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Baldelli and Montoyo assume managerial positions with Twins and Jays; Gaston close to signing

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Rocco Baldelli was introduced to the media Thursday afternoon at Target Field. (Photo Credit: Brian Peterson/Star Tribune)

The Tampa Bay Rays clubhouse will have a different look going into Spring Training next season. On Thursday, the Minnesota Twins announced that Rocco Baldelli will replace former manager Paul Molitor, while bench coach Charlie Montoyo will take over as the Blue Jays new skipper. The Rays are also reportedly close to signing a $2.61-million deal with 17-year-old Cuban right-hander Sandy Gaston.

Rocco Baldelli announced as the Twins new manager

Baldelli had previously been in consideration for several managerial vacancies, with the Blue Jays and Rangers having been top candidates. Former Rays hitting coach Derek Shelton was also said to be a finalist, while Cubs bench coach Brandon Hyde was Minnesota’s other top choice. It is plausible that Shelton, who also served on the Twins’ coaching staff last season, could remain on hand as the bench coach, given his familiarity with Baldelli.

 

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No matter the uniform… he’s one of ours.

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Baldelli, 37, is best known for his promising, but injury-shortened, big league career, slashing a combined .285 BA/.326 OBP/.425 SLG/.751 OPS with 27 home runs and 44 steals through across 292 big league games. Baldelli, however, suffered an ACL tear in his right elbow during the 2004-05 offseason which required Tommy John surgery before he could return to the field.

Baldelli rejoined the Rays in 2006 and batted .302 BA/.339 OBP/.533 SLG/.872 OBP in 92 games. Sadly his career took a mysterious downturn the following season, as he was diagnosed with a rare condition called channelopathy, rendering his body metabolically incapable of recovering from the rigors of playing baseball at a professional level. After amassing a total of 429 career plate appearances in 2008, Baldelli played his final game at just 29 years of age.

The former Ray spent three seasons as first base coach from 2015-17 and was also tasked with outfield instruction. The organization created the new role, Major League field coordinator, for Baldelli last season — a role in which he assisted manager Kevin Cash and bench coach Charlie Montoyo with a heavy focus on player development at the big league level.

As with Cash, who was just four years removed from serving as a player before being hired as manager, Baldelli will be touted as someone who is more capable of connecting with younger players.

Charlie Montoyo announced as the Blue Jays new manager

The Blue Jays announced the hiring of Charlie Montoyo, who received a three-year contract with a club option for a fourth season in 2022.

 

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Good news: we’ll see each other a lot. Bad news: we’ll see each other a lot.

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Montoyo, 53, spent 18 seasons managing within the Rays’ organization before he joined the big league coaching staff in December 2014. He initially served as Tampa Bay’s third base coach before being named bench coach last offseason, replacing Tom Foley. Montoyo’s experience and positive reputation helped to make him a popular managerial candidate this offseason — he also interviewed with Cincinnati and was linked to other ball-clubs too.

Montoyo was a sixth-round draft pick with the Brewers in 1987 and had a 10-year playing career in the minors, receiving a brief big league promotion in with the 1993 Expos — appearing in four games and tallying just five plate appearances. When his playing career ended in 1996, he almost immediately joined the Rays organization.

Montoyo is only three years younger than the man he’ll replace, John Gibbons, but he comes from a different background, having spent more than two decades with an organization that has often spearheaded experimental tactics and strategies. He’ll give the Blue Jays a bilingual skipper with considerable experience running a clubhouse (albeit at the minor league level) and a deep understanding of the increasing role that data plays not only in informing roster construction but also in the day-to-day performances and training regimens of a big league roster, writes Steve Adams (MLB Trade Rumors).

Rays close to signing Sandy Gaston

The Rays are reportedly close to signing a deal with Cuban right-hander Sandy Gaston that will pay him a $2.61-million bonus. The deal is pending a physical.

Gaston is slated to absorb the bulk of the Rays’ remaining international spending pool, which previously stood at $3.5-million.

