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Rays 9/22/17 starting lineup and pregame notes; Tampa just isn’t that in love with the Rays

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Friday = bump day for Alex Cobb. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

After a disappointing, momentum killing 3-1 loss in Baltimore on Thursday, the Tampa Bay Rays will try to bounce back tonight in game two of four. The Rays needs to go 7-2 over the next nine games to end the season at .500, and win outright to even continue their hopes for an improbable postseason berth.

Tampa Bay was held to just one run five hits last night, and now have been limited to two runs or fewer in six of the last nine games. Meanwhile, Matt Andriese bounced back from a tenuous three-run, four-hit first inning to hold the Orioles scoreless over the remainder of his six inning, eight strikeout start.

The New What Next

lex Cobb (11-10, 3.63 ERA, 4.15 FIP) will start for the Rays tonight, pitching opposite of Ubaldo Jimenez (6–10 6.57).

Cobb took a loss to Boston on Saturday, in a 5.1 IP/3 ER outing. That prevented him from becoming the first Rays pitcher with four wins over the Red Sox in a single season. Nevertheless, the right-hander he has a 2.98 ERA in 16 starts since June 9, allowing three earned runs or fewer in 14 of those 16 starts.

Jimenez fanned 10 batters and allowed just one earned run over five solid innings in his last turn. It was the second-most strikeouts he’s had in a game this season. He, however, is 0-2 with a 10.80 ERA in three starts against Tampa Bay this season, while averaging under four innings of work in each outing. Key Matchups: Adeiny Hechvarria (4-7, 2B, RBI), Kevin Kiermaier (3-12, 2B, HR, 2 RBI), Evan Longoria (7-22, 2 HR, 8 RBI), Logan Morrison (6-14, 2 2B, 3B, HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB), Wilson Ramos (1-2, 2B), Daniel Robertson (1-2)

You can read more about the series in our preview.

Rays 9/22/17 Starting Lineup

Kiermaier CF
Duda DH
Longoria 3B
Morrison 1B
Souza RF
Dickerson LF
Ramos C
Hechavarria SS
Robertson 2B
Cobb RHP

Noteworthiness

— Tim Beckham will be in the lineup tonight vs. his ex-Rays mates, hitting leadoff and playing short.

— From the mouth of Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) to your ears:

The Rays still talk about having a shot to make the playoffs. But recognizing and correcting mistakes will help them next year, such as Mallex Smith trying to steal third in the first. “Those are the little things we’ve got to find how to eliminate real quick,” manager Kevin Cash said.

— Contrary to what Ken Hagan or Bob Buckhorn might lead you to believe, it appears that a new Rays stadium in Tampa is not a top priority, at least for the taxpayers. According to Tampa Bay Times staff writer, Richard Danielson, 89 percent of respondents to a survey of Tampa citizens prioritize the improvement of streets and easing flooding, over keeping the Rays in the area, much less building a new facility across the bay.

Practically tied for second were police/community relations and mass transportation options, including light rail. Both were rated as important by nearly 75 percent of those surveyed.

Keeping the Tampa Bay Rays in the region came toward the very bottom of the list of taxpayer priorities (39.4 percent). You know, because what’s the point in building a stadium IF YOU CAN’T GET THERE SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY?

The New What Next: Rays Vs. Orioles — the penultimate series preview

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The Tampa Bay Rays split the season series with the reigning World Series champs after they beat the Cubs 8-1 on Wednesday. (Photo Credit: Anthony Ateek/X-Rays Spex)

After beating the reigning World Series champs Wednesday night, 8-1, the Tampa Bay Rays will duel it out with the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, in Baltimore. The Rays have won two of the last three, but just four of the last 10. The Orioles have lost three straight and six of the last seven. The season series is tied at six apiece.

(Stats: MLB.com)

The governor has yet to sign the Rays’ death warrant.

Tampa Bay’s offensive outburst Wednesday night kept the team’s improbable postseason* hopes alive going into this four-game set. Their attack was three-fold, and something they must continue to hone over the waning schedule, starting a month ago … erm, now.

First, say what you will about Chris Archer, however, he limited the mighty Chicago Cubs — a team that had averaged 5.33 runs per game in the previous series against the Cardinals — to just two runs. Furthermore, the pitching staff as a whole gave up only three combined runs over the last two games.

Simply put, the Rays pitching staff must continue to keep its team in ball games.

