The Tampa Bay Rays made their way to Baltimore, for their first road-trip of the season, where they’ll take on the Orioles over the course of the next three days.
Tampa Bay is coming off a series split with the Toronto Blue Jays, while Baltimore swept the Minnesota Twins in its Opening Series.
In the previous series, the new look Rays did what they are wont to do against the Blue Jays: pitch the ball well. To put things into perspective, Tampa Bay held one of the most powerful teams to a .213 BA/.275 OBP/.353 SLG/.628 OPS/.276 wOBA/12 wRC/79 wRC+ slash line. They fanned the Jays 30.9% of the time, including a 33.7% strikeout rate by the starting rotation.
The bullpen was pretty impressive as well, with the only blip coming when Ryan Webb allowed a two-run shot to Troy Tulowitzki in the season opener. Otherwise, the relievers relinquished no runs over 13-2/3 combined innings of work, while walking just 5.9% of opposing batters.
Like the Blue Jays, the Orioles roster is chocked full of home run hitters. Consider this: six players ― Manny Machado, Adam Jones, Chris Davis, Mark Trumbo, Pedro Alvarez and Jonathan Schoop ― are projected to hit 20+ homers in 2016. However, there is a rather important facet of the team that is lacking, their pitching staff.
Baltimore’s rotation was middle of the pack last season, ranking 18th lowest in the majors. Yet the Orioles lost a pair of pitchers ― Wei-Yin Chen and Miguel Gonzalez ― which weakened their already average rotation. Mike Wright, who ended last season with a 6+ ERA and FIP over 12 games (45 innings), and Tyler Wilson have taken over those spots in the rotation ― both could be considered unknown quantities.
It will be up to Chris Archer, Drew Smyly and Jake Odorizzi to suppress the power hitting Orioles. Steven Souza Jr., Corey Dickerson, Logan Forsythe and Evan Longoria likewise need to do yeoman’s work against Tillman, Wright and Wilson.
Pitching matchups
Archer vs Tillman: Archer took the loss Sunday after allowing two earned runs on five hits and three walks while fanning 12. The final nine outs of his five-inning stint coming via the strikeout. Tillman will make his second start of the season opposite of Archer. The righty went two innings on Opening Day, striking out five of six batters faced during the rain delayed game. Tillman has a decent enough repertoire; a 95 mph fastball, a 78 mph knuckle curveball, and an 88 mph cutter. However, after a 23 point spike in his BABIP, Tillman has a lot to prove. Tampa Bay fared well against the righty last season, tagging Tillman with a 1-3 record and a 4.79 ERA in 35-2/3 innings of work. Key matchups: Tim Beckham (1-4, RBI), Hank Conger (1-4), Logan Forsythe (6-20, 2 2B, RBI), Brandon Guyer (3-11), Evan Longoria (16-49, 4 2B, 6 HR, 9 RBI, 5 BB), Logan Morrison (1-4), Steven Souza Jr. (3-12, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB)
Smyly vs Wright: Smyly allowed three homer in a 5-3 loss to Toronto on Monday night, the most he’s allowed in a game since May 26, 2014. He is 4-0 with a 1.82 ERA in eight career appearances against Baltimore. Wright went 2-2 with a 4.79 ERA in six Spring starts, pitching 20-2/3 innings with six walks and 17 strikeouts. In 2015, he relied primarily on his 95 mph four seam fastball, while also mixing in an 84 mph slider, 92 mph sinker and 81 mph changeup. Only one Ray has faced Wright, Hank Conger. Key matchup: Conger (1-1, 2B, BB)
Odorizzi vs Wilson: Despite allowing just one earned run in his first outing of the season, Odorizzi came away with a no-decision against Toronto on Wednesday. The lanky right-hander went 2-0 with a 3.93 ERA in three starts against Baltimore last season. Wilson was added to the Orioles’ rotation after they released Gonzalez prior to the start of the season. Tampa Bay tagged the 26 year-old righty with six earned runs on eight hits in 4-1/3 innings of work (over one start) last season. Wilson boasts a 92 mph four seam fastball and an 80 mph slider, while also mixing in a 90 mph sinker. Key matchups: Tim Beckham (1-2, HR, 2 RBI), Brad Miller (1-1)
Noteworthiness
― Tampa Bay is 4-1 in the last five meetings in Baltimore. They are also 7-3 in their last 10 games vs. a right handed starter. Meanwhile, Baltimore is 1-4 in Tillman’s last five starts against the Rays, and 4-9 in Tillman’s last 13 starts against the AL East.
― The Orioles are chasing their “second 4-0 start in 20 years and has won 13 of 17 at home dating back to a 7-6, 11-inning win against Tampa Bay on Sept,” writes Jordan Garretson (Stats LLC).
― Outfielder Adam Jones sat out Thursday due to sore ribs. He is expected to return on Friday.
― The Rays claimed 1B/OF Jake Goebbert off waivers from Pittsburgh. Goebbert has been optioned to Triple-A Durham.
The left-handed-hitting Goebbert spent last season with the Padres’ Triple-A affiliate, where he slashed .294 BA/.392 OBP/.452 SLG/.844 OPS with 10 home runs. Goebbert has long shown a discerning eye at the plate, walking 11.1% of the time over his seven year career. Goebbert has big league experience, and will give Tampa Bay some additional depth in the outfield corners and at first base.
— Rays players kicked off their first road-trip together with dinner in Baltimore. (Photo Credit: Tim Beckham)