The right-hander was ranked the 24th overall international prospect by Baseball America, and is known for his big velocity, which he showed off in a recent showcase for MLB clubs at Marlins Park in Miami. He, however, lacks polish — his off speed pitches and fastball command remain in question. In any case, at just 17 years of age, Gaston clearly has plenty of time to iron things out.

In July, the Rays landed 13th overall prospect, shortstop Alejando Pie, for $1.4-million.

LBWMF: Rays reach 90 win plateau with 9-4 win over Toronto

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For the second consecutive season, Sergio Romo (AKA Cash $) was the ball boy in the season finale at the Trop. (Photo Credit: X-Rays Spex)

For the first time since 2013, the Tampa Bay Rays finished the regular season with a 90-72 record. Tampa Bay pulled in front of the Toronto Blue Jays for good in a three-run fifth inning Sunday afternoon, then won 9-4.

Toronto scored the first run of the game in the third against Ryan Yarbrough. Kevin Pillar came up with a two-out single, then moved into second on a passed ball. Randall Grichuk followed with a double to left, putting Toronto up by a run. Yet Tampa Bay answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning against Sam Gaviglio.

Jake Bauers led off the inning with a single to right, stole his way into second, and went to third on a wild pitch. With two outs and a runner at third, Tommy Pham walked and stole the teams third base of the game. But the responding throw by Reese McGwire ended up in centerfield, which allowed Bauers to cross the plate and Pham to move into third. Joey Wendle capped the rally with a base hit through the left side, putting Tampa Bay in front for the first time.

But, Toronto tied the game in the fifth inning against Yarbrough. With two outs, the southpaw allowed a bloop single to center to Richard Urena before Pillar doubled over the head of Austin Meadows in right, plating a run. After a six-pitch walk to Randal Grichuk, Yarbrough coaxed a fly ball out in foul territory to prevent any further damage, keeping the game even.

Tied at two entering the home sixth, Bauers collected his second hit of the day — bunting against the shift for a hit to start a go-ahead rally. Nick Ciuffo followed with a sacrifice bunt, moving Bauers up to second. One pitch later Smith singled to right-center, scoring Bauers and putting the Rays ahead by a run.

Not content with just 39 steals on the season, Smith swiped second — his second of the game and 40th of the season. Smith’s 40 steals are the most for a Ray since Carl Crawford’s 47 and B.J. Upton’s 42 in 2010.

Pham — who had reached base in 33 consecutive games with his third-inning walk — tripled to left-center, stretching the lead to two runs before Wendle hit a sac fly to center, capping the three-run rally.

Still, the Blue Jays answered in the seventh inning against reliever Hunter Wood, the third Rays pitcher of the day. Wood walked Teoscar Hernandez, who went to third on a single to right by Rowdy Tellez. Hernandez ultimately came home on an RBI groundout by Aledmys Diaz to make it a two-run game.

However, the Rays tacked on three runs in the seventh on Brandon Lowe’s sac fly and Bauers’ two-run double, which put the Rays up by five. Both teams added a run on double-play groundouts the following inning.

All told, Tampa Bay collected 10 hits with three each from Bauers and Pham. Meanwhile, Austin Pruitt fired off 3-1/3 innings of one-run ball.

Wendle, who became the first Tampa Bay rookie hitter to hit .300 in a given season (and the first .300 hitter for Tampa Bay since Casey Kotchman in 2011), was lifted in the eighth inning to a standing ovation. He later came out for a curtain call.

At the end of the day, Tampa Bay’s 90 wins feels important. True, there really is not much of a difference between 90 wins and 89 wins, especially without the benefit of a postseason berth. Yet after a 1-8 and 4-13 start to the season, 90 wins feels like a revelation. Pair that with the fact that the Rays were in the running for a Wildcard spot with six games left to play, in the last week of the season. Fans and players alike caught a whiff of something they hadn’t in five long years. That whiff makes the team a much more formidable presence going into the 2019 season.

