After a four-game series sweep of the Los Angeles Angels, the Tampa Bay Rays continue their west coast jaunt when they start a three-game series against the Athletics on Friday. Oakland is coming off a series split with Toronto Dunedin.
Their woes with runners in scoring position, which plagued the Rays before they hit the road, all but vanished against the Angels. They went 10-for-29 wRISP over the last four days, good for a .345 BA — .032 points higher than the previous three series combined. What’s more, while their offensive numbers look tepid at best over the last two weeks, yet Tampa Bay looks like a bonafide offensive juggernaut the last seven days, slashing a combined .224 BA/.328 BA/.346 OBP/.674 OPS/.306 wOBA/.305 BABIP/103 wRC+/-0.4 wRAA. Are we talking about a stunning amount of offensive production? Nope! However, the Rays offense pounced on the Angels sloppy fielding and poor bullpen and drove in critical runs at advantageous times. They will look to do the same at the Coliseum.
Part of the reason the Rays enter Oakland a season-high three games over .500 is the pitching staff, which has worked to a 3.07 ERA and a 3.32 FIP over the last two weeks. In all honesty, they’ve really turned things around since the middle of April, having allowed four runs or fewer in 16 of the last 20 contests after doing that just four times between April 1 and April 12.
While the Rays have scored at least four runs in nine of their last 10 road games, they enter the Oakland Coliseum having gone 32-60 — their worst record at any current American League stadium. Tampa Bay split the four games against Oakland at Trop at the end of April, and all four games were decided by one or two runs.
Pitching Probables
Kevin Cash will turn to Rich Hill (1-1, 6.39 ERA), Tyler Glasnow (4-1, 2.06 ERA), and Shane McClanahan (0-0, 2.25 ERA) the next three days. Bob Melvin will counter with Sean Manaea (3-1, 3.48 ERA), Frankie Montas (3-2, 5.87 ERA), and Cole Irvin (3-3, 3.09 ERA).
Rich Hill allowed one hit and a walk over three scoreless innings against Houston on Sunday. Hill struck out four. The left-hander pitched in tandem with Michael Wacha and was expected to have a short outing. And while he walked a batter in the first inning, and allowed a hit in the second, Hill allowed no Astro to make it into scoring position. The veteran left-hander faced the Athletics on April 26th and allowed two runs on two hits and two walks across six innings while striking out 10. Hill now owns a 6.39 across 25-1/3 innings on the season.
Sean Manaea allowed four runs on seven hits while striking out five across five innings on Sunday against the Orioles. Manaea ended his winning streak at three starts, while his outing was a step in the wrong direction given how good he had been pitching of late. For context, he had allowed a combined four earned runs over his previous 24 innings (four starts, including a five-inning outing against Tampa Bay in which he allowed one run on April 26) before Sunday’s appearance. Key Matchups: Randy Arozarena (2-3), Kevin Kiermaier (1-3), Manuel Margot (2-5)
Tyler Glasnow surrendered three runs on four hits and four walks across six innings on Monday. He struck out eight Angels. The right-hander rolled through five scoreless innings before he coughed up a pair of homers in the sixth to Shohei Ohtani and Anthony Rendon. However, after issuing just three walks over 19-2/3 innings to begin the season, Glasnow has now walked 12 batters in 24 innings over his last four starts. Regardless, he’s sporting a strong 2.06 ERA and 4.27 K/BB. He held the Athletics scoreless across seven innings on April 28 while striking out 10.
Frankie Montas allowed three runs on a walk and seven hits across six innings Monday, while striking out four against the Blue Jays. Aside from a third-inning where the Blue Jays scored three runs on five base hits, Montas kept Toronto’s bats fairly quiet. He now has four quality starts over his last five outings and lowered his season ERA to 5.87. One of those quality starts came against Tampa Bay on April 27, when Montas allowed three runs on six hits (including a home run) and a walk across six innings. Key Matchups: Willy Adames (1-2), Kevin Kiermaier (2-7, 3B), Manuel Margot (1-2), Francisco Mejía (2-3, 2B), Brett Phillips (1-3, HR, 2 RBI), Yoshi Tsutsguo (1-2, 2B)
Shane McClanahan completed four scoreless innings against the Angels on Tuesday, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out five. For a second straight start, McClanahan dazzled on a short leash. As in his previous outing, McClanahan struck out five over four innings, and he did so Wednesday without allowing a run. The left-hander issued two walks but demonstrated solid control, throwing 44 of 63 pitches for strikes (70% strike rate) and tossing 11 of 16 batters first-pitch strikes (69% first-pitch strike rate). McClanahan has allowed only two earned runs over his first eight big-league innings while registering a 5.00 K/BB.
Cole Irvin allowed one run on three hits over eight innings on Tuesday against Toronto. He punched out nine. Irvin became the first Oakland pitcher to complete eight frames this season. Irvin tossed 71 of 102 pitches for strikes (70% strike rate) and allowed just one extra-base hit in the contest. Thanks to the strong outing, Irvin lowered his season ERA to 3.09 to go along with a 6.8 K/BB across 35 innings. He has been especially impressive over his past four outings, compiling a 1.42 ERA and 0.99 WHIP — including a two-run, seven-hit, one walk start against the Rays on April 28. Key Matchups: Randy Arozarena (1-3), Yandy Díaz (2-3), Manuel Margot (2-3, 2B, RBI), Brett Phillips (1-1, 2B), Mike Zunino (1-2, HR, RBI)