After earning their third consecutive series sweep, including a pair of 11-0 routes in the final two games of the series against Oakland, the Tampa Bay Rays will welcome the Massholes Red Sox into the Trop for a four-game series, starting Monday. With the win Sunday, Tampa Bay moved to 9-0 on the season, matching the best MLB start in 20 years. As for Boston, after dropping three straight, the Red Sox swept the Tigers over the weekend.
The Rays enter play averaging eight runs per game overall, while they’ve slashed a .279 BA/.352 OBP/.582 SLG/.934 OPS over the last week (as of April 9) with a hefty .303 ISO, and a 158 wRC+. The scariest part: they’ve done all this with a measly .241 BABIP. Overall, their .282 batting average is fourth in the league, their .365 on-base percentage is third, and their .571 slugging percentage leads the league.
Boston is averaging 6.88 runs per game, while they’ve slashed a .249 BA/.329 OBP/.445 SLG/.774 OPS line over the last week (as of April 9) with a .196 ISO, and a 108 wRC+. Their overall .263 batting average ranks tenth in the league, their .342 on-base percentage is also tenth, and their .484 slugging percentage is third.
Tampa Bay’s pitching has also been very good, with the team allowing just 2.25 runs per game. Opposing hitters have a .210 batting average against the Rays — which is second in the league — while their 2.13 ERA (3.13 FIP) leads the league.
Boston’s pitching, on the other hand, has been uhhhh…not so great, with the team coughing up 5.75 runs per game. Opponents have put up a .261 batting average against the Red Sox, while their 5.38 ERA (5.49 FIP) ranks near the bottom of all of baseball at 25.
The Rays went 12-7 against the Red Sox in 2022, outscoring them by 18 runs.
Pitching Probables
Over the next four days, Kevin Cash will turn to Josh Fleming (0-0, 15.00 ERA, 3.00 FIP), Shane McClanahan (2-0, 1.50 ERA, 2.59 FIP), Zach Eflin (2-0, 3.27 ERA, 2.61 FIP), and Jeffrey Springs (2-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.34 FIP). Alex Cora will counter with Nick Pivetta (0-1, 1.80 ERA, 7.94), Garrett Whitlock (in 2022, 4-2, 3.45 ERA, 3.34 FIP), Chris Sale (1-0, 11.25 ERA, 8.84 FIP), and old friend Corey Kluber (0-2, 6.48 ERA, 8.38 FIP).
Josh Fleming couldn’t seem to pitch effectively to both sides of the plate in his last turn, and the Nationals took notice fairly quickly. Fleming pitched to the outside part of the plate with regularity, and Nats’ hitters went with the pitches thrown — lashing more than a few to the opposite field. As a result, Washington drove in two runs on a base hit in the first inning, two more on a double in the second inning, and a fifth and final run off the left-hander in the fifth inning. To be fair, Fleming was BABIP’d to death to the tune of a .625 batting average on balls in play, yet he still allowed five runs on 10 hits and one walk across three-plus innings on 71 pitches (50 strikes, 70% strike rate). In six games (four starts) against the Red Sox, Fleming is 1-3 with a 9.59 ERA.
Nick Pivetta gave up three runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks over five innings against the Pirates on Tuesday. He struck out six. The strikeouts helped salvage his night from total ruin, but Pivetta also served up homers to Ji Hwan Bae and Bryan Reynolds. The right-hander allowed a career-high 27 long balls last season, and his issues keeping the ball in the park are a large part of the reason why he’s never had an ERA below 4.50 in his big-league career. Thus far, Pivetta owns a healthy 1.80 ERA, but that’s belied by a 7.94 FIP, with a 1.20 WHIP, and a 2.00 K/BB. He relies primarily on a whiffy 95 mph four-seam fastball that has some added backspin, while also mixing in an 81 mph curveball with exceptional bite and an 87 mph worm-killer cutter that has heavy sink. In eight starts against the Rays, Pivetta is 1-5 with a 4.83 ERA. Key Matchups: Randy Arozarena (5-14, 2 2B, HR, RBI, 4 BB), Yandy Díaz (5-17, 3 2B, 4 BB), Brandon Lowe (3-12, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 BB), Isaac Paredes (3-6, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB), Harold Ramírez (4-12, 3B)
Shane McClanahan allowed two earned runs on five hits and four walks while striking out six across six innings in Washington on Wednesday. The left-hander made his outing more difficult early on by walking a batter in each of the first three frames, although he escaped those jams having allowed only one run. He then surrendered an additional run in the fourth inning after allowing four consecutive batters to reach base. Despite some shakiness, the bottom line turned out fine for McClanahan, and he backed his six strikeouts with 14 swinging strikes across 94 pitches (15% SwStr). Through two starts, he owns a 1.50 ERA and a 2.59 FIP, with a 1.17 WHIP with a 2.4 K/BB across 12 innings. In five starts against Boston, McClanahan is 3-1 with a 2.45 ERA.
