After blanking the Marlins once again last night in Miami, 4-0, the Tampa Bay Rays will go for a clean sweep on Sunday. At 12-games over .500 (a season-high), the Rays have won 17 of their last 20 games, including four in a row.
The Rays became the first team to shutout the same opponent in four consecutive road games (a total of 36 innings) since the 1981/82 Orioles in Toronto.
Tampa Bay enters play with the top record in the American League thanks in part to a loss by the Oakland Athletics last night. They still lead the Yankees by four games in the division and maintain a fantastic chance of a postseason berth — a 99.9% chance, according to FanGraphs — with 26 games left to play. Put another way, even if the Rays played .500 ball for the rest of the season, they would still make it into the playoffs. All this despite the 11 injuries they have been faced with.
Last night, Josh Fleming scattered three hits and no walks while striking out six across 5-1/3 scoreless innings. Fleming silenced the Marlins at the plate, surrendering just two base hits and a double while not allowing multiple batters to reach base in any inning. He needed only 74 pitches (47 strikes, 64% strike rate) to retire 16 batters. Fleming coaxed eight swinging strikes for an excellent 17% SwStr%. The lefty pounded the left side of the plate with his sinker, and came in on the right side with his slider, limiting the Marlins’ ability to make solid contact. Through two major-league starts, Fleming has allowed just two earned runs with nine strikeouts and two walks across 10-1/3 innings.
Offensively, Tampa Bay has scored six runs in this series, all coming with two outs. Overall, the Rays have scored 65 of their 171 runs (38%) this season with two outs.
Kevan Smith will likely get the start behind the plate today after Michael Pérez caught the first two games, and Mike Zunino (oblique strain) was placed on the Injured List. Smith has caught eight innings with Tampa Bay this season. Even so, the Rays are still reportedly interested in acquiring Hans Klopek lookalike, Christian Vázquez, from the Boston Red Sox.
The New What Next
Blake Snell (2-0, 3.04 ERA) will get the start in the series finale, pitching opposite of Sandy Alcantara (1-0, 1.35 ERA).
Blake Snell allowed two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out nine over 5-2/3 innings on Monday against the Blue Jays. Snell one run in the third on a double and another in the sixth on a solo homer before exiting the game with a one-run lead. It was positive to see Snell rack up nine punchies after fanning just three in his last outing Tuesday in New York. Over six starts this season (23-2/3 IP), Snell owns a 3.04 ERA and 1.10 WHIP with 32 strikeouts.
Sandy Alcantara will come off the COVID-19 IL to make the start for Miami. Alcantara reportedly looked “really good” in a 50-pitch simulated game on Thursday. He threw very well against the Phillies on Opening Day, allowing just one earned run across 6-2/3 innings while punching out seven. He, however, has been sidelined all month after testing positive for COVID-19 at the end of July, and there is no word on how long he may go on Sunday given the extended time on the shelf.
You can read about the series in our preview, while the starting lineup and Noteworthiness are below.
Rays 8/30/20 Starting Lineup
- Wendle 2B
- Choi 1B
- Diaz 3B
- Tsutsugo DH
- Adames SS
- O’Grady LF
- Renfroe RF
- Kiermaier CF
- Smith C
Noteworthiness
— Charlie Morton is slated to throw a bullpen session today. If all goes well, he will rejoin the staff during the Yankees series.
— Nick Anderson threw a bullpen session in Port Charlotte yesterday and will throw live batting practice Monday. If all goes well, he could be activated following Thursday’s off-day.