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Rays 8/8/18 pregame notes; Glasnow’s second start in Tampa Bay

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More of this, please. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

After winning in walk-off fashion on Tuesday night, the Tampa Bay Rays look to win a series against the Orioles tonight. Tampa Bay has won seven games in walk-off fashion, four via the home run. The seven walk-off wins are tied for the American League lead. Thanks to losses by the Mariners and Athletics, the Rays start the day 9.5 games out of the final Wildcard spot, and 7.5 behind Seattle.

Tyler Glasnow, one of the players who came to Tampa Bay in the Chris Archer trade, got the start for the Rays. Because he had been used as a reliever in Pittsburgh, Glasnow was on a pitch count of four innings or 60 pitches and will continue to be until he is fully stretched out.

Over his first two frames, Glasnow struck out five of six batters on 98 mph fastballs and low 80’s curveballs that were hard to time up due to the speed differential and the movement.

Baltimore got its first baserunner with two outs in the third, when Caleb Joseph singled and swiped second, but Glasnow struck out Jonathan Villar on four pitches, setting up a filthy 86 mph slider with a trio of fastballs.

Tim Beckham, ever the intrepid fastball hunter, led off the fourth inning with a solo home run when Glasnow’s velocity dropped a touch, but that was the only damage incurred against the tall right-hander.

All told, Glasnow struck out nine and walked none — not bad for a guy with a reputation of having control issues.

Following the game, Glasnow told reporters he feels comfortable with Tampa Bay and is pitching more athletically than trying to control his delivery.

I felt good physically and I wanted to go out and attack, Glasnow was quoted as saying.

The other big story from the game was Willy Adames’ walk-off homer, his first hit of that type since he was in Double-A Montgomery. It also came in front of his parents and sister, who had flown in from the Dominican Republic.

That bat flip though!

It’s just an amazing feeling, Adames said after the game. I have no words to explain the feeling I have right now.

The New What Next

Ryne Stanek (1-3, 2.27 ERA) will open for the Rays, and will likely be followed by Jalen Beeks (1-0, 10.80 ERA). They’ll be opposed by Andrew Cashner (3-10, 5.05 ERA).

Stanek struck out all five batters he faced his last appearance against the White Sox.

Beeks allowed two earned runs on two hits and a walk over five innings on Thursday. He struck out four. Beeks didn’t exactly set a high bar in his debut against the Orioles on July 28th, allowing eight earned runs on 10 hits and three walks over 3-1/3 innings. Yet the southpaw looked considerably more composed over an efficient 71 pitches (47 strikes, 66% strike rate, 13/18 first-pitch strikes) Thursday, limiting the damage after Hunter Wood had been stellar over the first two innings as the opener. The key to Beeks’ bounce back success was two-fold: he got ahead of batters, and remained calm when things appeared like they might spiral out of control. He figures to be utilized in similar fashion Wednesday, with his ability to pitch multiple innings makes him a natural for the second-man-in role on “bullpen days.”

Andrew Cashner allowed 10 earned runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out one across just 1-2/3 innings in a loss on Thursday against the Rangers. Cashner only allowed one home run, yet five consecutive Rangers reached base in the second inning before he was chased from the game. Cashner had pitched well over a 52-inning stretch prior to Thursday’s game, performing to a 3.46 ERA and 1.29 WHIP — although he only managed 31 strikeouts. In that stretch, the right-hander limited the Rays to two runs on five hits and three walks over six innings of work back on the 27th. Key Matchups: Jake Bauers (1-3), CJ Cron (3-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB), Matt Duffy (4-16, 3B, RBI, 2 BB), Kevin Kiermaier (2-3), Michael Perez (1-2), Joey Wendle (2-5, 3B, RBI, BB) 

You can read about the series in our preview.

The New What Next: Rays vs Orioles — a series preview

Rays 8/8/18 Starting Lineup

Smith LF
Duffy 3B
Bauers 1B
Wendle 2B
Choi DH
Gomez RF
Kiermaier CF
Adames SS
Perez C
Stanek RHP

Rays look to salvage series vs. ChiSox on Sunday; Robertson likely out for remainder of season

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Busted out the old timer for Saturday’s reunion ceremony. As it turns, it doesn’t fit very well after a decade. (Photo Credit: X-Rays Spex)

After a back-to-back one-run losses against the Chicago White Sox, the Tampa Bay Rays enter the series finale in salvage mode. The Rays start the day 9-1/2 out of the final Wildcard spot, but seven behind the slumping Mariners, and in need of a victory to stay above the .500 mark.

