After winning 100 games a season ago, not to mention the division title, the Tampa Bay Rays look to start the 2022 campaign strong when they welcome the Baltimore Orioles into the Trop for the Opening Series on Friday.
While FanGraphs‘ projection system, Steamer, pegs the Rays to battle it out for a four-way tie for first place in 2022, they would prefer to be at the forefront of the race to win the division. Thankfully, Tampa Bay has the perfect opportunity to get off to a hot start with six consecutive games against a pair of tanking teams, the Orioles and Athletics. Whatever the case, after a 100-win season in which the Rays failed to advance past the Divisional Round, the team has its sights set on the World Series this season and can make a statement with a strong performance in the Opening Series.
After feeding off the bottom of the division last season, the Orioles will likely finish at the bottom once again. Baltimore ended the season with a 52-110 record — 48-games out of first in the division. The other teams in the AL East further improved over the offseason, but the Orioles failed to make any significant acquisitions. They will lean heavily on Cedric Mullins in hopes he can provide an offensive spark. Still, aside from the All-Star outfielder, Baltimore doesn’t really have much star power on the roster.
Tampa Bay has a ton of power in the lineup, highlighted by Wander Franco and Brandon Lowe. Franco is one of the most exciting players in all of baseball and is definitely a frustrating out for any opposing hurler. Lowe is coming off a career-high 39 home run season and looks to showcase his power in the batter’s box once again. With more talent and firepower at their disposal, Tampa Bay has no excuse for not taking at least two out of three from Baltimore this weekend.
The Rays went 18-1 against the Orioles last season, outscoring them 150-71.
Pitching Probables
Kevin Cash will turn to Shane McClanahan (10-6, 3.43 ERA), Drew Rasmussen (4-0, 2.44 ERA), and Corey Kluber (5-3, 3.83 ERA) over the next three days. Brandon Hyde will counter with John Means (6-9, 3.62 ERA), Jordan Lyles (10-13, 5.15 ERA), and Tyler Wells (2-3, 4.11 ERA).
Shane McClanahan entered spring training as the most logical choice to get the ball for Tampa Bay on Opening Day given that Tyler Glasnow is recovering from Tommy John surgery. McClanahan is coming off a fantastic rookie campaign in which he turned in a 3.43 ERA and 3.31 FIP, with a 1.27 WHIP across 123.1 frames while posting a 27.3% strikeout rate while limiting opposing hitters to a .251 average. He went 4-0 with a 2.74 ERA in four starts against the Orioles last season.
John Means is Coming off a 2021 campaign in which he performed to a 3.62 ERA and 4.62 FIP, with a 1.03 WHIP and a 5.15 K/BB across 146.2 innings. Means proved vulnerable to the long ball (30 home runs allowed) last season, including six by Rays hitters. The Rays had their way with Means last season, tagging him with an 0-2 record and a 5.40 ERA over five games. He relies primarily on a 93 mph four-seam fastball and an 83 mph changeup, while also mixing in an 85 mph slider and a 78 mph curveball. Key Matchups: Randy Arozarena (6-13, 2 2B, 2 HR, 2 RBI), Yandy Díaz (6-18, 3 2B, HR, RBI), Kevin Kiermaier (6-15, 2B, RBI), Manuel Margot (6-12, 2B, RBI, BB)
Drew Rasmussen gave up one run over 3.1 innings with six strikeouts and no walks in his final Spring tuneup against Pittsburgh. He has added a new pitch, a sweeping slider, this spring. Rasmussen held hitters to a .171 average as a starter last season (.239 as a reliever) while posting a 4.5 BB%. He went 1-0 with a 1.08 ERA in three games (one start) against the Orioles last season.
Jordan Lyles owns a 5.24 ERA over 182 career big-league starts between stops with the Astros, Rockies, Padres, Brewers, Pirates, and Rangers. While he was with Texas last season, Lyles surrendered an MLB-high 38 home runs en route to a 5.15 ERA and 5.34 FIP, with a 1.39 WHIP across 180 innings. Be that as it may, Lyles is 0-0 with a 2.81 ERA across three career outings (two starts) against the Rays. He relies primarily on a 93 mph four-seam fastball and an 84 mph slider with two-plane movement, while also mixing in an 80 mph knuckle-curve with exceptional bite and 12-6 movement, a 92 mph sinker, and an 86 mph changeup with arm-side fade. Key Matchups: Francisco Mejia (1-2), Mike Zunino (2-6)
Corey Kluber gave up one run over five innings with five strikeouts and one walk in a loss Tuesday against Atlanta. He gave up five earned runs with eight strikeouts and one walk in 8.1 innings this spring. Kluber’s 8.0 K/BB ratio is encouraging as he enters the regular season, and he looks sharp despite a spring 5.40 ERA and 1.60 WHIP. Kluber is 5-1 with a 3.15 ERA in 10 career starts against Baltimore.
Tyler Wells missed all of 2019 due to Tommy John surgery and didn’t pitch in 2020 due to the canceled minor-league season, although he returned as a reliever last season and pitched fairly well. He performed to a 4.11 ERA across 57 innings, with a strong 29.0% strikeout rate and 5.4% walk rate being offset by a very low 21.4% groundball rate. Wells gave up two earned runs on four hits across six innings against Tampa Bay last season. He relies primarily on a 94 mph four-seam fastball, while also mixing in an 86 mph slider, a firm 87 mph changeup with arm-side fade, and a 77 mph curveball. Key Matchups: Brandon Lowe (1-2), Mike Zunino (1-2, HR, 2 RBI)
Noteworthiness
— The Rays formally announced the 28-man active roster Thursday afternoon, boasting 15 pitchers and 13 position players.
The Opening Day roster can be seen above and below:
Pitchers (15): Jason Adam, Jalen Beeks, JT Chargois, J.P. Feyereisen, Josh Fleming, Andrew Kittredge, Corey Kluber, Chris Mazza, Shane McClanahan, Luis Patiño, Brooks Raley, Drew Rasmussen, Jeffrey Springs, Matt Wisler, Ryan Yarbrough
Catchers (2): Francisco Mejia, Mike Zunino
Infielders (5): Ji-Man Choi, Yandy Díaz, Wander Franco, Brandon Lowe, Taylor Walls
Outfielders (6): Randy Arozarena, Kevin Kiermaier, Josh Lowe, Manuel Margot, Brett Phillips, Harold Ramírez
Injured List (6): Nick Anderson (60-day), Shane Baz (10-day), Yonny Chirinos (60-day), Pete Fairbanks (60-day), Tyler Glasnow (60-day), Brendan McKay (60-day)
— The Rays moved Brendan McKay to the 60-day Injured List on Thursday. Per Neil Solondz (Rays Radio) this is not a reflection of any change in his rehab from thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, rather he is throwing bullpens right now but has not yet advanced to facing hitters as he would be stretched out as a starter.
— With McKay on the 60-day IL, the Rays claimed Ralph Garza Junior off waivers from the Red Sox and optioned him to Triple-A Durham. Garza made 27 appearances last season with the Astros and Twins.
We will have more on Garza later.