Rays skipper Kevin Cash likened it to laying the groundwork in his postgame presser, saying:

We should be very proud of the way we played this year. The things we accomplished. The groundwork we laid. But we’re not satisfied. … We need to go into this offseason, enjoy ourselves, take a month, then get back after it.

Jake Bauers responded in kind:

I’m excited to be a part of this whole organization. This is a great group of coaches. We have a great manager and a great group of 40 guys. Any time you’re generally excited to go to work and you’re excited about being able to hang out with your boys, your buddies, just go have fun and have baseball be enjoyable with guys you actually like, it’s a huge thing. We’re looking forward to next year.

So are we, Jake.

LBWMF: Rays look to bounce back on Saturday following a 7-6 loss to the Jays

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Tyler Glasnow (on the mound) allowed three runs across 5-1/3 innings Friday night. (Photo Credit: X-Rays Spex)

The Tampa Bay Rays got off to a good start on Friday yet couldn’t finish off the Toronto Blue Jays. The Rays squandered three leads in the 7-6 loss, leaving them with no wiggle room for mulligans in the quest for 90 wins with just two games left to play.

After a terrific month-long stretch of play, Tampa Bay has dropped four of five.

The Rays took a three-run lead in the first inning against southpaw Thomas Pannone, who previously held them to just two runs. Mallex Smith led off the game with a triple to left-centerfield, while Tommy Pham walked — extending his on-base streak to 30 games.

Joey Wendle drove in the Rays first run when he doubled down the left field line, plating Smith from third and moving Pham up 180 feet.

CJ Cron was next, sending a sacrifice fly to left and pushing the lead to 2-0. Finally, Willy Adames capped the inning with an RBI single to right-center.

Yet Toronto immediately answered against Tyler Glasnow when Teoscar Hernandez homered to right-center on the first pitch of the second inning, drawing the Blue Jays within two.

Still, the Rays stretched the lead back to three runs in the fifth inning after Smith reached on an infield hit. Even though it appeared that he was picked off first, the throw to second went off of Richard Urena’s glove which allowed Smith to scamper into third on what was scored a stolen base and an error.

Pham followed with a sac fly to right for a 4-1 advantage. However, the Blue Jays tied the game in the sixth.

Rowdy Tellez started the rally with a homer to right, then with one out Reese McGwire singled and Dwight Smith Jr. walked, chasing Glasnow. Enter Adam Kolerek.

Even though McGwire was thrown out trying to advance to third for the second out, Urena singled to left — putting two on for second baseman Jon Berti, who punched a ground ball into center field for a hit. Both Smith and Urena scored as the throw came in to second.

Tampa Bay was able to take the lead back in the bottom of the inning. Willy Adames led off with a walk, moved up to third on a one-out single to right by Austin Meadows, and came home on a safety squeeze bunt single by catcher Adam Moore off reliever Jake Petricka.

Be that as it may, the Rays scored just the one run in the frame, which allowed Toronto to take the lead back for good in the top of the seventh.

Chaz Roe started the inning by allowing a leadoff hustle double to left-center to Kevin Pillar. Yangervis Solarte grounded to third, as Roe was pulled in favor of Jose Alvarado. Tellez grounded to second but Brandon Lowe committed his first big league error, putting runners on the corners with one out. Hernandez walked to load the bases before pinch-hitter Randall Grichuk cleared the bases with a three-run triple to right.

Tampa Bay was able to get within a run on a no-doubter to center by Adam Moore, his first MLB homer in six seasons.

Smith, who was a homer* shy of the cycle, then doubled to left-center off Jose Fernandez, leading John Gibbons to call upon Ryan Tepera, the sixth pitcher of the night for Toronto. Tepera struck out Pham and Wendle and got CJ Cron to fly to right, ending the threat.

Ken Giles closed out the game with a scoreless ninth.

*Smith crushed a ball to the deepest part of the park in the sixth, just shy of the wall in center.

The New What Next

The second game of the series is on Saturday as Blake Snell (21-5, 1.90 ERA) makes his final start of 2018 opposite of fellow southpaw Ryan Borucki (4-5, 3.76 ERA).

