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LBWMF: A pair of homers power the Rays to a 3-2 victory over the A’s

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The Tampa Bay Rays did just enough to win their 50th game of the season Monday night. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays did just enough to win their 50th game of the season Monday night, hitting two homers and building a pair of two-run leads, while Jake Odorizzi had arguably his best start of the season. They held on to beat the Athletics, 3–2, allowing them to move within two games of first place in the AL East.


Source: FanGraphs

Odorizzi had a ten day break between starts — a respite that seemingly reinvigorated the right-hander. Odo walked two and struck out five over seven strong innings, allowing just one hit — a one-out solo homer off the bat of Khris Davis in the fourth inning that trimmed the Rays’ lead (at the time) to 2–1.

Odorizzi began his outing in similar fashion to that of his previous starts, by walking Matt Joyce, the first batter of the game. With a man on base, Odorizzi began to pitch out of the stretch … and continued to do so throughout his outing — regardless if there was a man on base or not — in an attempt to simplify his mechanics, and regain some of his command. That strategy looks like it  worked.

Was he dominant? Not really. He relinquished a fair amount of medium-to-hard contact that, luckily, was right at the outfielders. However, he was able to generate a fair amount of weak contact that allowed him to keep his pitch count in order, while also keeping himself out of the dangerous hitters’ counts that he’d been plagued by of late. And much like those who pitched before him — namely Jacob Faria, Chris Archer and Alex Cobb, none of which featured their best stuff in their most recent outings — he threw quality strikes throughout to keep Oakland’s bats at bay.

On the offensive side of things, Tampa Bay got on the board first in the second inning when Steven Souza Jr. belted belted a no doubter to left-center — his 19th homer of the season, and his second since the All-Star Break.

The Rays added to that lead in the third inning when Mallex Smith walked with one out, was wild pitched into second, moved to third on Corey Dickerson’s infield hit, then came home on Evan Longoria’s groundout.

Then after Davis’ aforementioned homer to right-center, Longoria answered in the top of the fifth with a solo homer to left, giving the Rays a 3–1 lead.

Longoria, collected two more hits in last night’s ball game, and has been mightily productive over the life of his current 10-game hitting streak, collecting six extra base hits (four doubles, two homers), scoring five runs, and driving in nine.

Tommy Hunter followed Odorizzi with a scoreless eighth, allowing just a two-out walk and extending his scoreless streak to 10 appearances (eight innings of work).

With a two-run cushion, Alex Colome, who blew two of his previous three saves against the Athletics, took the mound to close out the game. MLB Trade Rumors’ favorite trade target, Yonder Alonso, greeted the Rays’ closer rather rudely with a double. Davis followed by grounding out to third before Jed Lowrie successfully moved Alonso 90 feet closer to home when he bounced out to third. Though Colome uncorked his first wild pitch of the season, scoring Alonso to make it a one-run game, he earned his 27th save when he got Ryon Healy to bounce to short.

Rays win, 3-2.

The New What Next

The Rays will play the second of three against Oakland on Tuesday. Blake Snell (0-5, 4.85 ERA, 5.12 FIP) will get the start, opposite of right-hander Chris Smith (0-0, 4.50 ERA, 4.48 FIP).

Snell kept the Cubs off the board for five innings — despite walking four batters — giving him his first scoreless outing of the season. The bullpen could not secure a win for Snell, as the relievers gave up seven unanswered runs with Snell out of the game. While his outing was a step forward, the walks that Snell issued are concerning, and have raised his BB/9 up to an unsightly 5.9 on the season. Suffice it to say, if Snell can’t get it together over his next two starts, the Rays might be forced to rely upon the services of Brent Honeywell instead.

Smith will make his second big league start in Jharel Cotton’s place in the rotation. The 36 year-old allowed three runs on six hits over six innings in his first start on July 8, in Seattle. This season Smith has relied upon an 87 mph pitch-to-contact four-seam fastball, a whiffy 78 mph 12-6 curveball, and a 76 mph Changeup.