Garrett Whitlock allowed one earned run on one hit and one walk while striking out eight and walking one across six innings during a rehab outing with Double-A Portland on Thursday. The hurler was recovering from surgery on his hip that he underwent last September. He was sharp in two rehab appearances, completing 10 innings while allowing just two earned runs and punching out 14 between Boston’s two highest minor-league affiliates. Last season, Whitlock put up a 3.45 ERA and a 3.34 FIP, with a 1.02 WHIP, and a 5.47 K/BB. He relies primarily on a swing-and-miss 94 mph sinker and an 85 mph changeup that has obvious arm-side fade, while also mixing in a whiffy 80 mph slider. In six games (one start) against the Rays, Whitlock is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA.
Zach Eflin made the start Friday and dealt six innings of three-run ball, striking out seven. Eflin threw 60 of 83 pitches for strikes (72% strike rate). While he wasn’t as sharp as he was in his previous outing, giving up a lot of hard contact, the right-hander did enough to keep the A’s at bay. After making quick work of Oakland in the first inning, Seth Brown lead off the next frame with a single before Ramon Laureano moved him into third on a one-out double. Jace Peterson singled Brown home for the go-ahead lead, although a good home throw by José Siri made sure that lead would only be one. In the third inning, designated hitter Ryan Noda hit a one-out solo home run, while Eflin gave up another run in the fourth inning, however, that was all the right-hander — who bent but didn’t break — would allow. Eflin has performed to a 3.27 ERA and a 2.61 FIP on the season, with a 1.18 WHIP, and a 12.00 K/BB. In two starts against the Red Sox, Eflin is 0-0 with a 7.00 ERA.
Chris Sale allowed three earned runs on four hits and three walks while striking out seven across five innings on Thursday against the Tigers. Sale looked to be in for a poor outing after serving up a two-run homer in the second and surrendering an additional run one frame later. He, however, closed the outing well and picked up 10 swinging strikes across 74 total pitches (14% SwStr) to go along with six groundball outs. The left-hander wasn’t dominant, although the effort was a step forward from the seven earned runs he allowed in his first start of the new campaign. Nevertheless, Sale owns an 11.25 ERA and an 8.84 FIP on the season, with a 2.0 WHIP, and a 2.60 K/BB. He relies primarily on a 93 mph sinker that has heavy sinking action, a 94 mph four-seam fastball that also has heavy sinking action, and a whiffy 79 mph slider that sweeps across the zone, while also mixing in an 86 mph circle change that dives down out of the zone. In 23 outings (21 starts) against the Rays, Sale is 10-6 with a 2.82 ERA. Key Matchups: Randy Arozarena (2-8), Yandy Díaz (7-15, 2 2B, 3B, 4 RBI, 2 BB), Wander Franco (5-7, 3B, HR, 2 RBI), Manuel Margot (3-6), Isaac Paredes (1-2, 2B), Harold Ramírez (1-2)
Jeffrey Springs allowed no runs on three hits and three walks over seven innings against the Athletics on Saturday. He struck out seven. It was another very impressive outing for Springs, who didn’t allow an extra-base hit in the contest. While he did issue the three free passes, he threw 61 of 89 pitches for strikes (69% strike rate) while picking up his second win. Over his first two starts, Springs has yet to allow a run, and he’s registered an impressive 4.75 K/BB to go along with a 0.00 ERA and 1.34 FIP over 12 innings. In 12 games (four starts) against the Red Sox, Springs is 0-2 with a 3.80 ERA.
Corey Kluber allowed one run on three hits and a walk over five innings while striking out two against the Pirates on Wednesday. Kluber didn’t pitch poorly, tossing 44 of 67 pitches for strikes (66% strike rate) before exiting, but he left the contest with the Red Sox down 1-0 and they never found a tying run. Kluber owns a 6.48 ERA and an 8.38 FIP through 8.1 innings with a 1.2 K/BB. He relies primarily on an 86 mph cutter that boasts some natural sink and has strong cutting action, an 88 mph two-seam sinker that has slight arm-side run and has some natural sinking action, and an 81 mph slider that sweeps across the zone, while also mixing in an 82 mph changeup that dives down out of the zone. In 11 starts against Tampa Bay, Kluber is 5-3 with a 2.98 ERA. Key Matchups: Randy Arozrena (1-2, RBI), Manuel Margot (1-3), Harold Ramírez (1-2)
Noteworthiness
— Taylor Walls, who is reportedly dealing with an unspecified elbow injury, was out of the lineup this past weekend.
Rays skipper Kevin Cash acknowledged that Walls is “a little dinged up,” also saying the infielder reached for a ball in the field on Friday night and “kind of overextended, hyperextended” his left (non-throwing) elbow.
He’s not feeling that good. We’re trying to go day to day.
— Kevin Cash
Because of it, Jonathan Aranda has been added to the taxi squad.
— Tyler Glasnow is expected to return in mid-May. He had been playing catch from 75 feet, although Cash mentioned “He’s making progress.”
Still a ways to go, but very happy with where he’s at.
— Kevin Cash
The Music That Influenced This Preview
S.H.I.T. member moves from Toronto and starts a band that sounds like the bastard son of Crucifix and Final Conflict.