These aren’t your dad’s Rays, but they shouldn’t be taken lightly.
These aren’t the Rays we’ve grown accustomed to. At 28-29 with more than a third of the season gone, they certainly aren’t “bad,” but they are one of the less-heralded squads that Kevin Cash has ever managed. Cash took the Rays job heading into 2015. Since then, he has won 80 or more games in eight out of nine seasons, and his club has made the playoffs in each of the last five years. Right now, they aren’t on pace to do either in 2024.
Tampa is one of the league’s worst offenses. Their 96 wRC+ is 20th in MLB, and the 224 runs they have scored ranks 22nd. Isaac Paredes is the biggest threat, and he is on track for all-star honors with a .295/.389/.503 batting line and a 159 wRC+. Towson University product Richie Palacios has been a surprisingly impactful bat with his 116 wRC+. And at least José Caballero is contributing on the bases with an AL-best 20 steals. Perhaps their biggest problem is Randy Arozarena. He owns a .159/258/.313 batting line so far this year and is striking out 28.8% of the time, his worst mark ever.
They have had some injuries pop up throughout the season. Brandon Lowe missed a month-and-a-half, just returning about 10 days ago. Josh Lowe is currently dealing with an oblique strain, which will keep him out of this series. Top prospect Junior Caminero won’t be able to help anytime soon as he rebounds from a quad strain. And Taylor Walls is still working his way back from hip surgery.
Things haven’t been much better on the mound, where the Rays have a 4.22 ERA (22nd in MLB) and 4.02 xFIP (17th in MLB). The IL list of hurlers is long for the Rays. It includes ace Shane McClanahan, who is expected to miss the entire season. Also absent is Zach Eflin, Colin Poche, Jeffrey Springs, and Drew Rasmussen. It’s essentially an infirmary ward around those parts.
But these are the Rays we’re talking about. If there is any organization that can materialize talent out of thin air it’s them. It is a minor miracle that they are only one game under .500 given their -48 run differential. For reference, the Los Angeles Angels have a -41 differential and a record of 21-35. Competancy does matter when it comes to absorbing injuries and maximium the talent available.
Game 1: Friday, May 31st, 7:05 p.m., MASN 2
RHP Albert Suárez (2-0, 1.53 ERA) vs. RHP Aaron Civale (2-4, 5.72 ERA)
Suárez just keeps on getting the job done. The 34-year-old is back in the rotation for the time being as the Orioles deal with an injury crisis. He went four scoreless innings last time out against the White Sox. It seems that the club is doing what they can to protect him and limit his exposure, which is smart. But it means the bullpen will need to be on standby.
Civale has not worked out too well for the Rays since coming over from the Guardians last year. He has a 5.56 ERA over 21 total starts for his new organization. That said, he did hold a solid Royals offense to just two runs over five innings in his most recent outing.
Game 2: Saturday, June 1st, 4:05 p.m., MASN 2
RHP Kyle Bradish (1-0, 1.75 ERA) vs. RHP Taj Bradley (1-2, 3.13 ERA)
How will Bradish follow up his no-hit performance against Chicago? It will be tough to one-up it, but the righty has a way of impressive everyone start after start. He is yet to allow more than two runs in any appearance this season. Is he actually the ace rather than Corbin Burnes? There is an argument to be made.
Bradley has just four starts this season. Three of them have been quite good, and in the one that went off the rails he still managed to strike out 10 over seven innings. There’s a reason he was considered one of the league’s elite pitching prospects going into 2023.
Game 3: Sunday, June 2nd, 1:35 p.m., MASN 2
LHP Cole Irvin (5-2, 2.84 ERA) vs. RHP Zack Littell (2-3, 3.03 ERA)
Irvin is a popular guy in Baltimore. Not just because he has been lights out on the mound, but because he is also working to save dogs in town. Even if you are a cat person, you have to admire the work being done by the southpaw. He deserves a second straight scoreless outing.
Littell is the perfect picture of a Rays reclamation project. He has been around the league since 2018, but just found his footing in Tampa last year after bouncing around to four different organizations. He has a breaking ball heavy repertoire that will almost certainly frustrate Orioles hitters and fans alike.