As Neil Solondz (Rays Radio) noted, Tampa Bay now has had 19 losses this year when allowing three runs or fewer, and 11 defeats when giving up two runs or less. That’s the most in the majors in each category. The Rays are now 20-25 in one-run games.

Brandon Lowe, promoted to the big leagues yesterday, is slated to make his Major League debut this afternoon for the Rays. When he takes the field, he will become the 20th rookie used by the team this season — extending a club record, which also is the most in the majors.

The rush of emotions was unbelievable, said Lowe. Honestly, it’s all pretty shocking to me. I wasn’t thinking of it at all.

I wrote about the 2015 third-round pick from Maryland yesterday:

The Rays promoted INF/OF Brandon Lowe from Triple-A Durham to fill Robertson’s spot on the roster. Lowe has had a tremendous year thus far, slashing .291 BA/.400 OBP/.508 SLG/.908 OPS/.404 wOBA/153 wRC+, with 37 runs, 41 RBI, and eight home runs with Double-A Montgomery. He was promoted to Durham (when Jake Bauers made the leap to the bigs) where he performed to a .304 BA/.380 OBP/.613 SLG/.993 OPS/.432 wOBA/177 wRC+ line, with 36 runs, 35 RBI, and 14 homers in 45 games (205 plate appearances).

Lowe was ranked the ninth best second base prospect by MLB Pipeline, and the 30th best Rays prospect by Baseball America prior to the start of the 2018 season. A good comparison to Lowe would be Joe Panik, although the biggest difference between the two would be defensive abilities. To his credit, Lowe has good footwork and defensive skills at second base, but he did have his share of defensive woes in Double-A last season, which could be attributed to a pair of injuries; a torn ACL in 2013 and a broken left fibula in 2015.

Lowe has had a quick ascension through the Rays system, winning MVP honors just a season ago with the advanced Class-A Florida State League, then jumping two levels in the 2018 campaign.

However, Lowe’s ascent arose out of a closed door/open window type of scenario when UTL Daniel Robertson was placed on the 10-day DL with a left thumb sprain.

Robertson saw team hand specialist Dr. Doug Carlan this morning, and the prognosis was not good, which Rays manager Kevin Cash spoke to.

We probably knew that surgery, or no surgery, he was going to miss most of the (remainder of the) season, if not all of it. (Robertson has been) such a big part, even once the game started (Saturday), not having him out there. Not having him on the bench to do different things, it’s going to hurt. We’re going to need to kind of dive into our versatility a little more.

Robby wasn’t just versatile. He was good wherever you put him, and he was giving good at-bats. So, tough guy to replace.

Robertson will undergo surgery on his left thumb in next few days, likely spelling an end to his 2018 season.

Not good news, said Robertson, who noted he’ll have the surgery either Tuesday or Thursday. I’m not a math guy, but six to eight weeks, and we’ve got about seven weeks of the season left. Probably not going to be a need to push it. If there’s something going on, we’re making a late push, maybe. But it’s something I just have to take day by day to get it cleaned up.

Robertson was diagnosed with a sprained left thumb following Friday’s game against Chicago and was advised to undergo surgery to correct the damaged finger. While an official timetable for Robertson’s return to baseball activities won’t be established until the procedure his conducted, such surgeries typically keep position players sidelined for around two months.

Joey Wendle is expected to serve as the Rays’ primary option at second base while Robertson is on the mend.

The New What Next

Hunter Wood (0-0, 3.05 ERA) will get the start for the Rays, while LHP Ryan Yarbrough (10-5, 4.02 ERA) is available for length. They’ll be opposed by former Ray James Shields (4-13, 4.56 ERA)

Wood will open for the fifth time this season. In the first four outings, he has allowed one run total. Wood opened the series finale against Angels (in the last series) and threw two shutout innings, fanning five.

