The 2022 (and beyond) Tampa Bay Rays

[Art Deco]

Game 1: 3-4 L (11). LP-L.Gonzalez (3-2). Starter-Lennon (6 6 2 2 1 4). HR-W.Perez (9), K.White (29). Rays trailed 3-0 going into the bottom of the 8th when Perez belted a solo shot and White a dramatic 2-run equalizer, but all that did was delay the inevitable.

Not happy with the bullpen, I made a trade:



Whitehead has not been the answer as closer, with an ERA in the 4s and five losses, so we went out and got Cruz, one of the top relievers in the game, rated 80/70/50 and good for 47 saves the last season and a half. The cost was Segura, who started the year as the closer but was ineffective and gave up too many homers. His ratings are all still very good so he's been kind of an enigma but Cruz is a major upgrade. Cruz is a rental as he hits free agency this winter and Segura could still be a closer as he's arb-eligible.

Game 2: 1-3 L. LP-Vargas (6-7, 7 5 3 3 2 2). A very frustrating loss as the Rays had 9 hits and drew 7 walks but ended up leaving 14 men on base, unable to push a run across until the 8th.

Game 3: 1-5 L. LP-Buckman (9-4, 5.1 8 2 2 2 6). HR-Haro (12). Another anemic showing by the offense, which is still on break I suppose, sent the Rays to the third straight home loss.

Game 4: 4-0 W. WP-Jimenez (11-1, 7 6 0 0 1 8). HR-J.Lowe (3). Jimenez was dominant and while we didn't exactly have an offensive explosion, it was enough for a much-needed win. Lowe, who wasn't part of the lineup the last three nights, had a massive game with a 2-run homer and an RBI double. Cruz made his Rays debut and fanned the side in the 9th, although it wasn't a save situation.

Team record: 57-37. The lead is 5 1/2 on Boston. Next up: An off-day then Detroit visits the Trop for 3 games.

[Art Deco]

Game 1: 11-7 W. WP-Najera (12-2, 5 6 4 3 1 3). HR-Pino (21). S-D.Cruz (1/20). Najera wasn't his sharpest but the offensive picked up the slack led by Hardy, who drove in four including a bases-clearing double in the first to put them ahead to stay. Pino and Rutschman were each 2-3 with 2 walks and 2 RBI. Cruz got a four-out save, his first as a Ray, but on the final batter herniated a disc and will miss 3 weeks.

Transaction: Cruz goes on the IL and Manny Echevarria, up briefly last season, is up from Durham to take his place. We'll close by committee until Cruz comes back.

Game 2: 3-0 W. WP-Fragoso (2-1). S-C.Lee (4). Starter-Lennon (6 5 0 0 2 3). HR-Haro (13). Haro's 3-run homer in the 7th was the extent of the day's scoring and got the Rays another win.

Game 3: 10-1 W. WP-Vargas (7-7, 8 1 1 1 2 8). HR-Rutschman 2 (18), K.White (30), Hardy (16). The big story today was Vargas, who took a no-hitter into the 9th before giving up a leadoff single (which just got by Pino, whom I should have replaced defensively). He was in the red at 106 pitches so it was a tough ask but with the game in hand he got to try.

Team record: 60-37, now with an 8-game lead on both Baltimore and Boston. Next up: The Yankees visit for 3 games.

[Art Deco]

Game 1: 7-8 L. LP-Buckman (9-5, 4 9 6 6 0 3). Rays fell behind 8-2 in this one before a furious 5-run rally in the 8th got them within one, but they couldn't get over the hump. Pino had a pair of RBI doubles.

Game 2: 2-0 W. WP-Jimenez (12-1, 7 2 0 0 4 6). S-D.Gonzalez (3). HR-Gurrola (17). Jimenez was brilliant and he and two relievers combined on a 2-hit shutout. Hardy's RBI single and Gurrola's solo shot were just enough offense.

Game 3: 4-3 W. WP-Salazar (3-0). S-D.Gonzalez (4). Starter-Najera (5 2 3 0 3 7). HR-K.White (31), W.Perez (10), Hardy (17), Pino (22). The Rays took the rubber game thanks to four solo homers, the last of which was Pino's in the 6th which broke a 3-3 tie.

Team record: 62-38, the lead remains 8 on Balitmore. Next up: Off to Cleveland for 3 games.

[Art Deco]

Game 1: 7-6 W. WP-Lennon (9-7, 5 7 4 4 2 4). S-Fragoso (1). HR-K.White 2 (33), W.Perez (11). Rays scored 5 in the 6th to erase a 4-1 deficit with Perez's 3-run shot putting the ahead while White went yard twice against his former team. The offense picked up Lennon for a change as he's usually poorly supported as evidenced by a 9-7 record despite a 2.96 ERA.

Game 2: 5-11 L. LP-Whitehead (0-6). Starter-Vargas (5.1 8 5 5 0 4). HR-Gurrola (18), W.Perez (12), Haro (14), Hardy (18). Rays did not pitch well in this one and were down early but they managed to come back from 4-0 down to tie it at 5 with a quartet of solo homers. Unfortunately Whitehead showed why he lost the closer's job by giving up a couple of 2-run homers in the bottom of the 6th and that was that.

