Joey Wendle benefitted from his first homer of the season on Tuesday. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)
After salvaging the season finale against Houston on Thursday, the Tampa Bay Rays returned home, where they will start a three-game series against the AL Wildcard leading squad from Cleveland on Friday. Cleveland swept a three-game set against the Tigers.
The Rays pitching staff, which allowed 31 total runs against the Astros, and nine with two outs was in shambles in Houston. The task won’t get any easier against Cleveland, who enters play with a 2-1/2 game lead on Tampa Bay for the top AL Wildcard spot. At least the offense, which averaged 5.33 runs per game over the life of the series against the Astros, showed up.
While the struggles within the Rays relief corps over the last seven days have been documented, Cleveland’s ‘pen hasn’t been much better, performing to a combined 4.73 ERA and 4.39 FIP in the last 14 days. On top of that, Cleveland’s front five have averaged just five innings per start over that stretch. If Austin Pruitt and company can keep the Rays in ballgames — I know, I know…that’s a big if — the offense will have a good shot against the opposing bullpen.
Suffice it to say, this is an important series for both ballclubs. Cleveland would like nothing more than to extend its lead in the Wildcard race, while Tampa Bay would like to reassert itself.
The Rays took three of four from Cleveland earlier this season, outscoring them 31-20 (an 11 run differential).
Pitching Probables
Over the next three days, Kevin Cash will throw Austin Pruitt (2-0, 5.57 ERA) after an opener, a pitcher to be named before Saturday’s contest, and Charlie Morton (13-6, 3.11 ERA). Terry Francona will counter with Shane Bieber (12-6, 3.23 ERA), Zach Plesac (7-4, 3.40 ERA), and Adam Plutko (6-3, 4.34 ERA).
Austin Pruitt allowed six runs on five hits and a walk with six punchouts across 5-2/3 innings against the Orioles on Saturday. The Rays recalled the right-hander on Saturday, and you would think this outing wouldn’t help keep him in the bigs, yet here we are. He is 2-0 with a 5.57 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP with 27 punchouts in 32-1/3 innings this season. Pruitt is 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA in one career start (6 IP) against Cleveland.
Shane Bieber allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits with two walks against the Royals on Sunday. He struck out eight. Bieber has at least seven strikeouts in each of his last seven turns, but despite his success, Cleveland has lost the last three games in which he’s started. He enters play with a 12-6 record and a 3.23 ERA, with a 1.01 WHIP and 215 strikeouts across 175-1/3 innings this season. Bieber is 1-1 with a 2.65 ERA in three career starts against the Rays, including a 5 IP/1 R outing when the two teams met earlier this season. Key Matchups: Ji-Man Choi (3-7, 2 2B, 2 BB), Travis d’Arnaud (1-2), Matt Duffy (1-3, 2B, 2 RBI), Austin Meadows (1-3, 2B), Tommy Pham (3-11, 2 2B, RBI, BB), Erik Sogard (1-4, 2B), Joey Wendle (3-6, 2 2B)
TBA
Zach Plesac allowed one run on four hits and two walks while striking out five over 5-2/3 innings on Friday against the Royals. Plesac pitched well, surrendering his lone run in the sixth inning on an RBI triple. He missed a quality start by an out. The right-hander owns a 3.40 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP with 66 punchouts across 87-1/3 innings this season. Plesac relies primarily on a 94 mph four-seam fastball and a firm 86 mph changeup, while also mixing in an 85 mph 12-6 slider and a 79 mph worm killer curveball with 12-6 movement.
Charlie Morton was ambushed by his former team, coughing up six runs on seven hits and two walks across four innings. He struck out four. Uncle Charlie got through the first two frames unscathed before Houston’s offense erupted; five of the seven hits Morton allowed went for extra bases. On a more positive note, Morton reached 200 strikeouts for the second consecutive season. The right-hander carries a respectable 3.11 ERA and a 4.28 K/BB through 165 innings on the season.
Adam Plutko gave up one run on three hits over 5-2/3 innings against Detroit on Tuesday. He struck out nine and walked two. Plutko recorded the first two outs of the sixth inning before he was pulled at 107 pitches after allowing a single. The 27-year-old maintains a 4.34 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP, and 4 K/BB across 83 innings. Plutko is 0-1 with an 11.81 ERA in one career start (5-1/3 innings) against the Rays. Key Matchups: Willy Adames (3-3, 2B, HR, RBI), Ji-Man Choi (1-3), Avisail Garcia (1-3, HR, RBI, BB), Kevin Kiermaier (2-3, HR, 3 RBI), Tommy Pham (1-2, HR, RBI)
Noteworthiness
— With the opportunity to expand rosters on Sunday, expect Kevin Cash to make a bevy of moves late in the weekend and early next week, including the activation of southpaw Brendan McCay from the seven-day Minor League Injured List — he is expected to return to the big league squad.
Nate Lowe, Michael Perez, Guillermo Heredia, José De Leon, Anthony Banda, Pete Fairbanks, and Aaron Slegers are also expected to be called up.
— The Rays already made a few roster moves, selecting the contract of 25-year-old right-hander Ricardo Pinto, optioning José De Leon to Triple-A Durham, and moving Yandy Diaz to the 60-day IL. Pinto is 12-6 with a 4.23 ERA in 28 games (six starts) across 123-1/3 innings for Durham. He boasts a .44 BB/9 and a 2.06 K/BB.
— Blake Snell is on schedule to return in September. The southpaw has been playing catch while he waited for the swelling in his left elbow to go down, and threw a bullpen session on Friday which he said went well. Snell will throw two more bullpen sessions and live batting practice and hopes to be activated on the upcoming road trip. Once he returns, it will be interesting to see just how much length Snell is able to offer, given that he will have been sidelined for over a month by the time he returns.
— Kevin Kiermaier told Neil Solondz that he feels much better today (Friday) and is 100% available off the bench in the series opener. He should be back in the starting lineup tomorrow.