The Rays acquired LHP Wesley Wright off waivers Monday. Wright averaged a strikeout an inning while making 54 appearances, most for a lefty in the American League.
The Rays acquired LHP Wesley Wright off waivers Monday. Wright averaged a strikeout an inning while making 54 appearances, most for a lefty in the American League.

The Tampa Bay Rays return to the friendly confines of the big top Tuesday, kicking off a six game home stand with a three-game set against the Seattle Mariners  — marking the start of a rigorous 46-games-in-48-days schedule leading up to the end of the season. Tampa Bay is slated to go on five more road trips in that 48-day stretch — including 10-game swing through Oakland, Anaheim and Seattle, and a one-day visit to Kansas City for a makeup game. 24 of those games are against teams they are competing directly with for the division or wild-card spots: seven with the Orioles, six with the Yankees, four with the Rangers, three each with the A’s and Red Sox, one with the Royals.

Though the Rays have hit .235 over the last nine games, the larger issue for Tampa Bay is the pitching. Rays skipper Joe Maddon has replaced his starter before the fifth inning six times in a nine game stretch, prior to which Tampa Bay got at least five innings from its starter in 32 consecutive games. They’ve posted a 5.59 ERA all the while.

Rays over the last nine days. (Courtesy of Marc Topkin/Tampa Bay Times)
Rays over the last nine days. (Courtesy of Marc Topkin/Tampa Bay Times)

The pitching and hitting bugs have infected Tampa Bay at the same time, and what better opportunity for the Rays to sort it out than now? If the pitching rotation can shut down a very productive Mariners hitters, they will have a great opportunity to slip out of their current funk going into the gauntlet.

After culling together five consecutive losses for their longest losing streak of the season, facing the sub .500 Mariners could bode well for the Rays.

Rays and Mariners series starters.
Rays and Mariners series starters.
Rays and Mariners offensive production at home, away, and over the last 14 days.
Rays and Mariners offensive production at home, away, and over the last 14 days.
Rays and Mariners, by the numbers.
Rays and Mariners, by the numbers.

Erasmo Ramirez: Per Rotowire, “Ramirez allowed four runs on four hits in six innings against the Orioles on Saturday but still escaped with his third win of the season.” Ramirez last faced the Rays in May of 2012. Posting a 2/3 inning relief outing, the Mariners lefty faced four batters and gave up a hit. Ramirez has a fastball that averages between 91 and 94 mph, a filthy change-up that produces a swinging strike 26% of the time, and an effective slider that produces whiffs about 22% of the time.

Aaron Harang: Per Rotowire, “Harang was smacked around by the Blue Jays on Wednesday, allowing seven runs over two innings.” The Rays don’t have much experience against the former Dodgers starter. In short, Harang is an inconsistent pitcher who lets runners to reach base and allows them to score.

Joe Saunders: Per Rotowire, “Saunders gave up nine runs — four earned — on seven hits while going 4.1 innings against the Brewers in a losing effort Friday.” Saunders hasn’t faced the Rays in the last three years, though a handful of players have accumulated some good numbers against the Mariners 32 year-old LHP. Saunders likes to paint the peripherals of the zone against right handed hitters, while favoring the outside corner against lefties. Saunders leads with his fastball which sits in the 88-92 mph range, depends on his change-up 20% of the time, the follows with his curveball and slider in descending order. A caveat: His curveball and change-up tend to be weak pitches for Saunders — batters have a .343 BA against the curveball, and a .324 BA against his change-up. Key match-ups: Jason Bourgeois (3-4, 3B), Yunel Escobar (4-9), Kelly Johnson (2-6), James Loney (8-27, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, BB).

Noteworthiness

  • This is the first meeting this season between the Mariners and Rays. Seattle leads the series 73-62 overall, and 34-30 at Trop.
  • The Mariners have the highest percentage in the majors of runs scored via home runs: 47.4 (224 of 473).
  • The Rays have hit .235 with just three homers over the last nine games while scoring 24 runs.
  • Thursday marks the return of Alex Cobb. The Rays RHP has been on the DL since the middle of June after incurring a minor concussion after being hit by a line drive come backer. It has been widely speculated that Hernandez will be removed from the starting rotation in some capacity.
  • We reported Monday that the Rays have acquired 28 year-old LHP reliever Wesley Wright from the Houston Astros for cash considerations. The Rays have sent Josh Lueke back to Triple-A Durham to make room for Wright on the roster.

 

 

 

 

Leave a comment