Yarbrough allowed six earned runs on nine hits and a HBP over five innings on Tuesday. He struck out four. Yarbrough cruised through his first three innings in relatively uneventful fashion, but that all began to change in the fifth — ironically, after he’d been staked to a nine-run lead — when he allowed a two-run home run to Kole Calhoun. A pair of RBI singles followed in the sixth, and the southpaw gave up the sixth run of his outing when Mike Trout took him deep in the seventh.

Shields allowed four runs on five hits across seven innings on Tuesday. He struck out eight and walked three. Shields tossed four scoreless innings before giving up a couple two-run homers, one in the fifth inning and the other in the seventh. Shields now has the second-most losses in the big league (trailing another former Ray Alex Cobb, who has 14), yet his 1.29 WHIP and .237 batting average against are both respectable figures. The right-hander has been susceptible to the long ball — giving up 20 on the season — while sporting a run-of-the-mill 2 K/BB over 144 innings. Still, the workhorse is 3-0 with a pristine 1.37 ERA in four career starts against his former team. Key Matchups: Carlos Gomez (5-11, BB), Kevin Kiermaier (2-4, BB), Tommy Pham (1-3, HR, RBI)

You can read about the series in our preview.

The New What Next: Rays vs White Sox part two — a series preview

Rays 8/5/18 Starting Lineup

Smith RF
Duffy 3B
Bauers 1B
Wendle 2B
Choi DH
Kiermaier CF
Lowe LF
Perez C
Adames SS
Wood RHP

Noteworthiness

— Per Solondz, the White Sox starters have kept the Rays off balance in this series by throwing less than 50 percent fastballs in each of the first two games, and expect Shields to do the same.

— Try not to sound too optimistic or anything, Stu:

Principal owner Stuart Sternberg said feedback from the group of business leaders backing the push for the proposed Ybor City stadium continues to be positive, writes Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) “There’s optimism,” he said. “I’ve met with the business guys a bit, and they’re optimistic, but we’ll see. Having the stadium (design) out there now and everybody seeing it is very helpful to them and ideally it’s helpful for anybody that wants baseball in Tampa Bay.”

As the saying goes, confidence walks in silence, and well…

Rays 8/4/18 pregame notes; Pham headed to 10-day DL with fractured foot

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Some of the 2008 Rays squad currently in the house, in celebration of the 10-year anniversary of their World series run. (Photo Credit: Marc Topkin)

On a weekend where the Rays will honor the 10th anniversary of their 2008 World Series run, and after sweeping the Angels in the first three games of the current home stand, Tampa Bay looks to continue an excellent stretch at home. The Rays have won 20 of the last 24 contests under the big top, and start the day 7-1/2 games out of the final Wildcard spot.

The Rays received some bad news; OF Tommy Pham is headed to the 10-day DL with a hairline fracture in his right foot.

Pham was hit by a pitch on the foot in the fourth inning of Thursday’s game against the Angels. He remained in the game and scored on a wild pitch by Angels starter Andrew Heaney, but was pulled a couple of innings later. Per Rays manager Kevin Cash, the initial X-Rays were on “wrong toe,” based on where he felt pain vs. where he was hit. A hairline fracture was revealed after he underwent an MRI early Friday. Pham will miss 2-4 weeks, and the team is hopeful he will return in less than a month.

LHP Adam Kolarek was recalled from Triple-A Durham and will hold Pham’s roster spot for now.

The New What Next

The Rays will star a three-game series tonight against the Chicago White Sox, who are 17-37 on the road this season. The tandem of Ryne Stanek (1-3, 2.36 ERA) and Yonny Chirinos (0-3, 4.21 ERA) will get the start against (7-8, 6.26 ERA).

Ryne Stanek worked around a leadoff and a two-out walk in a scoreless inning of work as the opener on Tuesday against the Angels. He struck out one. Stanek threw 12 of 18 pitches for strikes (67% strike rate) but was limited to one inning this time out, making way for Ryan Yarbrough. The right-hander has posted a strong 2.38 ERA and 1.06 WHIP this season.

Yonny Chirinos gave up four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks over three innings against Baltimore on Sunday. He struck out three. Three of the runs he allowed came in the first inning, and he was ultimately pulled down by two after tossing 57 pitches (31 strikes, 54% strike rate) in his seventh start of the season. He’s allowed three runs in each of his last three appearances (11-2/3 innings).