(Stats: FanGraphs)

Second, Tampa Bay’s defense has been solid of late, punctuated by the play of Kevin Kiermaier and Adeiny Hechavarria. The Orioles may be a shadow of their former selves, however, they can and will punish mistakes. In short, pitching and defense are critically important.

Finally, the offense must perform as it had on Wednesday and Friday (September 15), when the Rays plated at least four runs in each game. Two and three run games likely won’t cut it, as evidenced by the fact that Tampa Bay had won just four of the last 11 games when the team scored three runs or fewer.

We gotta get back to doing that a little more often than maybe once every so often.
— Kevin Cash, on the Rays’ offense breaking loose to score some runs Wednesday night

(Stats: FanGraphs)

Over the next four days Kevin Cash will lean on Matt Andriese (5-3, 4.63 ERA, 5.05 FIP), Alex Cobb (11-10, 3.63 ERA, 4.15 FIP), Jake Odorizzi (9-8, 4.46 ERA, 5.72 FIP), and Chris Archer (9-11, 4.02 ERA, 3.38 FIP). Buck Showalter will counter with Gabriel Ynoa (0-2, 5.00 ERA, 2.27 FIP) and Ubaldo Jimenez (6-10, 6.93 ERA, 5.89 FIP), and also likely with former Ray Jeremy Hellickson (2-5, 7.29 ERA, 6.57 FIP) and Dylan Bundy (13-9, 4.24 ERA, 4.38 FIP).

Asterisk denotes assumed starters. (Stats: FanGraphs)

Pitching Matchups

Andriese lasted 4-1/3 innings in his last start Friday vs. Boston, the fifth time in 15 starts this season he did not finish five innings (two were injury-shortened starts). He, however, yielded two earned runs or fewer for the ninth time in 15 starts. Andriese is 1-3 with a 7.50 ERA in three games (two starts) against Baltimore. He has not faced the Orioles this season.

Ynoa is winless in two starts since joining the starting rotation in early September, and has yet to pitch into the sixth inning. He is aiming for his second win of the season against the Rays. This season he has relied primarily on an 85mph 12-6 slider, a 94 mph four-seam fastball with depth, and a 95mph sinker with run. The right-hander also has mixed in an 86mph changeup with arm side fade. Key Matchups: Adeiny Hechavarria (1-1, RBI), Wilson Ramos (1-1, RBI, BB)

Cobb took a loss to Boston on Saturday, in a 5.1 IP/3 ER outing. That prevented him from becoming the first Rays pitcher with four wins over the Red Sox in a single season. Nevertheless, the right-hander he has a 2.98 ERA in 16 starts since June 9, allowing three earned runs or fewer in 14 of those 16 starts.

Jimenez fanned 10 batters and allowed just one earned run over five solid innings in his last turn. It was the second-most strikeouts he’s had in a game this season. He, however, is 0-2 with a 10.80 ERA in three starts against Tampa Bay this season, while averaging under four innings of work in each outing. Key Matchups: Adeiny Hechvarria (4-7, 2B, RBI), Kevin Kiermaier (3-12, 2B, HR, 2 RBI), Evan Longoria (7-22, 2 HR, 8 RBI), Logan Morrison (6-14, 2 2B, 3B, HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB), Wilson Ramos (1-2, 2B), Daniel Robertson (1-2)

Odorizzi no-hit the Red Sox into the sixth inning on Sunday before he allowed a walk and a two-run homer to Jackie Bradley Jr. The right-hander had a live fastball, coaxing 15 swings-and-misses on his 96 pitches, including 10 on his 61 fastballs. Odorizzi has now allowed just three earned runs across 16-1/3 innings in his last three starts.

Hellickson, in his last start against the New York Yankees on Sunday, was shelled for six runs on four hits (including two home runs) and four walks over just three innings of work. The former Ray has given up three runs or fewer in only four of his nine starts as an Oriole, while performing to a 7.28 ERA/6.16 FIP since the All-Star break. Suffice it to say, the right-hander hasn’t looked nearly as good as he did in his year and a half stint with the Phillies. Key Matchups: Lucas Duda (7-14, 4 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, BB), Wilson Ramos (3-10, HR, 3 RBI)

Archer went six innings Tuesday against the Cubs, his longest start since August 27 (vs. St. Louis) — snapping a streak of three consecutive starts of four innings pitched or fewer. He has lost four straight decisions for the third time in his career, although considering that Archer’s last three appearances had seen him give up 13 runs (11 earned) in a grand total of seven innings, this represents a big leap forward.

