertheless, Tampa Bay tagged Gallardo for four runs (three earned) on three hits and two walks in 5-1/3 innings on May 8. Key matchups: John Jaso (1-2, BB), Desmond Jennings (1-3), James Loney (6-20, 2B, 3 RBI, BB).

Noteworthiness

― Smyly’s bullpen session went well, “It went good.” The Rays will have to make another move before they officially activate Smyly (either a position player or Kirby Yates). They also will have to create a spot on the 40-man roster.

― Asdrubal Cabrera has led the Rays’ offensive surge, batting .490 while recording at least one hit in 13 of his last 14 games. He’s also gone 7-for-17 in his last four games against the Rangers.

― Desmond Jennings is expected back after missing 3-1/2 months due to left knee surgery.

― Mitch Moreland had a career-high four hits ― including his 17th home run ― on Thursday, and Adrian Beltre added three hits after going 3-for-27 over his previous seven.

― Josh Hamilton isn’t expected to be available for a third straight game due to soreness in his left knee. The club has ordered an MRI on the 34-year-old slugger.