Lucas Giolito surrendered five runs on nine hits and a walk over 4-1/3 innings on Saturday against the Jays. He struck out out three. It was a lackluster outing from Giolito, who needed 94 pitches (62 strikes, 66% strike rate) to record 13 outs. This season he has relied primarily on his 93 mph four-seam fastball, while also mixing in an 84 mph 12-6 slider, a 92 mph sinker, an 82 mph changeup with slight cut action, and a 79 mph curveball with sharp downward bite.

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

The New What Next: Rays vs White Sox part two — a series preview

Rays 8/3/18 Starting Lineup

Kiermaier CF
Duffy 3B
Bauers LF
Cron 1B
Choi DH
Robertson SS
Wendle 2B
Perez C
Smith RF
Stanek RHP

The New What Next: Rays vs White Sox part two — a series preview

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The Rays completed a three-game sweep of the Angels on Thursday. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago White Sox are set to start a three-game series at Tropicana Field, on Friday night. Tampa Bay completed a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday, while the South Siders salvaged the series finale against the Kansas City Royals.

(Stats Credit: ESPN)

The Rays bounced back from a wretched series against the Orioles, returning home where they took three in-a-row from the Angels. They currently have the best home record in baseball since June 11, having lost just four games (and winning 20) under the big top. Tampa Bay enters the series 7-1/2 games out of the second spot in the AL Wildcard race, behind the Athletics and a slumping Mariners squad, having picked up 2-1/2 games since Tuesday.

The White Sox, frankly, are not a good team, having gone 3-7 in their last 10-games, and 5-8 since the All-Star Break.

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

Still Chicago, led by Jose Abreu, has some pop when it isn’t striking out or stranding runners on base. It will be incumbent upon the Rays pitching staff to keep the ChiSox in the park.

Doug Waechter (Fox Sports Sun) brought up a good point at the end of the telecast on Thursday: Tampa Bay was able to sweep a good Angels’ team, and there’s no reason the Rays cannot take two of three — in the very least least — from one of the worst teams in baseball. The Rays should be able to use the opposing hurlers for batting practice; Chocago’s pitching staff has performed to a 5.06 ERA overall, and it reached a further low over the past week, having given up 10 runs or more in four of the last eight games. Adding it all up, the combined team ERA has ballooned to 7.14 over the last 10 games.

If the Rays have postseason aspirations — remember, they are in the race until they are not — they must stay competitive with the Mariners and Athletics this weekend, which means they must win games.

We’re competitors and we want to win games, DH/1B C.J. Cron said. Until the last game of the season’s over with, that’s what we’re going to try to do. If we put together enough wins to creep us back in it, we’ll take that as well. So that’s our job right now.

After starting the season 1-8, Tampa Bay took two-of-three from the South Siders back in April.

Pitching Probables

Over the next three days, Kevin Cash will lean on Ryne Stanek (1-3, 2.36 ERA) — who will be followed by Yonny Chirinos (0-3, 4.21 ERA) — Blake Snell (12-5, 2.27 ERA), and a pitcher to be named before the series finale on Sunday. Rick Renteria will counter with Lucas Giolito (7-8, 6.26 ERA), Carlos Rodón (3-3, 3.24 ERA), and former Ray James Shields (4-12, 4.52 ERA).

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

Ryne Stanek worked around a leadoff and a two-out walk in a scoreless inning of work as the opener on Tuesday against the Angels. He struck out one. Stanek threw 12 of 18 pitches for strikes (67% strike rate) but was limited to one inning this time out, making way for Ryan Yarbrough. The right-hander has posted a strong 2.38 ERA and 1.06 WHIP this season.

Yonny Chirinos gave up four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks over three innings against Baltimore on Sunday. He struck out three. Three of the runs he allowed came in the first inning, and he was ultimately pulled down by two after tossing 57 pitches (31 strikes, 54% strike rate) in his seventh start of the season. He’s allowed three runs in each of his last three appearances (11-2/3 innings).

