The slow grind toward the end of the season continues Thursday, when the Tampa Bay Rays welcome the Baltimore Orioles into the Trop for a four game series.
At 70-75, Tampa Bay starts the series one game behind the Orioles in the division. The Rays are coming off another disappointing series loss, this time at the hands of Yankees, and as with the series prior, the Rays could have walked away with at least two of three if not a sweep. Yet the same ol’ same plagued the good guys; despite opportunities a plenty to score runs, they went 2-23 with runners in scoring position. To be fair, the Orioles weren’t much against Boston, as they went 2-22 for a gaudy .091 BA wRISP. Still the Orioles won their series against the Red Sox, though Wednesday night’s 10-1 loss was pretty ugly. They have now won three consecutive series, and look to make it a fourth against the Rays.
Hey, at least Chris Archer set a milestone Wednesday. The righty fanned seven, and now with a total of 244 strikeouts (and counting) on the season, Archer became the Rays single-season strikeout leader ― surpassing Scott Kazmir who posted 239 in 2007.
Rays skipper Kevin Cash will start Matt Moore, Drew Smyly, Erasmo Ramirez, and Jake Odorizzi over the next four days.
Moore (1-4, 8.42 ERA) allowed a career-high four home runs Saturday against the Red Sox while throwing a season-high 95 pitches. The lefty has gone five innings or fewer in nine straight starts, which is the longest streak in franchise history. Smyly (2-2, 3.14 ERA) matched a career high 11 strikeouts (all swinging) Sunday against Boston. He has held opponents scoreless in three of his last six starts since returning from the 15-day DL in the middle of August. Ramirez (10-5, 3.75 ERA) came within six outs of a no-no against the Yankees on Monday night while pitching 7-2/3 innings ― his longest outing as a Ray, and the longest scoreless outing of his career. Odorizzi (8-8, 3.26 ERA) allowed three earned runs over six innings against the Yankees on Tuesday, picking up his eighth win and 16th quality start of the season.
Something to look forward to, the team announced they will re-sign 1B Carlos Pena to a one game contract on Friday so he can retire as a Ray.
A key part of the Rays transformation, Pena hit a team-record 46 homers in 2007 after inking a minor-league deal and making the team at the end of spring training. He is the only player to lead the Rays in homers in four different seasons and holds team records for the most:
- RBI in a season 121
- Walks 103
- SLG .627
- OBP .411
Pena won his first Silver Slugger award in 2007, first Gold Glove in 2008, was a 2009 All-Star.
‘Los was quoted as saying,
What the Rays mean to me is something that’s almost impossible to put into words. The most fun I ever had playing baseball was in a Rays uniform.
Pena went on to tell Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) that his agent suggested the idea of retiring with Tampa Bay, and he was touched that Sternberg and company were so receptive.
Chris Tillman (9-11, 5.21 ERA) allowed four runs on four hits and two walks over 5-1/3 innings while fanning just three in a no-decision against the Royals on Saturday. Despite carrying a 4-1 lead into the sixth, Tillman and the Orioles bullpen coughed up five runs in the inning. He’s seeking his first win in a month. Tillman is 5-9 with a .357 ERA in 19 career starts against Tampa Bay, and 1-3 with a 4.80 ERA this season. Key matchups: JP Arencibia (4-16, HR, 4 RBI, BB), Joey Butler (2-3, 2B), Logan Forsythe (6-17, 2 2B, RBI), Brandon Guyer (3-8), Evan Longoria (16-46, 4 2B, 6 HR, 9 RBI, 5 BB), Daniel Nava (9-36, 4 2B, 5 BB), Steven Souza Jr. (3-12, 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI).
Wei-Yin Chen (9-7, 3.44 ERA) held Kansas City to two runs over seven innings in a win Sunday. Chen fanned just two batters that night, yet he was able to keep the Royals off balance by mixing his slider and change up throughout the night. At one point, Chen retired 10 consecutive batters before allowing a double in the seventh. However, the lefty was able to finish the inning without much damage. Chen holds a 4-6 record and a 3.70 ERA in 18 overall starts against the Rays, and is 1-2 with a 4.94 ERA this season. Key matchups: JP Arencibia (2-2, RBI), Tim Beckham (3-11, 2B, 2 RBI), Joey Butler (3-12, 2B, HR, RBI), Logan Forsythe (10-25, 2 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 3 BB), Brandon Guyer (6-19, 3 2B), Kevin Kiermaier (4-10, 3B, HR, 2 RBI), James Loney (7-21, 2 2B, HR, RBI), Evan Longoria (10-34, 3 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 6 BB), Daniel Nava (7-17, HR, 3 RBI, BB), Rene Rivera (2-8, 2B).
Kevin Gausman (3-6, 4.14 ERA) tossed six shutout innings Monday, scattering two hits while walking four and striking out seven in a 2-0 victory over the Red Sox. It was Gausman’s first win since August 1, although he’s tossed four quality starts in that stretch. His four walks allowed Monday is somewhat an anomaly ― the righty has walked two batters or less in 13 of his 14 starts. The 24 year-old righty is 2-3 with a 6.19 ERA lifetime against the Rays. And while he holds a 1-0 record against Tampa Bay this season, the Rays tagged him for four runs on eight hits in just 2-1/3 innings on September 2nd. Key matchups: JP Arencibia (3-5, 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI), Logan Forsythe (2-2, 2B, BB), Brandon Guyer (3-5, 3 2B, RBI, John Jaso (2-8, 3B, 2 RBI), Kevin Kiermaier (4-13, HR, 2 RBI), James Loney (5-14, 2 RBI, 2 BB), Evan Longoria (4-15, 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 3 BB).
Ubaldo Jimenez (11-9, 4.31) did not factor into the decision in Tuesday’s 6-5 defeat of the Red Sox. He surrendered six hits, four earned runs, and three walks in five innings, while striking out four. Jimenez was fairly sharp in spite of the three walks, with 58 of his 91 pitches going for strikes (16 of the 24 first pitch strikes). He also managed to keep the ball in the park, marking the second time in his last three starts he has not surrendered a home run after yielding at least one in four consecutive starts at the end of August. Jimenez has been very good against Tampa Bay over his career, collecting a 4-1 record with a minuscule 2.56 ERA over five starts. The Rays have not faced the 31 year-old righty this season. Key matchup: Daniel Nava (4-12, 3 2B, 4 RBI, 2 BB).
Noteworthiness
― This is the last time the two will face off with one another this year.