You can read about the series in our preview.

Rays 7/18/17 Starting Lineup

Dickerson DH
Souza Jr. RF
Longoria 3B
Morrison 1B
Ramos C
Miller 2B
Hechavarria SS
Peterson LF
Bourjos CF
LHP Snell

Noteworthiness

— Fun fact: INF Trevor Plouffe hadn’t played second base since 2012 … that is, until last night. Tim Beckham took exception to a fourth inning called third strike, and allegedly said something about it while he came out to play second base. As a consequence, Beckham was tossed. With Brad Miller at DH, Plouffe had to play second base.

Sure, Tim Beckham had a point, but…

— Trade rumors galore! The Rays are reportedly one of six teams in talks with the Phillies on Pat Neshak.

— Congratulations to Logan Morrison are in order. LoMo has been named the Rays Heart and Hustle Award winner.

Rays have “legit interest” in left-handed relief pitcher Justin Wilson

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The Tampa Bay Rays reportedly have interest in left-handed relief pitcher Justin Wilson.

The Tampa Bay Rays reportedly have “expressed legit interest” in Tigers left-handed relief pitcher Justin Wilson, and talks between the two sides have gained some traction, reports Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times).

However, as Joel Sherman (New York Post) tweeted, while there is interest in the southpaw, the prospect price is currently too high for Tampa Bay at the moment.

The Rays could use a left-handed upgrade in the bullpen — a need that was highlighted in a tweet from Ken Rosenthal (FOX Sports and MLB Network) revealing that Tampa Bay was in on Sean Doolittle before he, and Ryan Madson, were acquired by the Nationals.

The 29 year-old southpaw opened the season as the Tigers’ setup man, but he was thrusted into the closer’s role, thanks to a combination of his performance and a terrible showing by closer Francisco Rodriguez.

Since taking over as the closer, Wilson has picked up 10 saves in 11 opportunities, although to be fair he has been dominant all season long regardless of role. Over 35-1/3 innings, Wilson has worked to a 12.7 K/9 which compliments a 35.1% ground-ball rate. What’s more, he’s a flamethrower (a career best 96.1 mph fastball) that’s managed a career high 14.7% whiff rate as well. Wilson’s peripherals — 2.29 ERA/2.89 FIP/3.29 xFIP/2.67 SIERA (2.67) — all support his excellent season, and he could bolster a bullpen composed of five other quality hurlers; Chase Whitley, Erasmo Ramirez, Tommy Hunter, Brad Boxberger and Alex Colome.

In short, Wilson has everything the Rays are looking for: excellent peripherals, a modest $2.7-Million salary this season, and remaining club control through the 2018 season. Can the Rays close the deal is another question that begs to be answered.

The New What Next: Rays Vs. Athletics — a series preview

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Logan Morrison celebrates with Tim Beckham after tying the score with a two-run homer during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

The Tampa Bay Rays will begin a three-game series against the Oakland Athletics when they square off at O.co Coliseum on Monday night. The Rays had won four straight games before losing the series finale in Los Angeles on Sunday, while the Athletics are coming off a three-game sweep of Cleveland.

(Stats: ESPN)

The Rays could have extended their winning streak to five games, however, pitching mistakes here and there, two missed tags at the plate, and the fact that they left the bases loaded to end the game on Sunday found them on the losing side of the ledger. Still, they are holding down one of the two AL Wildcard spots, and still find themselves with sole possession of second place in the AL East by 1/2 game over the Yankees. Logan Morrison has homered in two straight games, while Evan Longoria has hit safely in nine consecutive contests — going 13-33 with seven RBI over that stretch.

The Athletics haven’t played like a last-place team of late, as they’ve won seven of their last nine games overall after they swept the AL Central-leading team from Cleveland. Oakland plated 17 runs over the span of the three-game series, which extended the team’s home winning streak to five games. However, the Athletics have won four or more consecutive games just three times this season, so the odds are against them in that respect.