Lucas Giolito surrendered five runs on nine hits and a walk over 4-1/3 innings on Saturday against the Jays. He struck out out three. It was a lackluster outing from Giolito, who needed 94 pitches (62 strikes, 66% strike rate) to record 13 outs. This season he has relied primarily on his 93 mph four-seam fastball, while also mixing in an 84 mph 12-6 slider, a 92 mph sinker, an 82 mph changeup with slight cut action, and a 79 mph curveball with sharp downward bite.

Blake Snell will return from the 10-day DL and take the hill against the White Sox. Snell threw a bullpen session Wednesday, which appeared to be his final obstacle before coming off the shelf. Across 20 starts (119 IP) this season, he’s performed to a 2.27 ERA/3.43 FIP and 1.07 WHIP with a 10.1 K/9, and a 2.85 K/BB. Snell was placed on the 10-day DL with left shoulder fatigue on July 23.

Carlos Rodón fired 7-2/3 innings on Sunday, yielding two runs on five hits and a walk. He struck out six and allowed a home run. Another strong start helped Rodón lower his season ERA from 4.55 to 3.24 in July. The 25 year-old southpaw held the Blue Jays in check for most of the afternoon. He also improved to a 2.33 K/BB after Sunday’s contest. Rodón has allowed two runs or fewer in seven of his nine starts this season. He has relied primarily on a 94 mph four-seam fastball and a whiffy 86 mph slider with short glove-side cut, while also mixing in a 94 mph sinker and a firm 85 mph changeup with natural sink. The left-hander is 0-0 with a 5.19 ERA in two career starts against the Rays

We will update this piece when the Rays name a starter in the series finale.

James Shields allowed four runs on five hits across seven innings on Tuesday. He struck out eight and walked three. Shields tossed four scoreless innings before giving up a couple two-run homers, one in the fifth inning and the other in the seventh. Shields now has the second-most losses in the big league (trailing another former Ray Alex Cobb, who has 14), yet his 1.29 WHIP and .237 batting average against are both respectable figures. The right-hander has been susceptible to the long ball — giving up 20 on the season — while sporting a run-of-the-mill 2 K/BB over 144 innings. Still, the workhorse is 3-0 with a pristine 1.37 ERA in four career starts against his former team. Key Matchups: Carlos Gomez (5-11, BB), Kevin Kiermaier (2-4, BB), Tommy Pham (1-3, HR, RBI)

Noteworthiness

— Party like it’s 2008! Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) detailed the Rays 2008 team reunion on Saturday:

Team MVP Jason Bartlett, Akinori Iwamura, Scott Kazmir, James Shields, B.J. Upton headline a group of 20 players from the 2008 team at the Trop this weekend for a 10-year celebration. Alums will greet fans at Gate 1 Friday night (5:10 opening) and Saturday (4:10) and sign autographs at the 20th anniversary exhibit. Saturday is the main event, with pregame introductions, Iwamura throwing the first pitch to Bartlett, and all fans getting an Iwamura bobblehead with the radio call of the final out of that year’s ALCS.

Rays 8/2/18 pregame notes, Glasnow’s start, where HCC candidates stand on using public subsidies for a stadium

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The Rays look for a series sweep against the Angels Thursday afternoon. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

After a 7-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday, the Tampa Bay Rays look for a sweep on Thursday afternoon. With an off-day for the Athletics, a Rays win in the series finale would give them an opportunity to enter their upcoming series, this weekend, against the ChiSox 7-1/2 games back in the Wildcard race.

Something to keep in mind, Tampa Bay has an easier schedule than both the Athletics and Mariners, with the majority of the remaining games at the Trop, where they Rays are much more successful. I’m not saving money for a playoff run at the moment, although they’re in the running until they’re not. Whatever the case, it could get interesting these last two months.

The recently acquired Tyler Glasnow, and unknown quantity to a large extent, got the start in last night’s ballgame and exceeded expectations, throwing three innings of one run ball on 48 pitches (34 strikes, 71% strike rate, 21% SwStr rate). Glasnow allowed two hits (including a solo home run), one walk, and struck out five.

Fastball, curveball, slider today, I had a good feel for things, Glasnow said following the Rays’ win. I felt relaxed out there. Overall, the feel in this clubhouse is really good. It’s relaxed, it’s friendly.