Snell blanked Toronto across 6-2/3 innings on Sunday, allowing three hits and two walks. He struck out 11. The southpaw was outstanding once again, winning his ninth consecutive start. Snell relinquished just three singles and during his nine-start winning streak has given up only six earned runs in 46 innings. He has a sterling 1.90 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP this season.

For Snell, who became the Rays’ third starting pitcher to win the team MVP award on Friday (joining Tanyon Sturtze in 2001 and James Shields in 2011), consider this his final tuneup ahead of a potential Cy Young Award win.

Borucki was dealt a loss on Sunday even though he allowed just two runs on three hits and four walks while striking out seven over seven innings. Borucki was solid once again, limiting the opposition to two runs or fewer for his fourth straight start. Borucki was nicked for RBI doubles in the fourth and sixth innings, saddling him with the loss. He is 0-2 but with a 2.77 ERA against the Rays this season. Key Matchups: Carlos Gomez (1-2), Tommy Pham (1-4, 2 BB), Joey Wendle (1-4, 2B, RBI, 2 BB)

Rays 9/29/18 Starting Lineup

Smith CF
Pham LF
Adames SS
Cron 1B
Lowe 2B
Gomez RF
Meadows DH
Sucre C
Velazquez 3B
Snell LHP

You can read about the series in our preview.

The New What Next: Rays vs Blue Jays — the final series preview of the regular season

The New What Next: Rays vs Blue Jays — the final series preview of the regular season

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Tommy Pham and the Tampa Bay Rays look to end the 2018 campaign on a high note this weekend. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays are ready to open their season-ending series on Friday against the Toronto Blue Jays at Tropicana Field. Both teams are coming off series losses to the Yankees and Astros (respectively).

(Stats Credit: ESPN)

The Rays are looking to close the book on a stellar second half after starting the season with a disappointing 4-13 overall record. Tampa Bay has a legitimate shot of winning 90 games for the first time since 2013, making the small market heroes a popular pick to sneak into the postseason in 2019. More than that though, the players are looking to set some individual achievements this weekend.

Blake Snell will take the hill on Saturday with one last start to solidify his AL Cy Young Award bid. 1B/DH C.J. Cron, who had hit 16 homers in each of his three seasons with Los Angeles, enters the series with 29 and a shot to get over 30. 3B Matt Duffy has a chance to become the first qualifying Ray (3.1 plate appearance per team game, 502 for a full season) to hit .300 in seven years, since Casey Kotchman in 2011. Then there is Joey Wendle, who is vying for an AL Rookie of the Year nomination.

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

Recently-acquired OF Tommy Pham has been on fire since coming over at the trade deadline. Pham is batting a healthy .346 with seven home runs, seven doubles, and five triples as a member of the Rays, sporting a 2.3 fWAR and a 1.087 OPS in 35 games with his new team.

But Pham insisted you have not seen the best of him yet in an interview with the Tampa Bay Times, saying:

Offensively, I’m still trying to figure out some things. And I think when I do figure it out, whether it be this year or the offseason because it will be figured out before next season, I think I could truly be the player I think I’m capable of being. I just haven’t figured out how to fix myself just yet.

I have a lot of ability. The key to this game is just putting it all together. The guys that are really good in this game, they know how to put it together. And when you showcase it consistently, you get the great you. I haven’t showcased my ability consistently like I did last year. … The key is being consistent all year.

Pitching Probables

Over the next three days Kevin Cash will lean on Tyler Glasnow (2-7, 4.23 ERA), Blake Snell (21-5, 1.90 ERA), and an as of now unnamed array of hurlers in the season finale. John Gibbons, who could be managing in his last series with Toronto, will counter with Thomas Pannone (4-1, 3.86 ERA), Ryan Borucki (4-5, 3.76 ERA), and Marco Estrada (7-14, 5.64 ERA).

