6/30-7/2 Series Preview: Tampa Bay Rays
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That kinda season in Tampa. (Mike Carlson/Getty)
Once again, the Yankees are set to play a division rival as the Rays come to town for three games. This will be the Bombers’ fifth straight series against an AL East opponent and they’ve lost three of the first four. The Yankees will pass the season halfway mark tonight. It’s time to start stringing together some wins. They split four games in Tampa in mid-April and lost two of three to the Rays in the Bronx in early-May.
What Have They Done Lately?
The Rays just did the Yankees a solid and took three of four from the Orioles (in Baltimore!) over the weekend. Tampa has won four of their last five and eleven of their last 18 games overall. Despite that, they still have the worst record (35-49) and sixth worst run differential (-37) in baseball.
Offense
Manager Joe Maddon’s team is league average offensively with a team 100 wRC+ and an average of 3.79 runs per game. The Rays are currently without OF Wil Myers (wrist), OF David DeJesus (hand), and SS Yunel Escobar (shoulder). Myers and DeJesus are on the disabled list and won’t be returning anytime soon. Escobar is day-to-day and could return to the starting lineup as soon as tonight.
(J. Meric/Getty)
As usual, Maddon’s lineup is built around 3B Evan Longoria (107 wRC+) and 2B/OF Ben Zobrist (109 wRC+), but neither is having a particularly great year. OF Matt Joyce (121 wRC+) has been their best regular hitter while 1B James Loney (104 wRC+) and OF Desmond Jennings (103 wRC+) have been solid. OF Kevin Kiermaier (162 wRC+ in limited time) has been awesome filling in for Myers.
The rest of the offense is mix and match. C Ryan Hanigan (98 wRC+) and C Jose Molina (14 wRC+) share catching duties while UTIL Sean Rodriguez (96 wRC+) and OF Brandon Guyer (102 wRC+) sub in against lefties. OF Cole Figueroa (49 wRC+ in very limited time) and UTIL Logan Forsythe (76 wRC+ in limited time) fill out the bench. Tampa has stolen the third fewest bases in the league (Jennings leads the team by far with 12), so these aren’t the runnin’ Rays of a few years go.
Pitching Matchups
Monday: RHP David Phelps (vs. TB) vs. RHP Chris Archer (vs. NYY)
Once David Price gets traded, the 25-year-old Archer is going to take over as the staff ace by default. He has a 3.29 ERA (2.96 FIP) in 16 starts and 93 innings this year, with improved strikeout (8.32 K/9 and 21.8 K%) and ground ball (47.5%) rates compared to his strong rookie campaign a year ago. Archer’s walk rate (3.48 BB/9 and 9.1 BB%) has jumped a bit and his homer rate (0.29 HR/9 and 3.9 HR/FB%) is unsustainably low at this point. I don’t think that will last all year. Righties (3.41 wOBA) have actually fared better than lefties (2.55 wOBA) so far this year, which is odd because Archer is a mid-90s fastball/mid-80s slider guy. He throws only a handful of mid-80s changeups per start and those guys tend to have platoon splits, not reverse platoon splits. Small sample, I guess. Archer has never not pitched well against the Yankees — in four starts and 28.2 career inning against New York, he’s allowed four runs and 20 base-runners.
Tuesday: RHP Hiroki Kuroda (vs. TB) vs. LHP David Price (vs. NYY)
Could this be Price’s final start with the Rays? I think that’s possible for every one of his starts from here on out. Price, 28, has a 3.63 ERA (3.00 FIP) in 17 starts and 124 innings this year, but that really undersells just how good he’s been. He has 144 strikeouts (10.45 K/9 and 28.4 K%) and 14 walks (1.02 BB/9 and 2.8 BB%) on the season, and has struck out at least ten batters in each of his last five starts. The last pitcher to strike out double-digit batters in five straight games was sicko Johan Santana back in 2004. Price’s ground ball rate (42.8%) has been about average but he has been homer prone (1.23 HR/9 and 13.3 HR/FB%). His platoon split is small. As always, Price remains a fastball machine, throwing his low-to-mid-90s two and four-seamer and mid-80s cutter more than 70% of the time combined. He backdoors the cutter to righties for called strikes better than anyone I’ve ever seen. Unhittable pitch. Mid-80s changeups and upper-70s curveballs round out his repertoire. The Yankees have seen Price twice this season. One start went well for them (six runs in five innings) and the other didn’t (two runs in seven innings).