Bundy, like Hellickson before him, was lambasted in his last start, allowing six runs on seven hits and a walk over 4-1/3 innings, while fanning just a pair. The right-hander is 1-1 but with a 5.19 ERA in three starts against the Rays this season. Key Matchups: Kevin Kiermaier (2-7, HR, 3 RBI, BB), Evan Longoria (5-15, 2 HR, 3 RBI), Brad Miller (2-8, HR, RBI), Logan Morrison (5-12, 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, BB), Mallex Smith (2-5, BB), Steven Souza Jr. (3-10, 2B, HR, RBI)

Noteworthiness

— *Adam Sanford (DRaysBay) writes that there are a few scenarios which could net an AL Wildcard berth for the Rays, one of which involves a six-way tie between the other contenders.

— Former Ray (and current Oriole) Tim Beckham told Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) he’s more focused on the “start of a new journey” with Baltimore, and that his career with Tampa Bay is “in the past.”

— The Rays activated Xavier Cedeño from the 60 day-DL Thursday afternoon.

Rays remain optimistic, Cubs fans turn the Trop into Wrigley south, and roster moves

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The quiet before the rather tepid offensive storm Tuesday night. (Photo Credit: Anthony Ateek/X-Rays Spex)

After a 2-1 loss to the reigning World Series champions on Tuesday, the Tampa Bay Rays will look to rebound and split the short two-game set, and the season series, with the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs have won seven straight, while the Rays have won just one game in each of the last three series. They would need to go 8-3 over the final 11 games to finish at .500, while their postseason hopes are all but nonexistent at this point.

Optimism will make you suffer fools gladly.
I’m holding out for you to do the right thing,
Emphatically.

— American Steel

In spite of the monumental odds against them, Rays’ players, like Blake Snell and Steven Souza Jr., remain optimistic that they can salvage the season. Optimism is an intoxicating drug.

I feel all of us still think there’s a shot, said Snell. We all want to do it. We’re all in this together. We always felt there was a shot from the start and all the way to the end.

Souza was a bit more realistic:

We’re running out of time.

Of course Tampa Bay’s playoffs chances have all but evaporated — they start the day five games out of the final Wilcard spot with just 12 games left to play. It certainly doesn’t help that the offense has been all but nonexistent in three of the last four games.

What also doesn’t help, which Chris Archer pointed out last night, is the glaring lack of support from the Rays’ loyal fanbase.

Having 25,000 Cub fans here, wasn’t very fun either.

It’s weird, I didn’t know we had that many mid-western people in Tampa, but I guess we do. It’s just weird for their players to come out and get announced and just get so much love.

It felt like we were at Citi Field, playing the Yankees. Honestly, it felt very similar to that…and I’m not being critical it was just crazy how much royal blue there was out there.

When Wilson Contreras ran out to warm up the pitcher…like he got a standing o.

I’ve been here for however long, I’ve seen some really, really good players come and I’ve never seen anybody get as much love when they go to warm up then some of their players did.

It was definitely more of a road environment as opposed to a home environment tonight.

Granted there are myriad reasons why Rays’ fans skipped out of Tuesday night’s ball game. Although in all fairness, if that was just the second largest crowd of the season, that’s pretty sad. It is clearly evident that there is stadium saga induced PTSD which has affected the attendance all season long. Pair that with an ownership that apparently does not possess the want or the desire to stop being cheap, and start spending money to compete.

The effect on the players has become palpable, and now they — by way of the more vocal players, like Chris Archer — are letting us know how the lack of fans impacts the collective psyche of the team. If we fans want to see a diminished presence from the visiting team’s fan base, then it is up to all of us to purchase those tickets and plant our bottoms into those seats first and foremost.

The New What Next

Blake Snell (3-6, 4.25 ERA, 4.36 FIP) will start for the Rays, pitching opposite of Jon Lester (11-7, 4.30 ERA, 4.05 FIP).

Snell allowed just a run on two hits against the Yankees on Tuesday, yet he walked away with a no decision. The southpaw threw 51/83 pitches for strikes, although he didn’t stick around long enough to benefit from Adeiny Hechavarria’s game-winning solo homer in the bottom of the eighth inning. He now is 3-1 with a 3.75 ERA in 11 post-All-Star Game starts, and has given up two runs or fewer in four of his last five outings — performing to a 2.73 ERA with a 28/8 K/BB over that 29-2/3 inning stretch. Snell faced the Cubs on July 5 but took a no-decision after tossing five scoreless frames.