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

Tyler Glasnow took the loss to the Blue Jays on Saturday despite throwing a quality start. The right-hander allowed six hits (including a home run) and two walks while striking out six across six innings. Glasnow gave up all three runs in the fourth inning on a Rowdy Tellez two-run homer and Reese McGuire’s run-scoring double. It was his fourth quality start in five outings although he is just 1-5 in his last six turns on the mound.

Thomas Pannone earned the win Saturday against Tampa Bay, pitching 6-2/3 innings while allowing two runs on six hits (including two home runs) and three walks. He struck out five. Pannone has won each of his last three outings, all quality starts. He, however, has struck out only 6.2 batters per nine innings and doesn’t boast much velocity (88.4 mph average before Saturday’s outing). The Rays seek to pay him back. Key Matchups: Willy Adames (2-5), CJ Cron (1-2, BB), Brandon Lowe (1-2), Tommy Pham (1-3, HR, RBI), Mallex Smith (2-4, 2B), Jesus Sucre (1-3, HR, RBI), Joey Wendle (1-4, 2B, 2 RBI, BB)

Blake Snell blanked Toronto across 6-2/3 innings on Sunday, allowing three hits and two walks. He struck out 11. The southpaw was outstanding once again, winning his ninth consecutive start. Snell relinquished just three singles and during his nine-start winning streak has given up only six earned runs in 46 innings. He has a sterling 1.90 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP this season.

Ryan Borucki was dealt a loss on Sunday even though he allowed just two runs on three hits and four walks while striking out seven over seven innings. Borucki was solid once again, limiting the opposition to two runs or fewer for his fourth straight start. Borucki was nicked for RBI doubles in the fourth and sixth innings, saddling him with the loss. He is 0-2 but with a 2.77 ERA against the Rays this season. Key Matchups: Carlos Gomez (1-2), Tommy Pham (1-4, 2 BB), Joey Wendle (1-4, 2B, RBI, 2 BB)

TBA

Marco Estrada allowed four runs on seven hits and one walk across 4-2/3 innings. He struck out one. Estrada got off to a rocky start, giving up a run in the first inning, two in the second and another in the third. Two of the four runs allowed came via the home-run ball. Estrada owns a 5.64 ERA and 103 strikeouts across 143-2/3 frames in what could be his final outing as a Blue Jay. Key Matchups: Willy Adames (1-1, 2B, BB), Ji-Man Choi (2-5, 2 HR, 3 RBI), CJ Cron (2-7, HR, 3 RBI, BB), Matt Duffy (2-6, 2B, 3 RBI), Carlos Gomez (3-6, BB), Jesus Sucre (1-2, HR, RBI)

Noteworthiness

— Kevin Kiermaier was shut down for the rest of the season after he was hit on the foot by an 84 mph slider from Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka on Wednesday.

It didn’t feel good from the start, Kiermaier said. I hate coming out of games and I wanted to try and tough it out.

After being pulled from the game in the third inning, an X-ray revealed a hairline fracture in a small bone on the side of the foot.

It’s just an unfortunate way for me to end the season but that’s kind of my 2018, in a nutshell, Kiermaier said. I feel like everything that could’ve went wrong for me did.

I just want to let everyone know that I wasn’t the player that I know I could have been this, obviously the worst of my career dating back my whole life, ever since I was born. I take my job and what I do very seriously. But it seems like every ball I hit hard this year was an out. Every diving play that could have been made was made on me. And of course an 84 mph slider breaks a bone in my foot.

— Matt Duffy left Wednesday’s game after the first inning with right quad tightness that he said had been bothering him for several days. Duffy said he isn’t ruling out returning this weekend although he is going to be cautious.

The New What Next: Rays vs Yankees, one last time — a series preview

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Tommy Pham scored on a sixth-inning double by CJ Cron on Sunday. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

Following their 5-2 win in the road finale against the Blue Jays on Sunday, the Tampa Bay Rays returned home to the friendly confines of Tropicana Field ahead of a four-game series against the New York Yankees. In spite of the two tough losses in Toronto, the Rays won five of seven during their last road trip of the season. The Yankees took two of three from the lowly Orioles, yet fell 6-3 on Sunday. They are 5-5 in their last 10 games and 10-10 over a 20-game stretch.