Tampa Bay is 9-2-1 in its last 12 series against the AL West, while Oakland is 4-1 over its last five home games, and 13-6 in the Athletics’ last 19 games against teams with winning records.

(Stats: FanGraphs)

Over the next three days, Kevin Cash will lean on Jake Odorizzi (5-4, 4.63 ERA, 5.68 FIP), Blake Snell (0-5, 4.85 ERA, 5.12 FIP), and Jacob Faria (4-0, 2.00 ERA, 3.48 FIP). Bob Melvin will counter with Daniel Gossett (1-4, 6.23 ERA, 5.75 FIP), Chris Smith (0-0, 4.50 ERA, 4.48 FIP), Sonny Gray (5-4, 3.72 ERA, 3.46 FIP).

(Credit: FanGraphs)

Pitching Matchups

Odorizzi continues to struggle, as he surrendered seven earned runs over 4-1/3 innings in his last start before the All-Star Break.  The right-hander has allowed at least three runs in seven consecutive starts, with a 6.69 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, 31/16 K/BB and 2.8 HR/9 in 35 innings over that stretch. Over the break, Odorizzi worked on the mechanical issues that have plagued him over the first half of the season, and the hope is that he will show in the second half of this season, similar to what he did in 2016.

Gossett had a tough outing to close out the first half of the season, taking his fourth loss in 4-1/3 inning, three run five hit outing. In three of his four losses, he’s received just one run of support or less. The Rays have never faced the 24 year-old right-hander that has relied primarily on a 92 mph four-seam fastball with average velocity and little arm-side run, and an 84 mph worm-burner of a slider. He’s also mixed in a 79 mph 12-6 curveball, an 82 mph cut action changeup, and a whiffy 91 mph sinker bereft of arm-side run.

Snell kept the Cubs off the board for five innings — despite walking four batters — giving him his first scoreless outing of the season. The bullpen could not secure a win for Snell, as the relievers gave up seven unanswered runs with Snell out of the game. While his outing was a step forward, the walks that Snell issued are concerning, and have raised his BB/9 up to an unsightly 5.9 on the season. Suffice it to say, if Snell can’t get it together over his next two starts, the Rays might be forced to rely upon the services of Brent Honeywell instead.

Smith will make his second big league start in Jharel Cotton’s place in the rotation. The 36 year-old allowed three runs on six hits over six innings in his first start on July 8, in Seattle. This season Smith has relied upon an 87 mph pitch-to-contact four-seam fastball, a whiffy 78 mph 12-6 curveball, and a 76 mph Changeup.

Faria posted his seventh consecutive quality start on Friday, holding the Angels to one run on five hits over 6-2/3 innings for a no-decision. The right-hander was tough even without his best stuff. The cool as a cucumber rookie stranded runners in scoring position in the second, third and fourth innings — holding the Angels to 0-for-6 wRISP in those spots.

Gray tossed six shutout innings against Cleveland on Friday, giving up just two hits and walking one while fanning five and coaxing seven groundouts. The Rays were able to get to the 27 year-old right-hander the last time they faced him, tagging Gray for five runs (two earned) on nine hits over six innings … although he did strikeout 10. For whatever reason, Tampa Bay has fared well against Sonny over his career, as he is 2-2 with a 4.02 ERA against the Rays in eight starts. Key Matchups: Tim Beckham (4-5, 2B, HR, 3 RBI), Corey Dickerson (2-8, HR, 3 RBI), Evan Longoria (8-23, 3 2B, HR, 3 RBI, BB), Trevor Plouffe (2-7, HR, 4 RBI, BB), Mallex Smith (1-3)

Noteworthiness

— As we noted last night, Jumbo Diaz was designated for assignment after the game, and Andrew Kittredge has been selected from Durham. He will join the team on Monday.

