Joey Wendle hit two home runs (including a grand slam) and drove in six runs on Sunday, in Baltimore. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

After sweeping the Orioles in Baltimore, the Tampa Bay Rays returned home to the friendly confines of the Trop where they will start a four-game series against the Red Sox, on Monday. Boston took two of three from Cleveland over the weekend.

At 82-48 on the season, the Rays enter play a season-high 34-games over .500 and 6.0 games up on the Yankees in the division. The Red Sox enter play at 75-57 on the season, and 2.5 games ahead of Oakland for the final Wildcard spot.

The Rays went into Baltimore expecting a series win and came out with that and more: a sweep. In the series finale Sunday, Tampa Bay’s offense mounted a 12-run, 13-hit attack including four home runs. Of those four homers, Joey Wendle hit two including a grand slam. The Rays now have a franchise-tying nine grand slams on the season, while Wendle drove in six runs on the day. Wander Franco (2-4, R, RBI, BB) reached base for the 29th consecutive game, while Randy Arozarena and Jordan Luplow each posted a multi-hit game … and Tampa Bay did all this without the benefit of Nelson Cruz, Manuel Margot, and Yandy Díaz being in the lineup. All told, they finished the season series with Baltimore at 18-1 with a +71 run differential.

After getting swept by the Yankees, the Red Sox rattled off three consecutive series wins. They continue to hang around in the postseason chase, although a series loss this week could spell doom for Boston, who’ve watched their postseason hopes waffle throughout the month of August. Yet, even though the Red Sox are enjoying a positive stretch, they blew a 4-0 late lead on Sunday. Rafael Devers and Bobby Dalbec each launched solo shots in the first two innings, while J.D. Martinez later added an RBI double, only for Cleveland to plate seven runs across the final three innings.

And while they have been able to scrape by with a decent record of late, that came against a very weak part of the schedule and doesn’t truly indicate how well they are or aren’t playing.

Still, both teams are pretty evenly keeled offensively over the last two weeks. While the Rays have plated more runs and posted a 118 wRC+, the Red Sox aren’t far behind and have outperformed the good guys to the tune of a 10.5 wRAA. They also haven’t been striking out often, and have walked a bunch. They, however, have been rather unlucky with regard to where all their contact falls into play. Beware the long ball — Boston maintains a 15.4 HR/FB over that same stretch and a .203 ISO. Rays’ hurlers will need to be particularly careful to keep the ball in the park.

Boston’s pitching staff has been better since Chris Sale — who gets the nod on Wednesday — returned from the Injured List. That includes the relief corps, which boasts a 3.69 ERA over the last 14 days. However, a 4.16 ERA belies that number, reminding everyone that all that glitters isn’t gold. The Rays’ bullpen is much better than that of the Red Sox, who’ve won just three of the last 15 games against winning teams. Whatever the case, it would be nice to see Tampa Bay grab an early lead with which to hold onto late.

After starting the season 0-3 against the Red Sox, the Rays have gone 7-2 against their bitter foes, and 5-1 against them at home.

Pitching Probables

Over the next four days, Kevin Cash will turn to Luis Patiño (3-3, 4.53 ERA), a pitcher to be named before the second game of the set, Drew Rasmussen (1-1, 3.46 ERA), and Shane McClanahan (9-4, 3.59 ERA). Alex Cora will counter with Nick Pivetta (9-6, 4.57 ERA), a pitcher to be named before the second game of the set, Chris Sale (3-0, 2.35 ERA), and Eduardo Rodriguez (10-7, 5.12 ERA).

Luis Patiño, who lasted just three innings against the Twins in his last outing, contained Chicago on Saturday thanks to an electric fastball. The right-hander allowed two runs on five scattered hits and a walk, with five punchouts on 91 pitches (59 strikes, 65% strike rate, 13% SwStr). Patiño adjusted well to the White Sox, who were on his off-speed stuff, deciding then to lean on his heater 75% of the time. The only damage against the right-hander came on a fourth-inning homer by Seby Zavala and Eloy Jiménez’s sixth-inning RBI single that followed José Abreu’s double — the first of which snapped a string of 11 straight batters retired by Patiño. He lowered his ERA to 4.53 to go with a 1.29 WHIP, and a 2.39 K/BB across 51.2 innings on the season. Patiño allowed four runs on six hits and two walks in his only start against Baltimore this season. He allowed four runs on four hits (including two homers) in his lone start against the Red Sox this season.