Rays manager Kevin Cash had nothing but superlatives for the right-hander, saying,

Probably not going to (throw 70 percent strikes) all of the time. But a great start. If he’s featuring that kind of stuff at a 70 percent clip in the zone, he’s going to have a special career.

On Glasnow’s repertoire … The right-hander threw 24 of 35 four-seam fastballs for strikes (five whiffs), averaging 97.6 mph (and topping out at 99.5 mph); 3 of 5 sliders for strikes (1 whiff); and 7 of 8 curveballs for strikes (1 whiff). He was able to move his fastball all over the zone at will, and played his off-speed stuff off of his heater.

(Location Chart Credit: Brooks Baseball)

The only real criticism for Glasnow, is that he left a fair number of hanging breaking pitches in hittable locations. On of those very hittable offerings was an 0-2 curveball that flattened out over the heart of the plate, and was consequently hit into the Rays tank — thanks a lot, Kole Calhoun. Otherwise, it was an excellent introduction to the flame throwing right-hander, who should have a longer leash his next time out.

The New What Next

Hunter Wood (0-0, 3.38 ERA) will open for the Rays, and will be followed by Jaylen Beeks (0-0, 21.60 ERA), who will make his Tropicana Field debut. They’ll be opposed by Andrew Heaney (6-6, 3.64 ERA).

Wood has allowed just one run in 4-2/3 innings in the three previous outings, and this will be his first appearance against the Angels. Beeks allowed eight runs on 10 hits and three walks over 3-1/3 innings Saturday in Baltimore. Only 45 of his 82 pitches were thrown for strikes (55% strike rate), which is a recipe for disaster for a pitcher like Beeks, who relies upon deception and getting ahead in the count.

Beeks actually wasn’t hit that hard, “sort of placed to death,” as Kevin Cash put it, although the damage was still self-inflicted due to the compromising position he put himself in by falling behind hitters, and throwing only eight first-pitch strikes.

Beeks is well aware of the circumstances leading to his rough outing:

I’ve got to get in the zone more. Just didn’t get ahead of guys and put myself in bad counts.

That made the bad results less concerning to Cash:

It seemed like a lot he was behind, just 1-0, 2-0 on a lot of guys and that’s not him. So that’s something we’re confident he can correct here real quick.

Ideally you’d just like to see him bounce back, throw some more strikes, control the count a little better. We’ll probably have some better outings from him.

Heaney gave up up three earned runs on seven hits over eight innings in his last start, striking out five and walking none. Heaney was efficient in his outing, throwing just 63 pitches through the first seven innings, and needing just 81 (70% strike rate) to make it through eight frames. Heaney, however, cost himself a shot at his seventh win of the season after allowing the game-tying run in the eighth inning before being pulled from the game. It was still another solid start for Heaney, who has quietly been a workhorse over the last two months. This was the seventh time this season he hurled seven innings or more, and has lowered his standard peripherals to a 3.64 ERA and a solid 1.13 WHIP. Heaney’s command has been impressive, with the southpaw collecting 111 punch outs against just 32 walks through 116-1/3 innings this season. Heaney allowed four runs on three hits (including a grand slam) over six innings in a loss to the Rays on May 19. Key Matchups: Daniel Robertson (1-3, HR, 4 RBI)

You can read about the series in our preview.

The New What Next: Rays vs Angels part two — a series preview

Rays 8/2/18 Starting Lineup

Kiermaier cf
Duffy 3B
Robertson 2B
Pham LF
Cron DH
Bauers 1B
Gomez RF
Adames SS
Sucre C
Wood RHP

Noteworthiness

— Wondering where the candidates, running for a seat on the Hillsborough County Commission, stand on using public subsidies to build a stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays? Noah Pransky (WTSP, Shadow of the Stadium) wondered the same, and prepared a voting guide for you. Give the link (below) a look, and forward it to any Hillsborough County voter that may be able to use this guide in August and November.

Remember folks, this issue WILL NOT got to referendum ahead of the January 1, 2019 expiration of the memorandum of understanding between the City of St. Pete and the Rays, which allowed the team to search the region for a new stadium site.

— Jake Bauers enters the day having homered in three consecutive games.