— I still can’t get over this blast and ensuing bat flip:

Rays DFA Jumbo Diaz, select RHP Andrew Kittredge from Triple-A Durham

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(Photo Credit: Frank Janksky/Con Sportswire)

Following the ball game Sunday afternoon, the Tampa Bay Rays announced that they have designated reliever Jumbo Diaz for assignment, and selected the contract of RHP Andrew Kittredge from Triple-A Durham.

The 33-year-old flamethrower struggled mightily with the Rays, performing to a bloated 5.70 ERA/4.51 FIP over 30 innings of work, while culling a minuscule 30.7% ground-ball rate. Diaz’s strikeout rate wasn’t horrible (8.4 K/9), although his 4.5 BB/9 — and the fact that he walked six batters over 6-1/3 high-leverage innings; an 8.53 BB/9 in those situations — made him a shaky and undependable option out of the Rays ‘pen. To his credit, and as Connor Byrne (MLB Trade Rumors) noted, he ranks third among relievers in infield fly rate (22.5%). Still, that wasn’t enough to keep Diaz with the team, as he seemed to be pitching himself into trouble more often than not.

It fails to be seen whether the Rays will target a reliever at the trade deadline, although there have been multiple reports connecting the team to Hunter Strickland. For now they’ll lean on Kittredge — a 45th round draft pick by the Seattle Mariners in 2008. Kittredge was acquired from Seattle over the winter in the Taylor Motter/Richie Shaffer trade, and has performed to a 1.90 ERA/2.48 FIP over 52 innings of work (30 appearances; two starts) with Durham this season, while notching healthy 9.35 K/9 and 2.08 BB/9 rates, and accumulating a 52.2% ground ball rate.

The scouting report on Kittredge: the right-hander relies upon a whiffy 92 mph four-seam fastball with some extra backspin movement, as well as an 85 mph slider with good depth. He also mixes in a whiffy 74 mph curveball with exceptional bite from time to time.

The 27 year-old has yet to pitch in a Major League ball-game.

Noteworthiness

Deep thoughts following the #Rays 4-3 loss in the series finale…

Twice Sunday Rays hurlers followed up mistake run scoring pitches, with quality strikes to induce outs. In the fifth inning, after Albert Pujols fell behind then knocked in a run on a liner to right, Chris Archer fanned Yunel Escobar (swinging) on three pitches. Then in the eighth, after CJ Cron hit the first-pitch two-run homer, Adam Kolarek coaxed a pair of ground ball outs on two consecutive pitches.

On top of that, Jesus Sucre failed to place two tags on Andrelton Simmons and Nick Franklin (respectively), consequently allowing two runs to score.

True, the Halos out pitched the Rays today, and you can’t win games if you don’t score runs. However, we’d be talking about a different outcome had Archer and Kolarek come up with the big pitches needed instead of throwing a pair of mistake pitches, and/or had Sucre defended the plate a bit better.

Looking at the bright side, at least Tampa Bay put up a fight Sunday afternoon and snagged a series win.

LBWMF: Tampa Bay Rays win seventh straight at the ‘Big A’, 6-3

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Alex Cobb threw 7-2/3 innings of one-run ball Saturday night. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

Alex Cobb worked at least seven innings for the fourth time in his last five starts Saturday night, as the Tampa Bay Rays cruised to a 6-3 victory over the Angels. The Rays (49–43) start the day six games over .500, and within 2-1/2 games of the first place Red Sox after winning their seventh consecutive game at the Big A, in Anaheim.

Cobb didn’t have his best stuff Saturday night, although he didn’t allow a runner past second base until the seventh inning — when Luis Valbuena tagged him for a solo-shot to put Los Angeles on the board. By that time, the Rays were firmly in control.

The right-hander coaxed a lot of long, loud outs, especially early on, and he didn’t miss many bats. Cobb, however, was efficient. In spite of lapsed command — 59 of his 105 pitches went for strikes; 56% strike ratio — Cobb’s pitch count was only in the 50’s through the front five, and it didn’t start to climb until late in his outing. He struck out four and walked three.