(Stats Credit: ESPN)

The Rays remain mathematically alive in the AL Wildcard race, although they will need a lot of help from Seattle this week, as they sit 6.5 games behind the Oakland Athletics for the final Wildcard spot with 7 games remaining. However, Tampa Bay’s tragic number is down to one, meaning one more Oakland win or Rays loss officially ends it.

There is still a way the Rays can make it to the playoffs, albeit one that is absolutely improbable: Tampa Bay must win all seven games on their homestand against the Yankees and Blue Jays, while the Athletics must lose the final six games of their season. The odds of that happening are astronomical, to say the least.

Still, as Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) opined, the Rays might be motivated to make life tough on the rival Yankees, who are trying to keep the home-field advantage in the AL Wildcard game. On top of that, the team has a chance to finish with 90-plus wins, thus defying even the bullish 85-win PECOTA projection from February. And while that may not offer much solace to the casual fan, two things bear mentioning:

  1. The Rays are a young team with a high upside for years to come. A successful season at the big league level will go a long way for the kids.
  2. The last time the Rays put together a 90+ win campaign without the benefit of a trip to the playoffs (in 2012), they played relevant games past September 30 the following season — a game 163 tie-breaker, and the subsequent Wildcard win thrust them into the ALDS against Boston.

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

As has been the case for the second half of the season (.268 BA/.346 OBP/.430 SLG/.776 OPS/.336 wOBA/115 +wRC for Tampa Bay vs .242 BA/.326 OBP/.424 SLG/.750 OPS/.325 wOBA/103 wRC+ for New York) the Rays have outperformed the Yankees offensively over the last 14 days. The question begs, however: Can the Rays continue their recent dominance over the Yankees? Tampa Bay has won eight of the last 10 games against the Bronx Bummers after starting the season 0-5. Moreover, the Rays are 5-1 against the Yankees at home.

Pitching Probables

Note: It is rather difficult to project who will take the mound over the life of the series since only one hurler has been named; Diego Castillo (3-2, 3.25 ERA) will open the series for the Rays. Beyond that, it’s a reasonable assumption the below-listed hurlers will toe the rubber for dueling foes this week, based on when they last pitched. This projection is in no way, shape, or form set in stone. I will make note of any changes as they are announced, either in this series preview or in subsequent articles.

Kevin Cash could lean primarily on Ryan Yarbrough (15-5, 3.88 ERA), Yonny Chirinos (4-5, 3.68 ERA), Jalen Beeks (5-1, 5.36 ERA), and Tyler Glasnow (2-7, 4.23 ERA) over the next four days. Aaron Boone could counter with Luis Severino (18-8, 3.38 ERA), Masahiro Tanaka (12-5, 3.67 ERA), CC Sabathia (8-7, 3.77 ERA), and Lance Lynn (9-10, 4.80 ERA).

(Stats Credit: ESPN)

Diego Castillo has been the Rays’ opener on 10 occasions so far this season, and Monday will mark the 11th. Castillo allowed one run on one hit (a home run) in one inning of work on Friday. Otherwise, the right-hander has given up just two runs in his last eight appearances (totaling 11-2/3 innings) while striking out 15 and walking just two (a 7.5 K/BB over that stretch).

Ryan Yarbrough picked up his 15th win of the season on Wednesday, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks across four innings. He struck out six. The southpaw wasn’t exactly sharp, but he was able to pick up the win thanks to a plethora of run support from Tampa Bay’s offense. Working primarily as a long reliever, the southpaw has posted a 3.88 ERA and 1.28 WHIP with 123 strikeouts across 139-1/3 innings this season.