Lester is no stranger to beginning games slowly. He threw 78 pitches over the first three innings against the Mets in his last start, yet needed just 36 over the final three innings. In spite of that, he’s won each of his last two outing, allowing just three runs over 12 total innings of work. Lester is 13-10 with a 4.22 ERA in 29 games against the Rays, including a five inning loss on July 4 when he allowed six runs (five earned) on nine hits including a homer. Key Matchups: Peter Bourjos (7-17, 2B, BB), Danny Espinosa (2-3, 2 2B, 2 RBI, BB, Adeiny Hechavarria (3-10, HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB), Evan Longoria (14-58, 3 2B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 7 BB), Brad Miller (1-3), Steven Souza Jr. (2-3, 2B, 2 RBI)

You can read more about the series in our preview.

Rays 9/20/17 Starting Lineup

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

Noteworthiness

— The Rays added two players to the roster this afternoon. INF Daniel Robertson will rejoin the Rays, as will RHP Chih-Wei Hu. Additionally, Xavier Cedeno will be activated from the 60-day DL, after rehabbing with Durham. A corresponding move will need to be made to make room for Cedeno.

The New What Next: Rays Vs. Cubs — an Interleague series preview

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Chris Archer will take the mound for the Rays on Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays welcome Joe Maddon and the Chicago Cubs into Tropicana Field, where they will start a two-game Interleague series on Tuesday. Hanging on by a thread of a 0.5% chance of a playoff berth, the Rays salvaged the final game of the series against the Red Sox on Sunday, while the Cubs are in the midst of a six-game win streak.

(Stats: ESPN)

I liken the Rays playoff pursuit to those that purchase lottery tickets and expect a large windfall. While there is a statistical probability that you or I could walk away with the jackpot, the likelihood of that happening is a one in 175 million chance (a .0000005714286% chance). Those are pretty astronomical odds.

Likewise, it would take a lot for the Rays to punch their proverbial postseason ticket over the next 12 games. Possible? Sure. Probable? Not so much. Suffice it to say these are must win games, and whatever the case it all starts Tuesday.

(Stats: FanGraphs)

To put it bluntly, with a 5.30 ERA over the last 14 days, if there is any hope of the Rays taking the series against the reigning World Series champs, two things must occur:

  1. Chris Archer, who has performed to a 4.26 ERA/3.74 FIP in the second half, MUST pitch well in the series opener (Blake Snell on Wednesday too).
  2. It is incumbent upon Evan Longoria, Logan Morrison, Corey Dickerson and Lucas Duda to slip out of their individual (well, combined) funks.

(Stats: FanGraphs)

Over the next two days Kevin Cash will lean on the aforementioned Chris Archer (9-10, 4.06 ERA, 3.36 FIP) and Blake Snell (3-6, 4.25 ERA, 4.36 FIP). Joe Maddon will counter with former Rays farm-hand Mike Montgomery (4-5, 4.62 ERA, 4.05 FIP), and Jon Lester (11-7, 4.30 ERA, 4.05 FIP).

(Stats: FanGraphs)

Pitching Matchups

Archer allowed three runs over four innings on Wednesday against the Yankees, and taking the loss in doing so. The right-hander has struggled in two starts since his return from a bout with forearm tightness, allowing nine earned runs on 15 hits over seven innings, although the Rays have not indicated that that is still an issue. Archer is 2-5 with a 4.26 ERA in 12 post-All-Star break starts; he beat he Cubs at Wrigley Field on July 4 when he allowed three runs over six innings.

Montgomery, the Rays former left-handed farm-hand, returned to the Cubs rotation after bouncing back and forth, to and from the bullpen. Montgomery is 4-5 with a 4.62 ERA in 12 starts. The left-handed 93 mph sinker/92mph four-seam fastball/78mph curveball throwing hurler os 0-3 with a 3.60 ERA in four appearances (one start) against the Rays. Key Matchups: Corey Dickerson (1-2, RBI), Trevor Plouffe (1-3, 3B)

Snell allowed just a run on two hits against the Yankees on Tuesday, yet he walked away with a no decision. The southpaw threw 51/83 pitches for strikes, although he didn’t stick around long enough to benefit from Adeiny Hechavarria’s game-winning solo homer in the bottom of the eighth inning. He now is 3-1 with a 3.75 ERA in 11 post-All-Star Game starts, and has given up two runs or fewer in four of his last five outings — performing to a 2.73 ERA with a 28/8 K/BB over that 29-2/3 inning stretch. Snell faced the Cubs on July 5 but took a no-decision after tossing five scoreless frames.