Game 3: 5-7 L. LP-C.Lee (1-2). Starter-Buckman (5 7 0 0 1 3). HR-Pino (23), Haro (15). A brutal loss as the bullpen failed them again. They took a 5-0 lead into the bottom of the 7th before Salazar and Fragoso combined to give up 5 and let Cleveland tie it, then Lee was tagged for a 2-run homer in the 8th to lose it. Pino's good day at the plate (3-5, HR, 2 RBI) was wasted.

Team record: 63-40. They did lose a game off their lead but they're still 7 up on Baltimore. Next up: A day off then back home for 3 against Minnesota.

[Art Deco]

Game 1: 5-0 W. WP-Jimenez (13-1, 9 5 0 0 1 9). Look out Najera, your teammate is gaining on your in the Cy Young race. After today's 115-pitch masterpiece Jimenez is now 13-1, 2.38 and is now first in wins. Five different Rays drove in a run, including Perez who was 3-4. Ransom was 3-3 with a walk.

Game 2: 6-5 W. WP-Salazar (4-0). S-D.Gonzalez (5). Starter-Najera (4 9 4 4 3 3, 2 HR). HR-Ransom (4). And Najera's grip on the AL Cy might be getting looser after what was clearly his worst start of the season as he was unable to stick around to get the win after being spotted a 6-2 lead. He's still 12-2, 1.61 so let's not get too carried away though. Ransom belted a 3-run homer in the first that gave Tampa Bay the lead for good and Pino, who's finally heating up, was 2-4 with a double and 2 RBI.

Game 3: 6-2 W. WP-Lennon (10-7, 7.1 5 2 2 1 6). HR-K.White (34), Pino (24). The Rays completed the sweep with a great outing from the third of their three aces (Lennon) who lowered his ERA to 2.93. White's 3-run shot in the first was all they'd need but Pino belted a 2-run shot in the 7th after Minnesota got within 3-2.

Team record: 66-40. And while the Rays were sweeping the Orioles were being swept, so the division lead is now a more-than-solid 10 games. Next up: A day off then we head to Yankee Stadium for 3.

And we have a trade just before the deadline:



Although Jose Pino has finally gotten going at the plate and pulled away from the Mendoza Line, his glove remains a problem with a -8.1 ZR at 2B. So we decided to make a +12 ZR upgrade as Campagne is a +4 at the keystone and is a decent hitter to boot (291/333/407). Pino will move to 1B where he's rated 65 (with 70 potential) and Nelson Haro will become the DH, replacing Oscar Castro who wasn't providing enough of the "H" in "DH" (238/310/387). Campagne is arb-eligible but should command $7M+ next year so we'll have to see whether he's a rental (to be traded) or a keeper. To make room we send down top SS prospect Vinny Arroyo, who surprisingly wasn't hitting and even more surprisingly his defensive metrics were slightly negative despite huge numbers in that regard at Durham. As for what we gave up Arnold is a fine relief prospect but more of a middle man/setup guy than closer.

[Art Deco]

Game 1: 8-7 W. WP-L.Gonzalez (4-2). S-D.Gonzalez (6). Starter-Vargas (4.1 6 7 7 2 4). HR-Rutschman (19), Gurrola (19), K.White (35). A wild one at Yankee Stadium saw the Rays come back from deficits of 3-0 and 7-5 with White's 8th-inning homer breaking a 7-7 deadlock after Gurrola's 2-run shot in the 7th tied it.

Transaction: Alistair Hardy was hit by a pitch in the opener and suffered a concussion which is supposed to shelve him for two weeks. He goes on the IL and OF Victor Munoz is back up from Durham.

Game 2: 0-3 L. LP-Jimenez (13-2, 7 6 3 3 0 7). After last night's fireworks it was a tame affair tonight and Jimenez was saddled with only his second loss of the season despite pitching well as the bats were held to only four hits. Tampa Bay was stifled by a couple of former Rays as Luis German started and won and Randy Rodriguez closed it out.

Game 3: 2-0 W. WP-Najera (13-2, 5 7 0 0 0 5). S-L.Gonzalez (1). HR-Pino (25). It was Tampa Bay's turn to win a low-scoring shutout and Najera got back in the business of lowering his ERA (now 1.55) despite scattering seven hits. Pino provided both runs with a solo homer and a sac fly.

Team record: 68-41. Baltimore swept to lower the division lead to a still-healthy 9 games. Next up: off to Toronto for 3 games.

After the game we found out this news about Najera:



Thankfully we can afford to go without him thanks to the big division lead or he'd really be in trouble. He was put on the IL and we added rookie Javy Espinoza to the pen. The 23-year-old lefty was a 3rd-round pick in last year's draft and has made a meteoric ascent to the bigs. He's rated 60/50/45 with 65/55/60 potential and had a 2.97 ERA with 6 saves at Durham. Manny Whitehead, our closer until recently before pitching his way out of the job, will be given a crack at starting while Najera is out.