(MLB)
Wednesday: LHP Vidal Nuno (vs. TB) vs. RHP Jake Odorizzi (vs. NYY)
After a very rough start, the 24-year-old Odorizzi has turned his season around of late, allowing two or fewer runs in each of his last four starts. He owns a 4.14 ERA (3.16 FIP) in 16 starts and 82.2 innings with a very high strikeout rate (10.56 K/9 and 25.2 K%). His walk rate is kinda high (3.70 BB/9 and 9.5 BB%), his ground ball rate is low (35.6%), and his homer rate is probably a touch low as well (0.76 HR/9 and 7.4 HR/FB%). Righties (.318 wOBA) have been a bit better than lefties (.297 wOBA). Reverse platoon splits seems to be a trend on Tampa’s staff. Odorizzi uses a four-seamer right around 90 mph to set up his mid-80s slider, which is his top secondary pitch. He’ll throw a handful of mid-80s changeups and rainbow upper-60s curveballs per start. The Yankees scored three runs in four innings the only time they saw Odorizzi earlier this year.
Bullpen Status
Because RHP Grant Balfour (4.27 FIP) had some big time meltdowns earlier this year, Maddon has been using a closer by committee system in recent weeks. Balfour, LHP Jake McGee (1.58 FIP), RHP Joel Peralta (4.22 FIP), and RHP Juan Carlos Oviedo (4.50 FIP) have all grabbed saves at one point or another. McGee in particular has been fantastic and is not just a lefty specialist.
Peralta, RHP Brad Boxberger (4.27 FIP), RHP Kirby Yates (4.52 FIP in very limited time), and LHP Cesar Ramos (4.46 FIP) all pitched in yesterday’s game. Ramos threw 45 pitches and probably won’t be available tonight in anything other than emergency. Everyone else threw only one inning and should be good to go tonight. Check out our Bullpen Workload page for the status of Joe Girardi‘s bullpen and then check out The Process Report for everything you need to know about the Rays.
ByThe Yankees continue to prioritize pitching help in trade talks, Brian Cashman confirmed to Brendan Kuty. About a week ago we heard they were targeting starters “almost exclusively.” “I’m looking to make some additions if I can, so I’d like to try to do things before (CC Sabathia and Michael Pineda) get back if possible,” said the GM. “But I’ve already been trying. There’s a reason we haven’t done anything. It’s not because of a lack of phone calls. But we’ll see.”
I think it goes without saying that the Yankees need both pitching help and offensive help. This isn’t a one or the other thing, they need both. Sabathia is still a few weeks away, Pineda just started (another) throwing program, Chase Whitley is not so slowly turning into a pumpkin, and Vidal Nuno is Vidal Nuno, so bolstering the rotation is definitely a pressing need. The Yankees have some internal options that may be able to give the lineup a shot in the arm, but no such pitching options exist. As always, the sooner they can swing trades to improve the roster, the better their chances of actually going to the postseason. · (120) ·
Fan Confidence Poll: June 30th, 2014
By · CommentsRecord Last Week: 2-4 (26 RS, 28 RA)
Season Record: 41-39 (323 RS, 355 RA, 36-44 pythag. record)
Opponents This Week: vs. Rays (three games, Mon. to Weds.), @ Twins (four games, Thurs. to Sun.)
Top stories from last week:
- The week started with three games in Toronto, and the Blue Jays pounded Chase Whitley to take the first game of the series on Monday. The Yankees committed a walk-off error the next day but salvaged the series with a win on Wednesday.
- The Red Sox came to the Bronx for three games following Thursday’s off day. Vidal Nuno pitched the Yankees to a win in the opener, but Masahiro Tanaka got beat on his third best pitch the next day. Boston roughed up Whitley yesterday to take the series.
- Injury Updates: CC Sabathia (knee) made his first minor league rehab appearance and Michael Pineda (shoulder) started a new throwing program. Carlos Beltran (elbow) was shut down from his throwing program due to tightness. Preston Claiborne (shoulder) was placed on the Triple-A Scranton DL. Andrew Bailey (shoulder) is throwing bullpen sessions but is still a long way from returning. Manny Banuelos (blister) was placed on the Double-A Trenton DL. Slade Heathcott (knee) is done for the season.
- Luis Severino and Peter O’Brien will represent the Yankees at the Futures Game. Among the draft picks the team signed last week were seventh rounder OF Mark Payton (below-slot $45k) and eighth rounder 1B Connor Spencer (slot $157k),
- The Yankees will give the Padres permission to interview assistant GM Billy Eppler for their vacant GM position.
- The Yankees had extra scouts on hand to watch one of David Price’s recent starts.
Please take a second to answer the poll below and give us an idea of how confident you are in the team. You can view the interactive Fan Confidence Graph anytime via the nav bar above, or by clicking here. Thanks in advance for voting.
Given the team's current roster construction, farm system, management, etc., how confident are you in the Yankees' overall future?
