The Tampa Bay Rays are set to wrap up their current nine-game homestand on Wednesday with an opportunity to sweep the Kansas City Royals. A win on Wednesday would also give them a shot at a winning stretch at the Trop; Tampa Bay is 4-4 so far.
Per Neil Solondz (Rays Radio) the 16-8 start for the Rays is just one game shy of the franchise-best over 24 games, set in 2010. Tampa Bay has won 10 straight games against the Royals now dating back to 2017. The Rays also are 5-0 this year against the AL Central.
The Rays welcomed Blake Snell back to the active roster after spending the minimum number of days on the Injured List (10) with a fractured toe. To make room for the Rays ace, Austin Pruitt was optioned back to Triple-A Durham after he allowed two runs in Tuesday night’s 5-2 contest against the Royals. Hunter Wood has been moved to the Family Medical Emergency List. Finally, the Rays have activated Ji-Man Choi from the Restricted List and optioned Andrew Velazquez back to Durham.
Tampa Bay also has plenty of bullpen depth behind Snell, writes Solondz. Ryan Yarbrough has not been used this series, and Diego Castillo and Jose Alvarado each have been off the last two days. The Rays have an off day tomorrow.
The New What Next
Blake Snell (2-1, 2.16 ERA) will get the start in the finale opposite of Jake Junis (1-2, 6.26 ERA).
Blake Snell threw six shutout innings in his last start, allowing just one hit and one walk with nine strikeouts. He left with a one-run lead, but the Rays bullpen couldn’t hold this one. While that was disappointing, Snell was outstanding once more, and he’s allowed only one run in his last 19 innings of work. The southpaw has 33 strikeouts over that stretch. Overall, Snell is 2-1 with a 2.16 ERA, with a 0.76 WHIP and 36 strikeouts over 25 innings. After fracturing his toe, Snell will be activated in time for Wednesday’s start after spending a minimum amount of time on the IL (10-days).
Jake Junis allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out two over 5-1/3 innings against the Yankees. Junis gave up a two-run blast in the third inning, a solo homer in the fifth, and two more runs in the sixth before being pulled from the game with the Royals down by three. The 26-year-old right-hander has surrendered four or more runs in each of his last three outings and has performed to a 6.26 ERA and 1.54 WHIP with 26 strikeouts across 27-1/3 innings of work. Junis relies primarily on his 82 mph slider, a whiffy 92 mph four-seam fastball, and a 92 mph sinker, while also mixing in a firm 86 mph changeup with cutting action. Key Matchups: Willy Adames (1-3), Ji-Man Choi (2-3, 2B), Kevin Kiermaier (3-6, 2B, BB), Brandon Lowe (1-2, 2 RBI), Micahel Perez (1-3)
You can read about the series in our preview. The lineup is below.
Rays 4/24/19 Starting Lineup
- Lowe 1B
- Pham LF
- Diaz DH
- Wendle 2B
- Garcia RF
- Kiermaier CF
- Robertson 3B
- Perez C
- Adames SS
- Snell LHP