After matching a season high four consecutive wins to open an eight-game road trip, the Tampa Bay Rays dropped the final two games against the Tigers. They will attempt to brush off their shoulders when they head back to the Sunshine State, where they’ll take on that other domed Florida team ― the Miami Marlins.
Tampa Bay could be catching the Marlins at the right time as Miami has dropped four of five after an 8-2 home loss to Washington on Sunday. They’ve collected just nine runs in that span.
The Rays are hanging around the .500 mark despite injuries that have taken a pair of key players out of action ― Logan Forsythe, who is down for a few weeks with a fractured shoulder blade, and Kevin Kiermaier, who suffered a pair of fractures in his hand and is out indefinitely. They’ll have to find production from somewhere to replace those missing pieces. And though he hasn’t yet taken the mound this season, the specter of Alex Cobb, who remains on the shelf as he recovers from Tommy John surgery, haunts the team who could desperately use his consistency on the mound.
The Marlins have batted .163 with runners in scoring position in their last seven games (.188 in the series vs Washington). They’re also missing a key outfielder in Christian Yelich, who has an ailing back.
We’ll see how it goes, Yelich told reporters Sunday afternoon. My back is feeling all right. We’ll see what happens. It’s frustrating. … It’s day to day.
Still while the Marlins have better offensive peripherals over the last 14 days, the Rays have been much more productive ― plating 71 runs to Miami’s 45, and putting up a beastly .250 ISO. To that end, the Marlins have yet to figure out how to replace Dee Gordon ― an integral part of the team ― while he serves his 80 game suspension for a violation of the PED policy. And then there’s slugger Giancarlo Stanton, who’s 5-53 with 28 strikeouts over his last 15 games.
In 2015 the Rays went 5-1 against the Marlins, including five straight wins to cap the season series.
Rays skipper Kevin Cash will throw Matt Moore (1-3, 5.09 ERA), Jake Odoizzi (1-2, 3.81 ERA), Matt Andriese (3-0, 2.11 ERA) and Drew Smyly (2-5, 3.54 ERA) over the span of the series. Don Mattingly will counter with Wei-Yin Chen (3-2, 4.22 ERA), Tom Koehler (2-4, 4.71 ERA), Justin Nicolino (2-2, 4.30 ERA) and Jose Fernandez (6-2, 3.02 ERA).
Moore will get the start for the Rays on Monday, logging his ninth start of the year. Moore took a no-decision in his last outing, last Sunday. He allowed four runs on seven hits with one walk and three strikeouts in the game. Moore has faced the Marlins three times in his career, going 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA over 20 innings in those contests. He won his lone start at Marlins Park, allowing four runs on five hits with two walks and nine strikeouts over six innings in September 2015.
Odorizzi notched his first win of the season on Wednesday, though he only lasted five innings, allowing two runs on two hits and four walks while striking out just two. The win against Toronto was nice, but both hits Odorizzi allowed were homers ― he’s now given up five home runs in his last nine innings of work. Meanwhile, he’s struck out four or fewer hitters in five of his eight starts, and collected just eight strikeouts in total over his last three outings.
Andriese allowed four runs on five hits, walking two and fanning three while lasting just 5-1/3 innings in a win over Detroit on Friday night. The right hander won his third straight decision, but this one wasn’t a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination. He needed 92 pitches (59 for strikes) to record 16 outs, and he was frequently in trouble.
Smyly allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks while ringing up five over 6-1/3 innings. The left hander gave up a pair of homers to account for the three runs he allowed in the Rays’ loss. He’s now thrown seven quality starts over his last eight outings, and he boasts a 3.54 ERA to go along with a 1.04 WHIP.
Chen took the loss in his last start on Tuesday, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits with no walks and six strikeouts in the defeat. The 30 year-old lefty’s peripherals are strong, and he’s inducing groundballs at a career-high rate. Chen has faced Tampa Bay 19 times, going 5-6 with a 3.55 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP over 111-2/3 innings of work in those outings. He was 2-2 with a 4.19 ERA in six matchups last season. Key matchups: Tim Beckham (3-11, 2B, 3 RBI), Hank Conger (3-5, 2 2B, HR, RBI), Brandon Guyer (7-21, 3 2B), Desmond Jennings (8-30, 2 2B, HR, RBI, 3 BB), Evan Longoria (11-37, 4 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 6 BB), Logan Morrison (1-3), Steve Pearce (2-4, HR, 2 RBI)
Koehler allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits, while striking out four and walking five in a 4-2 loss to Philadelphia on Wednesday afternoon. He worked around three walks in the first two frames, allowing no runs, but couldn’t get around the lead off hitter reaching on an error in the third inning. All three runs scored against Koehler came in that inning. It was the second consecutive outing he’s allowed five walks. Koehler’s relied primarily on a 93 mph four seam fastball, and an 80 mph worm killer knuckle curveball this season. He’s also mixed in an 86 mph slider, and a whiffy 86 mph changeup. Key matchups: Corey Dickerson (2-3), Desmond Jennings (2-5)
Nicolino was handed a loss against Washington on Friday, allowing four runs on six hits over 5-1/3 innings. He struck out two without a walk, but was touched up for two homers in the outing. Through his first five turns in the Marlins rotation, the 24 year-old lefty has posted a 4.30 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over 29-1/3 innings. Nicolino has failed to complete six innings in either of his past two starts after doing so in each of his first three. This season Nicolino has relied primarily on his 89 mph sinker, while also mixing in an 83 mph changeup, a 90 mph four seam fastball, an 87 mph cutter, and a 78 mph curveball.
Fernandez allowed just one run on four hits and a walk, while striking out nine over six innings on Saturday against the Nationals. Fernandez allowed the Nats to take a one run lead before the Marlins scored three times prior to his exit to earn him the victory. He’s now held opponents to one or fewer runs in each of his last three outings, lowering his ERA to 3.02. The Rays tagged the righty for 11 hits (including a homer) in a games last season, although Fernandez only allowed two runs in that start. The tough righty has relied primarily on his strikeout inducing 96 mph four seam fastball, and a whiffy 84 mph curveball. He also tends to mix in an 88 mph changeup when he needs a ground ball. Key matchups: Desmond Jennings (1-1), Steven Souza Jr. (1-3)
Noteworthiness
― Winners and Whiners listed a few trends for the two teams.
Tampa Bay
- Rays are 1-4 in their last 5 games on grass
- Rays are 1-4 in their last 5 vs. a team with a winning record
- Rays are 1-7 in their last 8 interleague road games vs. a left-handed starter
Miami
- Marlins are 4-0 in their last 4 home games vs. a left-handed starter
- Marlins are 5-0 in their last 5 Monday games
- Marlins are 4-0 in their last 4 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30
― After allowing another homer in a critical late game situation, the Tampa Bay Rays announced that they have optioned RHP Steve Geltz to Triple-A Durham. The team corresponded by adding RHP Tyler Sturdevant.
In 14 appearances (spanning 17-1/3 innings) at Durham, Sturdevant is 1-0 with a 1.56 ERA. The righty has fanned 21 and collected a pair of saves, while allowing 12 hits.
For those of you pining for someone different, this move comes as a sigh of relief.