Lester is no stranger to beginning games slowly. He threw 78 pitches over the first three innings against the Mets in his last start, yet needed just 36 over the final three innings. In spite of that, he’s won each of his last two outing, allowing just three runs over 12 total innings of work. Lester is 13-10 with a 4.22 ERA in 29 games against the Rays, including a five inning loss on July 4 when he allowed six runs (five earned) on nine hits including a homer. Key Matchups: Peter Bourjos (7-17, 2B, BB), Danny Espinosa (2-3, 2 2B, 2 RBI, BB, Adeiny Hechavarria (3-10, HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB), Evan Longoria (14-58, 3 2B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 7 BB), Brad Miller (1-3), Steven Souza Jr. (2-3, 2B, 2 RBI)

Noteworthiness

— The Cubs have eight players and coaches who spent time in Devil Rays/Rays uniforms: Chris Bosio (pitching coach), Wade Davis (RHP), Eric Hinske (assistant hitting coach), Joe Maddon (manager), Dave Martinez (bench coach), Mike Montgomery (LHP), Rene Rivera (C), Ben Zobrist (INF/OF).

— Wednesday’s first pitch will be thrown out by Beau Zimmer, the grandson of Don Zimmer, who had extensive connections between both ball clubs.

— The Rays are expected to have a video tribute to their former manager at some point during the upcoming series, be that Tuesday or Wednesday.

— Evan Longoria and Kahwa Coffee are teaming up for a “brand collaboration” to help Hurricane Irma relief efforts. More details will be announced Tuesday.

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

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The Tampa Bay Rays returned from their home away from home (seen above), where they will start a three-game series against the Red Sox on Friday. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

Two things start for the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday:

  1. The final series of the season against the Boston Red Sox.
  2. The final stretch of the 2017 campaign.

(Stats: ESPN)

Despite going 2-4 over the last six games, Tampa Bay is still in the hunt for a playoff berth, although improbably so.

All across the organization the Rays firmly believe they still believe they have a chance, albeit one that requires them to come pretty close to putting together a Cleveland-like winning streak.

It would be Herculean, Stu Sternberg told the Tampa Bay Times. But we’re not there yet.

Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) noted that the main root of their belief — as odd as it sounds 5½ months into the season — is that they have not yet played their best for any extended period, evidenced by the fact that at no point have they won more than four in a row.

As a pitcher who pitches every fifth day and watches the games in between, I don’t feel like we’ve gone on that collective run where we knew we were going to score runs and we knew we were going to prevent runs consistently for a week plus, right-hander Alex Cobb said. Where we showed up a the park and we’re like, ‘Everything is going to click today.’ It’s been kind of just battling to stay afloat.

… It’s never too late for that, until the calendar flips to the next month. But it needs to hurry up.

(Stats: FanGraphs)

They are battling to stay afloat, as Cobb suggests, for a couple of reasons. First, the starting rotation has not been effective of late.

Consider that the front five have performed to 5.72 ERA/4.51 FIP over the last two weeks — a time when every poor start makes it that much harder for the Rays to overcome what they lack. That the starters have averaged just over four innings per start over that stretch certainly doesn’t help.

Second, a regressing offense.

(Stats: FanGraphs)

Pair those two together, and you have a pretty volatile combination … although volatile as it related to an implosion, not an explosion.

Thinking back to 2011 (Game 162) and 2013 (Game 163), they’ll have to approach things day-by-day and game-by-game over the next 2½ weeks, starting a month ago.

We’ve been in this position before, Sternberg said. Whether we have to leapfrog two teams or 22, it’s about winning baseball games. And that starts with winning a baseball game.

That doesn’t mean it will be easy, especially for a team that hasn’t shown the ability to consistently string together a bunch of wins. But as long as there still is a mathematical chance…

Kevin Cash will throw Matt Andriese (5-3, 4.66 ERA, 5.02 FIP), Alex Cobb (11-9, 3.59 ERA, 4.16 FIP), and Jake Odorizzi (8-8, 4.52 ERA, 5.79 FIP) over the next three days. John Farrell will counter with Chris Sale (16-7, 2.76 ERA, 2.20 FIP), Rick Porcello (9-17, 4.64 ERA, 4.56 FIP), and Eduardo Rodriguez (5-5, 4.23 ERA, 4.02 FIP).