[Art Deco]

Game 1: 12-4 W. WP-Fragoso (3-1). Starter-Buckman (4 5 3 3 4 3). HR-K.White 3 (38), Campagne (1/6). It was the Kevin White show as the slugging 3B belted a trio of taters and extended his lead atop the AL leaderboard with 38. He drove in 6 on the day including a 2-run shot in a 6-run 6th which broke the game open. Haro had a 2-run triple in that inning and Campagne hit his first Rays round-tripper.

Transaction: New closer Darwin Cruz, injured in the first game after coming over in trade a few weeks ago, comes off the IL and Manny Ecehavarria is optioned to Durham.

Game 2: 3-4 L. LP-Lee (1-3). Starter-Lennon (6.1 6 3 3 2 10). HR-Castro (13). Rays couldn't hold a 3-1 lead in this one and Toronto got the winner in the bottom of the 8th off Lee. Perez was 3-3 with an RBI double.

Game 3: 2-1 W. WP-Whitehead (1-6, 5 4 1 1 3 3). S-D.Cruz (2/21). HR-Gurrola (20), Pino (26). Rays got that pair of homers in the 6th to win the game for Whitehead, who made a very good fill-in start with Najera on the IL. Maybe he's better suited for the rotation.

Team record: 70-42, 9 1/2 up on Baltimore. Next up: An off-day to return home where Texas awaits for 3 games.

[Art Deco]

Game 1: 5-4 W (10). WP-C.Cruz (1-0). Starter-Vargas (5.1 7 3 3 3 3). HR-K.White 2 (40). A few days after hitting three homers in a game White was at it again, blasting a 2-run shot to tie it in the 8th and then walking it off with his 40th of the season in the 10th.

Game 2: 0-2 L. LP-Jimenez (13-3, 6 3 2 2 5 8). The bats were held to four hits and couldn't get anything going.

Game 3: 0-3 L. LP-Buckman (9-6, 5 7 3 2 0 1). Rinse and repeat, this time they could only manage two hits.

Team record: 71-44. Still 9 up on Baltimore. Next up: 54-61 Arizona visits for 3 games.

[Art Deco]

Game 1: 8-2 W. WP-Lennon (11-7, 8 2 1 1 2 7). After being shut out in their previous two games the Rays came out swinging today with seven different players driving in a run led by Pino and Campagne, who each had 3 hits and a ribbie. Meanwhile Lennon was brilliant again and lowered his ERA to 2.89.

Game 2: 1-7 L. LP-Whitehead (1-7, 5 5 3 3 1 5). HR-Pino (27). Arizona flipped the script and overwhelmed the Rays in the second game. Pino's solo homer in the 9th avoided the team being shut out for the third time in four games.

Game 3: 0-1 L (12). LP-Lee (1-4). Starter-Vargas (5.1 2 0 0 3 2). Well they were shut out again and not counting the opener of this series they've scored only one run in four games. Today it was a shame as the pitching was excellent until Lee was touched for a run in the 12th.

Team record: 72-46. The once-formidable division lead is now down to 7 over Baltimore and that's where the Rays go next after an off-day to play 3 games. Get swept there and things are suddenly looking tight again.

[Art Deco]

Transaction: Alistair Hardy comes off the IL to play RF for us again, and OF Simon Juan takes Hardy's place there with a sprained elbow which will cost him 4 weeks.

Game 1: 2-0 W. WP-Jimenez (14-3, 8 4 0 0 1 6). S-D.Cruz (3/22). Tampa Bay came into this series with a chance to see their lead down to 4 games if Baltimore swept. Thanks to yet another brilliant outing from Jimenez that isn't going to happen. He started the 9th looking for a shutout with his pitch count in the 80s but gave up a leadoff double so Cruz came on and struck out all three men he faced for the save. Ransom doubled in a run in the 4th and then scored on Campagne's single for the day's offense.

Game 2: 5-8 L. LP-L.Gonzalez (4-3). Starter-Buckman (4.1 6 3 3 4 2). HR-Pino (28), Rutschman (20), Gurrola (21), Haro (16). A rough loss for the Rays as the Gonzalezes, Luis and David, conspired to give up 5 Baltimore runs in the 8th after the Rays came back from an early 3-0 deficit to take a 4-3 lead on Gurrola's homer in the 7th.

Game 3: 4-3 W. WP-Lennon (12-7, 5.1 6 3 3 3 6). S-D.Cruz (4/23). HR-Rutschman (21), Pino (29). Rays got a big win in the finale to take the series and re-open an 8-game lead on Baltimore. Pino's solo shot in the 5th broke a 2-2 tie and Gurrola's sac fly in the 6th proved the difference as Lennon wasn't his best today. Cruz got Fragoso out of a jam in the 8th and picked up a 4-out save.

Team record: 74-47. Next up: They'll head up I-95 to Queens to play 3 against the Mets.