Nick Pivetta surrendered four runs on six hits and two walks across four innings versus Minnesota on Wednesday. He struck out five. Pivetta struggled to a degree Wednesday, and this was just the third time all season he allowed multiple home runs in a start — the first time since June 29. The right-hander’s ERA ticked up to 4.57 while his FIP sits at 4.37 with a 1.31 WHIP, a 2.58 K/BB across 130 innings on the season. The Rays have had a difficult run against Pivetta this season, with the hurler going 1-1 with a 1.65 ERA across three starts (16.1 innings) against Tampa Bay. Key Matchups: Randy Arozarena (1-4), Brandon Lowe (1-4, HR, 2 RBI, BB)

TBA

TBA

Drew Rasmussen allowed one run on four hits and one walk while striking out one over five innings against the Phillies on Tuesday. The five-inning turn represented a new career-high for Rasmussen, who is slowly ramping up his pitch count. In his first three starts with Tampa Bay, Rasmussen has allowed only two runs across 13 innings although he maintains just a 5.5 K/9. On the season, the right-hander maintains a 3.46 ERA and 3.26 FIP, with a 1.23 WHIP and a 2.52 K/BB across 52.0 innings between the bullpen and the starting rotation. Rasmussen is 0-0 with a 2.70 ERA in three outings (one start) against the Red Sox this season (6.2 innings).

Chris Sale held the Twins to two runs on two hits and a pair of walks while striking out eight across 5.1 innings on Thursday. The left-hander was in command, joining Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax as the only pitcher with three immaculate frames when he struck out the side against the Twins on nine pitches in the third. It was Sale’s third outing since returning from the IL following Tommy John surgery. He’s pitched well with a 2.35 ERA and a 3.75 FIP, with a 1.04 WHIP, 7.00 K/BB over 15.1 innings. Sale has been good in his career against Tampa Bay, going 10-6 with a 2.94 ERA in 20 outings (18 starts). Key Matchups: Nelson Cruz (9-29, 3B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB), Yandy Díaz (4-6, 2 2B, 3B, 3 RBI, BB), Kevin Kiermaier (6-20, HR, 3 RBI, BB)

Shane McClanahan got the start Friday and allowed two runs on eight hits and no walks while striking out four across six innings. Starting on extra rest, McClanahan was very efficient over the first three frames, throwing just 30 pitches. However, the left-hander got into a jam in the fourth inning after Trey Mancini lined a one-out single to right. Then, with two outs and a full count, Austin Hays hit a belt-high slider over the wall in center, making it a one-run contest. Ramon Urias followed with a slow grounder past McClanahan for an infield single before Pedro Severino hit a ground ball double that bounced off the bag at third. He was able to strike Jahmai Jones out looking to keep the lead, yet he threw 26 pitches in the frame. Even so, it was the only damage McClanahan surrendered. While he matched his lowest strikeout total of the season, McClanahan was able to limit the run production against a struggling Orioles ball club. Since the All-Star Break, the lefty maintains a 2.90 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP across 40.1 innings. He was good in his lone start against Boston this season, throwing six innings of one-run ball.

Eduardo Rodriguez pitched seven innings while allowing three runs on eight hits and a walk with two strikeouts against Cleveland on Friday. The lefthander tied his season-high with seven innings pitched. While he did surrender eight hits for the second consecutive start, the left-hander was able to limit the damage with all three runs coming via home runs from José Ramírez and Yu Chang. Rodriguez maintains a 5.12 ERA and a 3.49 FIP, with a 1.39 WHIP, 3.95 K/BB over 126.2 innings. He is 0-0 with a 3.97 ERA in two starts against the Rays this season. Key Matchups: Randy Arozarena (3-6), Yandy Díaz (6-12, 2B, 2 BB), Wander Franco (2-5, HR, 4 RBI, BB), Brandon Lowe (4-11, 3 HR, 4 RBI), Manuel Margot (2-8), Francisco Mejía (2-5, HR, RBI)

Noteworthiness

— The Rays made a flurry of roster moves. OF/RHP Brett Phillips (right ankle sprain) was placed on the 10-Day Injured List while Josh Fleming was optioned to Triple-A Durham. Southpaw Dietrich Enns was recalled from Durham, while RHP J.P. Feyereisen (right shoulder discomfort) was activated from the IL.

Phillips told Neil Solondz (Rays Radio) he aggravated his ankle on Sunday when he tried to prevent Ryan Mountcastle’s injury. Both he and Kevin Cash expect it to be a minimal stay.

— With rosters expanding on Wednesday to 28 players, David Robertson — who threw another scoreless frame on Sunday for Durham — and Matt Wisler are expected to be recalled. Wisler also threw a perfect inning with three strikeouts today in Port Charlotte. The Rays skipper said that the issue Wisler’s had with his finger is manageable although the team wants him to feel better than that.

— Christian Arroyo and utility man Kiké Hernandez are both in COVID protocol for Boston. Bench player Danny Santana is sidelined by a strained groin, while outfielder Hunter Renfroe is on the bereavement list.

— Up the punx and go Rays!

Leave a comment