After dropping the first game of a wrap-around four-game series in extra innings on Friday, 6-5, the Tampa Bay Rays look to start a new win streak today at Tropicana Field. The Rays lost for just the second time in 13 games, while Toronto is toasty, in the midst of a six-game win streak.
Tampa Bay has lost three games against the Blue Jays this season, and all three losses have been in the first game of a series.
In spite of the loss, Tampa Bay enters play with a 98.8% chance of a playoff berth with 33 games left to play, according to FanGraphs.
It would appear that Yandy Díaz is starting to show the power stroke he is known for, as he has hit two home runs in as many days. Brandon Lowe also hit a home run last night…shocker, I know.
With seven pitchers on the Injured List — José Alvarado, Yonny Chirinos, Oliver Drake, Andrew Kittredge, Brendan McKay, Charlie Morton, and Colin Poche — and four being season-ending injuries, it is not clear whether today will be a bullpen day, or whether, as Neil Solondz (Rays Radio) writes, they will stretch out the starter to help freshen up the group.
The New What Next
Aaron Slegers (0-0, 11.25 ERA) will get the start today (not Morton), pitching opposite of Hyun-Jin Ryu (2-1, 3.46 ERA).
Aaron Slegers allowed five runs over two innings in his first appearance of 2020, then tossed one scoreless inning, and earned a save, in his second outing. In his third outing of the season, the right-hander threw a scoreless frame against the Yankees including a punchout. Slegers was stretched out to four or five innings at the team’s alternate site in Port Charlotte. Anthony Banda could also be used for length this afternoon, as he hasn’t pitched since tossing three innings and nearly 60 pitches against the Red Sox.
Hyun-Jin Ryu allowed one run on four hits across six innings of a 7-2 win over Baltimore. He struck out three. Ryu appears to have shaken off his early-season struggles, and the lefty has now turned in back-to-back quality starts while posting a 5:1 K:BB over those 12 innings. He allowed three runs on four hits and three walks over 4-2/3 innings against Tampa Bay on Opening Day. Key Matchup: Jose Martinez (2-6, 2B).
You can read about the series in our preview, while the starting lineup is below.
Rays 8/22/20 Starting lineup
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- Brosseau 1B
- Renfroe RF
- Diaz 3B
- Martinez DH
- Lowe 2B
- Adames SS
- Margot CF
- Tsutsugo LF
- Zunino C