Back at it Tuesday, the Tampa Bay Rays will start a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox following a crushing series sweep at the hands of the New York Yankees. At 1-6 at Tropicana Field, one can’t help but think the Rays are off to a slow start at home, and they’ll look to begin turning things around, starting Tuesday. Despite that lackadaisical start, Tampa Bay has won eight of the last 11 meetings against the Red Sox at home, going 7-3 at the Trop last season.
The Boston Red Sox are trying to bounce back from a dismal 2014, and with their offseason moves many expect this team to slug their way to the American League East crown. While they are capable of scoring a lot of runs, Boston’s 8-5 record is a tad deceiving — both teams are fairly close to one another offensively speaking, while the Red Sox have scored only 12 more runs than Tampa Bay (an average of just under one more run per game).
Wade Miley vs. Chris Archer (Tuesday): Washington royally handed it to Miley in his last game, tagging the lefty for seven runs in 2-1/3 innings of work. The lefty struggled with fastball location and had a poor feel for his slider. Archer picked up his second win of the season in a dominant outing against Toronto on Thursday. He is 11-9 with a 3.61 ERA in 30 career starts at Tropicana Field, though he is 1-4 with a 6.03 ERA in seven career starts versus Boston.
Joe Kelly vs. Nathan Karns (Wednesday): Kelly has been impressive in his first two outings, notching a quality start against the Yankees before tossing 5-2/3 innings of two-run ball against Baltimore on Friday night. Karns held opponents to two runs in each of his past two starts. Despite control issues, resulting in 10 walks, Karns fanned 17 batters in 17-2/3 innings. This will be his first start against Boston.
Clay Buchholz vs. Jake Odorizzi: Buchholz allowed 11 hits in his Saturday start against the Orioles, yet worked around the traffic to allow only two earned runs allowed in six innings. It was his second quality start — by strict definition only — in three games. Odorizzi is 3-for-3 in quality starts to begin the season, with each start coming against an AL East opponent. His 0.68 WHIP ranks second in the AL, behind teammate Chris Archer. Odorizzi is 1-2 with a 4.32 ERA in five career starts against Boston.
Key Match-ups
Wade Miley: The 28 year-old Miley has allowed one run in 13-1/3 innings against Tampa Bay — all in 2013. Nevertheless the LHP walked five in 7-2/3 innings after issuing 75 free passes in 201-1/3 innings of work a year ago. Miley was essentially a two-pitch pitcher in 2014, throwing fastballs 61.2% of the time to set up his slider (thrown 25.8% of the time) — a potent mixture which coaxed a good number of whiffs on pitches outside of zone. Knowing that he tends to walk a lot of batters, the Rays can be successful against Miley if they can be patient and not chase pitches off the plate. Key match-ups: Logan Forsythe (3-8, HR, 3 RBI), Rene Rivera (3-6, 2B, 2 RBI).
Joe Kelly: Kelly’s repertoire features a power sinker (occasionally hitting 98), curve-ball, slider and change up. Kelly likes to get quick outs and put guys away with his whiffy off-speed stuff:
Key match-ups: Asdrubal Cabrera (1-3), David DeJesus (3-9, RBI, BB).
Clay Buchholz: You know him, you love the sheer amount of Alberto VO5 he puts in his hair, and you get to watch him in all of his intrinsic slowness in the series finale. Ladies and gentlemen, Clay Buchholz. Buchholz has been a chronic thorn in the side of the Rays, having gone 4-4 with a 2.91 since 2012. By now you know what to expect out of the fastball/cutter/curve-ball/change-up throwing pitcher that sets batters up on the right side of the plate, then catches swatting at a breaking pitches on the other side. Key match-ups: Asdrubal Cabrera (4-9, 2B, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB), David DeJesus (6-15, 2B, RBI, 3 BB), Kevin Kiermaier (1-4).
Noteworthiness
- Archer had the best WHIP in the majors (0.66) through Sunday’s games, shutting out his last two opponents with seven-inning gems, including an 11-strikeout effort against Toronto on Thursday. Despite that, Archer enters the series opener with a 1-4 record and a 6.03 ERA in seven career starts against Boston.
It’s hard to say, man, Archer told Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times). I’ve had a couple outings where I do well and a couple outings where I just don’t execute pitches. They have multiple guys in their lineup who can hurt you, just like every other team in the American League East.
- Steven Souza Jr. can become the fourth rookie in club history with more than 10 RBI in April — he currently sits at 10. Souza sits in good company, with Rocco Baldelli (2003), Delmon Young (2007) and Bobby Smith (1998).
- In the last seven games, Tampa Bay is batting .132 (7-for-53) with RISP. In 3-game sweep against the Yankees, they were 1-17, including 0-for-their-last 15.
- David Ortiz is 6-15 with a homer and eight RBI lifetime against Archer, whose ERA is 6.03 in seven outings versus Boston.
- Alex Colome was pretty inefficient in his first rehab start with the Triple-A Durham Bulls on Tuesday. Colome gave up one run on four hits and three walks in 3-1/3 IP, needing 77 pitches (47 strikes, 61% K/BB) throughout.