(Stats: FanGraphs)

Pitching Matchups

Andriese was knocked out in the second inning after he allowed eight runs (six earned) in his last start against the Red Sox. One had to question his sequence of pitches in the first inning at-bat vs. Dustin Pedroia. He followed a dust-off pitch with a heater that was up and over the inner third of the plate — right in Pedroia’s juice zone. From there, things spiraled out of control for the Rays, who appeared to be no match for the very aggressive Red Sox. Expect Andriese to be on a very short leash Friday night.

Sale will face the Rays for the sixth and final time this season. Boston took a lead in the first inning last weekend against Tampa Bay, which was more run support than Sale would need — allowing him to easily collect his 16th victory of the season. The southpaw has fared well against Tampa Bay thus far, going 4-1 with a 2.06 ERA in 2017, although he’s pitched even better Tropicana Field over his career, going 3-3 with a 1.75 ERA. Sale is 9-5 with a 2.72 ERA in 17 road starts this season. Key Matchups: Curt Casali (3-7, 2B, HR, RBI), Danny Espinosa (2-5), Kevin Kiermaier (4-11, HR, 3 RBI, BB), Logan Morrison (5-15, HR, RBI, 2 BB), Trevor Plouffe (15-52, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 4 BB), Wilson Ramos (3-8, 2B, HR, 3 RBI)

Cobb has won his last two outings and has delivered quality starts in each of his last three, the most recent of which came against Boston. The right-hander held the Red Sox to just one earned run, although it took him 93 pitches to navigate five-plus innings. Cobb is 6-3 with a 3.32 ERA in 13 career starts against Boston, and 23-18 with a 3.07 ERA in 57 career starts at the Trop.

Porcello kept the Red Sox in the game last time out although he lost, allowing two runs on five over innings against the Rays.  Porcello enjoyed a strong outing overall, although it was tarnished in the fifth inning when he allowed a pair of runs on four hits and a walk. He ran up his pitch count and did not return for the sixth, marking the second consecutive outing in which he failed to complete six innings. While it was an improvement on the seven runs he allowed in his previous turn, the sinkerballer has still allowed 14 runs over 21-2/3 innings in his last four outings. In five starts vs. Tampa Bay in 2017, Porcello is 1-4 with a 4.91 ERA. Key Matchups: Peter Bourjos (2-7), Curt Casali (3-10), Danny Espinosa (1-3, HR, 2 RBI), Evan Longoria (15-58, 6 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 4 BB), Brad Miller (11-34, 4 2B, 5 HR, 9 RBI, 2 BB), Logan Morrison (10-34, 3 2B, HR, 5 RBI, 3 BB), Steven Souza Jr. (9-30, HR, RBI)

Odorizzi allowed five runs, but only one earned, during his previous start, which came at Citi Field against the Yankees. The start broke a string of two straight wins for him, in which he allowed three earned runs over 11 2/3 innings combined. Odorizzi looked really good the first time through the order. He reverse pitched New York’s batters early in those at-bats, leaning on his curveball (since he didn’t have his splitter), then blew them away with a well located fastball that coaxed a good number of swings and misses. Though he held the the Yankees hitless over the first three innings, they came back to answer big in the fourth. Odorizzi’s night was done fter after 52-pitch fourth inning. For context Odo threw 43 pitches in the first three innings alone. He went to three-ball counts in just two of the first nine at-bats, but that number blossomed to seven three-ball counts to seven of the last 10 batters he faced.

Rodriguez is coming off his best start since his return from the DL, holding Oakland to one hit and one run over six innings while fanning nine. After allowing a first inning RBI double to Jed Lowrie, the southpaw settled down as Boston’s offense took over. Rodriguez has now thrown two straight quality starts after a rough end to August. He’s posted a 76/24 K/BB since the beginning of June (67 IP) despite a lackluster 5.37 ERA. The 94mph four-seam fastball/87mph changeup/84mph slider/88mph cutter throwing hurler is 0-1 with a 7.58 ERA in four career starts against the Rays. Key matchups: Adeiny Hechavarria (1-2), Evan Longoria (5-10, 2B, RBI, BB), Logan Morrison (2-2, 2 RBI), Steven Souza Jr. (1-3, RBI)