Cobb found himself in just three jams.

With a pair on and none out in the second inning, he fanned Andrelton Simmons before inducing an inning ending 4-6-3 double play from Valbuena. In the third, Cobb picked off Cliff Pennington who initially reached on a four-pitch walk. Then in the sixth, the right-hander got Albert Pujols to ground out with two on to keep the Angels off the board.

Meanwhile, the Rays took a one-run lead in the second inning against J.C. Ramirez. After Adeiny Hechavarria reached on a one-out single to center, Shane Peterson smoked a base hit down the right field line. Both runners moved up 90 feet when Ramirez uncorked a wild pitch before Hechavarria scored on Jesus Sucre’s groundout.

That was the first of two RBI for the Rays’ backup catcher, who now has driven in 18 RBI wRISP (23 overall). In fact, Tampa Bay now has 57 RBI from its catchers – two more than all of last season.

In the third inning, Corey Dickerson doubled to right, tagged up and went to third on Evan Longoria’s fly-ball out, and then came home on Logan Morrison’s two-run homer to left-center — his career high 25th of the season.

In the fourth, Shane Peterson hit a one-out bloop (and hustle) double to left, then scored on Sucre’s single to right-center.

Then in the seventh, Mallex Smith reached on a bloop single and then swiped second. Dickerson followed by hitting a high fly-ball that got lost in the non-existant catwalks and/or roof … you know, because the Rays are on the road and not at home. Somehow the ball managed fall directly between a confused looking Mike Trout and Cole Calhoun, allowing Dickerson to reach. For his part, Calhoun backed up the play well and fired the ball in quickly, preventing Smith from advancing past third. Longoria followed with a sacrifice-fly to Trout, which allowed Smith to tag and easily score on the play.

After Valbuena hit the above mentioned seventh inning homer, Steven Souza Jr. responded with a blast into the batter’s eye in centerfield, putting the Rays up by five.

Valbuena capped the scoring by hitting his second homer of the night, a two-run shot off Jumbo Diaz in the ninth.

With action in the bullpen, Diaz retired the next two batters to finish the game and earn the save.

The New What Next

The Rays will go for the sweep Sunday afternoon with their ace, Chris Archer (7-5, 3.95 ERA, 3.16 FIP) on the mound. He’ll be opposed by Parker Bridwell (3–1, 3.24 ERA, 5.81 FIP)

Archer allowed three runs on eight hits and two walks over 6-2/3 innings on Sunday. He struck out eight. The ace was solid for most of the afternoon, with the exceptions of a leadoff homer by Mookie Betts, and a two-run shot by Dustin Pedroia in the seventh inning, costing him a shot at his eighth win of the season. Despite the home run issues, Archer has coaxed whiffs at a high rate, and carried a career-high 10.8 K/9 into the All-Star Break. While he has failed to produce as many shutdown performances as we’ve grown accustomed to this season, Archer has already posted 12 quality starts and will look to be a bit more consistent over the second half.

Per the inimitable Neil Solondz (Rays Radio), Bridwell threw six shutout innings against the Twins his last time out on July 5th. He’s given up three runs or fewer in five of six appearances. However, Bridwell has given up seven homers in 33.1 innings, and has struck out just 19.

You can read about the series in our preview.

Rays 7/16/17 Starting Lineup

Smith CF
Dickerson LF
Longoria 3B
Morrison 1B
Souza RF
Miller DH
Beckham 2B
Hechavarria SS
Sucre C
Archer RHP

Noteworthiness

— Corey Dickerson broke out of his pre-All Star Break slump with a four hit night, while Shane Peterson had a three hits.

— Wilson Ramos will likely sit out of today’s game after tweaking his left hamstring on Friday when he scored the winning run from first.

— The Rays activated Tim Beckham from the DL after the game, and optioned Taylor Featherston to Triple-A Durham.

— Outstanding ruminations on Arrested Development and Anchorman by BA and DeWayne last night. Also, never forget this gem: