Another day, another disappointing performance on both sides of the plate. Tampa Bay continues its 10-game road trip Friday, making the trek north to Seattle to take on the Mariners in a three-game set following a 6-2 loss against the Angels in the series finale. The latest late night loss hurt, but the opportunity to bounce back against Seattle is promising. The Mariners are another sub .500 team, and a series win would give Tampa Bay an opportunity to come home on a wave of momentum. Then again, the Angels also are rocking a sub .500 record, and we all saw that that series went.
Winners of four of their last 10, the Mariners are succeeding at one thing, and one thing only: Tanking. Cough, I’d imagine that they might be vying for one of the coveted ten spots designated for bottom of the barrel teams that would benefit from non-compensatory free agency. I digress. Then again, if the Rays record in the last ten games is indicative of anything, it’s that they have actually played worse than the Mariners over that stretch — winning a lowly three games, while averaging 2.8 runs per game. Ouch. At least the Mariners are hitting homers.
Hisashi Iwakuma: Per Rotowire, “Iwakuma (12-6) got the win Wednesday, holding the A’s to three runs over seven innings, striking out four.” Tampa Bay has faced Iwakuma once back in 2012, in an outing where he relinquished two earned runs in six innings of work. Iwakuma is a consistent pitcher, though that’s not to say he hasn’t given up his fair share of runs — Iwakuma’s given up four or more runs in seven different outings. However, with a 2.92 ERA and a .222 OBA, the Rays don’t have an easy task ahead of them. Key match-ups: Yunel escobar (1-2, BB), Kelly Johnson (2-4, 2B), Matt Joyce (1-3), Luke Scott (1-3), Ben Zobrist (2-3, 2B).
James Paxton: According to Scouting Book, recent call-up James Paxtons “mid-nineties stuff and sick breaking ball hasn’t yet translated to many overpowering performances, but he looked solid enough in a full season of AA ball in 2012, striking out 110 in 106 innings while posting a 3.05 ERA. His 54 walks (and concomitant 1.411 WHIP) should give touts pause, however: he needs to rein in that control if he’s going to excel in MLB anytime soon.”
Erasmo Ramirez: Per Rotowire, “Ramirez allowed 10 baserunners (seven hits, three walks) in 6.1 innings Tuesday against the Royals, but limited the damage to three runs. He struck out three and didn’t receive a decision in the eventual loss.” Tampa Bay beat Ramirez back in August, in a 5.1 inning outing where he gave up four runs on seven hits and a walk. Ramirez has looked good since that fateful outing, averaging two runs per game in his last four starts. Key match-ups: Yunel Escobar (3-5, 2B, RBI), Matt Joyce (1-3), James Loney (1-3, RBI), Evan Longoria (1-3), Ben Zobrist (3-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI).
Noteworthiness
- The Mariners have gone 8-12 since they faced the Rays in August. The Rays have gone 9-11.
- Bright side: Tampa Bay doesn’t have to face King Felix in this series — he’s out due to back spasms.
- Oof. Evan Longoria’s next strikeout with be his career-high 141st of the season.
- The Mariners have scored six runs in each of their last two games after totaling seven over their previous four contests.
- Seattle leads the major leagues with 25 first-inning home runs. Then again, the Rays have a pair of ground-ball pitchers on the mound Friday and Saturday — keep the ball down, boys.
- Per DRaysBay, “The Mariners bullpen leads all of major league baseball in K/9 at 9.74. Danny Farquhar ranks 3rd (13.50), Oliver Perez ranks 7th at 12.73, and Charlie Furbush ranks 12th at 11.62. Carter Capps has inherited 22 runners and only allowed 2 to score giving him the 4th best strand rate at 90.9% (minimum 20 inherited runners).”