Luis Severino picked up his 18th win on the season on Wednesday, allowing one run on six hits and one walk across seven innings. He collected six punch outs. Severino was in control all along, allowing just one extra-base hit en route to his first win, and quality start, of September. Prior to Wednesday’s outing, the right-hander hadn’t completed seven innings since August 8. Severino has now allowed just two runs over his last two starts (totaling 12-2/3 innings). He is 2-1 with a 3.54 ERA in three starts against the Rays this season, but 0-1 with a 10.80 ERA at the Trop after a disastrous five-inning, six-run outing on July 23. Key Matchups: Jake Bauers (3-5, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, BB), Matt Duffy (2-8), Carlos Gomez (1-4), Mallex Smith (3-10, 2B) 

Yonny Chirinos tossed 4-2/3 scoreless innings, yet took a no-decision on Thursday, allowing just one hit and a walk while striking out five. After the “opener” Ryne Stanek allowed three straight hits to start the second inning, Chirinos came in and shut the Blue Jays down. The 24-year-old now owns a 3.68 ERA and would’ve earned the victory had it not been for a ninth-inning bullpen meltdown.

Masahiro Tanaka allowed five earned runs on eight hits and no walks while striking out three across four innings on Thursday against the Red Sox. Tanaka never got comfortable on the mound, allowing at least one earned run in three of the four innings he completed. It was his highest earned run total since August 10, and the first time he has not worked at least five innings in his last eight turns. The right-hander is 1-1 with a 1.20 ERA against the Rays this season, including a complete game shutout on July 24. Key Matchups: CJ Cron (3-6, 2B), Carlos Gomez (3-10, 2B, RBI, BB), Kevin Kiermaier (7-22, 2B, 3B, HR, RBI, BB), Brandon Lowe (1-2, 2B), Tommy Pham (2-3, 2B, RBI), Jesus Sucre (2-5, 2B, RBI), Joey Wendle (2-3, 2B, RBI)

Jalen Beeks allowed two runs on two hits (two solo home runs) across three innings on Friday. That outing came on the heels of a two-inning shutout appearance on Wednesday in Arlington. Beeks hasn’t given up a ton of runs, just six in his last seven appearances, however, he also has thrown more than four innings just once (8/24 vs Boston).

CC Sabathia allowed two runs on six hits and three walks while striking out five across six innings in a win against Baltimore on Friday. The southpaw surrendered a two-run single in the fifth inning but exited the ballgame with a four-run lead after throwing 59 of 97 pitches for strikes (61% strike rate). Sabathia was coming off a seven-run, 2-1/3 inning outing — his shortest start of the season. He has posted a 3.77 ERA and 1.35 WHIP with 135 strikeouts through 148 innings this season. Sabathia is 0-2 with a 2.77 ERA in two starts against the Rays this season. Key Matchups: Willy Adames (2-6, RBI), Matt Duffy (5-9, 2 RBI), Carlos Gomez (9-21, 2B, HR, 2 RBI), Kevin Kiermaier (5-16, 2 HR, 2 RBI), Adam Moore (1-2)  

Tyler Glasnow took the loss to the Blue Jays on Saturday despite giving up three runs in six innings. He allowed six hits (including a home run) and two walks while fanning six. The right-hander gave up all three runs in the fourth inning on Rowdy Tellez’s two-run homer and Reese McGuire’s run-scoring double. Glasnow notched his fourth quality start in five outings although he is 1-5 in his last six turns.

Lance Lynn didn’t factor into the decision on Saturday, allowing two runs (one earned) in five innings. He allowed seven hits and two walks while striking out four along the way. Lynn has worked either five or six innings and given up two or fewer runs in each of his last three starts. He has done just enough to eat innings at the back end of New York’s rotation with questionable depth. In spite of a 4.80 ERA and 4.39 BB/9 on the season, he’s fanned 9.20 batters per nine across 153-2/3 innings. Lynn last faced the Rays on April 20, in a 6 IP/7 H/5 R/5 BB outing. Key Matchups: Matt Duffy (2-6), Kevin Kiermaier (2-6, 2B), Tommy Pham (1-2), Mallex Smith (1-2, BB), Joey Wendle (1-3)