DotF: Almonte, Judge, and Andujar all go deep on Sunday
By · CommentsTriple-A Scranton (6-5 win over Lehigh Valley)
- DH Jose Pirela: 1-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K
- 2B Rob Refsnyder: 2-3, 2 R, 1 2B, 2 BB, 1 K — 21-for-46 (.457) with 15 walks and nine strikeouts in his last 15 games
- LF Zoilo Almonte: 2-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2 K, 1 CS, 1 E (fielding) — his 12 total homers are in the organization behind Peter O’Brien (25), Kyle Roller (16), and Mark Teixeira (14)
- 1B Kyle Roller, SS Dean Anna & C Austin Romine: all 0-4 — Roller struck out once, Romine twice … Romine picked a runner off first with a snap throw
- 3B Scott Sizemore: 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 K
- RHP Joel De La Cruz: 2.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 3/1 GB/FB — 35 of 58 pitches were strikes (60%)
- LHP Francisco Rondon: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 3/1 GB/FB — 22 of 41 pitches were strikes (54%)
- RHP Diego Moreno: 2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0K, 2/2 GB/FB — 17 of 27 pitches were strikes (63%)
Game 80: Take the Series
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(Rich Schultz/Getty)
Once again, both the Blue Jays and Orioles lost earlier today, so the Yankees are in position to make up some ground on both teams in the AL East race. They blew the same opportunity with last night’s gut punch loss. Chase Whitley will be welcomed to the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry tonight and he’s in position to give his team the series win. Whitley got destroyed by the Blue Jays last time out, now we’ll get to see how well he can rebound. Here is the Red Sox lineup and here is the Yankees lineup:
- LF Brett Gardner
- SS Derek Jeter
- CF Jacoby Ellsbury
- 1B Mark Teixeira
- C Brian McCann
- DH Carlos Beltran
- 3B Kelly Johnson
- 2B Brian Roberts
- RF Ichiro Suzuki
RHP Chase Whitley
It’s a lovely day in New York. Perfect night for baseball. Tonight’s game is scheduled to begin a little after 8pm ET and you’ll be able to watch on ESPN. Enjoy the game.
ByAs planned, Michael Pineda started a new throwing program yesterday. He was scheduled to start throwing last weekend, but it was pushed back after a precautionary MRI showed a lingering “trace” of inflammation. Pineda told Marly Rivera he felt “very good” after throwing while Joe Girardi told Chad Jennings the throwing session was “probably 25 throws at 60 feet, so probably not a lot to get excited about.”
Pineda, 25, has been out with a muscle problem in his back/shoulder since late-April. He made it as far as pitching in Extended Spring Training games a few weeks ago before suffering a setback. Given his history and the nature of the injury, I think the Yankees have to forget about Pineda and move forward under the assumption that he isn’t coming back. If he does, great. But there’s no way they can count on him to bolster the rotation in the second half. · (57) ·
DotF: Lindgren and DeCarr debut with GCL Yanks
By · CommentsTriple-A Scranton (4-3 sin over Lehigh Valley)
- RF Jose Pirela: 2-4, 1 BB – first career game in right and I don’t think it’s a coincidence … Alfonso Soriano‘s been awful all season and they can’t keep running him out there anymore
- C John Ryan Murphy: 1-5, 1 R, 1 K
- LF Zoilo Almonte: 1-5, 1 R, 1 2B, 3 K
- 3B Scott Sizemore: 1-5, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 2 K
- DH Kyle Roller: 2-2, 1 R, 2 BB — 9-for-20 (.450) in his last six games
- 2B Rob Refsnyder: 1-2, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K — second straight game with a homer and third in his last seven games
- RHP Chris Leroux: 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 5/6 GB/FB — 48 of 75 pitches were strikes (64%) … missed the last month and a half with some kind of arm problem
- SwP Pat Venditte: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 1/1 GB/FB — 29 of 44 pitches were strikes (66%)
- RHP Danny Burawa: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 1/0 GB/FB — 12 pitches, seven strikes
- RHP Matt Daley: 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K — 16 of 21 pitches were strikes (76%)
ByIn his first minor league rehab start with High-A Tampa, CC Sabathia allowed two runs on three hits and a walk in 2.1 innings. He struck out two. Adam Berry says he threw 24 of 36 pitches for strikes. A scout told Erik Boland that Sabathia sat 87-89 with a few 90s. “Couldn’t be happier with the way I felt physically out there,” he said to Berry, which is the most important thing.
Today’s outing officially starts the 30-day minor league rehab clock, so Sabathia has to be activated by July 27th. That’s enough time for four more rehab starts, if need be. There is no word on where Sabathia will pitch next, but it’s worth noting Double-A Trenton send out an email pushing tickets for next Thursday’s game, which would line up perfectly for his next outing. Makes sense to me, but there is no official word yet. · (7) ·
