The 2021 (and only 2021) Tampa Bay Rays

[Art Deco]

January 2: Alden Segui, an effective member of our pen last season, signed a 2/9 deal with St. Louis.

January 4: And another former member of our pen who spent 7 seasons with us, Mike Moore, has joined the Mets on a 3/26 contract.

January 7: The Hall of Fame voting is in:

C J.T. Realmuto 87.7 (1st year) Inducted HOF
2B Jose Altuve 86.2 (5th year) Inducted HOF
LF Christian Yelich 71.8 (3rd year)
RF Bryce Harper 60.7 (1st year)
SP Jacob deGrom 59.2 (4th year)
3B Manny Machado 40.2 (1st year)
3B Anthony Rendon 34.0 (2nd year)
SP Walker Buehler 26.1 (2nd year)
SP Gerrit Cole 20.8 (4th year)
C Buster Posey 17.9 (9th year)
SP David Price 17.6 (9th year)
CL Ken Giles 12.9 (4th year)
CL Kenley Jansen 10.9 (7th year)
SP Chris Sale 10.0 (7th year)
CL Craig Kimbrel 10.0 (9th year)
3B Luis Arraez 7.9 (2nd year)
1B Jose Abreu 7.3 (5th year)
SP Aaron Nola 7.3 (1st year)
SP Adam Wainwright 7.0 (10th year) Dropped
SP Jon Lester 6.2 (10th year) Dropped
SP Corey Kluber 5.6 (10th year) Dropped
SP Tyler Glasnow 4.7 (1st year) Dropped

Congrats to Realmuto and Altuve, the latter having to wait 5 years. Yelich should make it next year and I'm a bit surprised Harper didn't get in on the first ballot.

January 20: We signed a 5-star international prospect, OF Alex Gotay, who has potential 70 contact/65 power. The 17-year-old projects to be a mediocre fielder at best.

January 23: And we inked the top pitching prospect in the international amateur class, 16-year-old Dominican Jose Cantillo, projected 65/65/65.

January 26: We pulled off a trade to bring us another starting pitcher:



Our money was limited but we managed to snag Bryant and got the Giants to pay some of his salary as he's signed through 2038. Bryant led the majors in ERA at 2.59 and earned 4.6 WAR so he's more than just a fifth starter for us. He's rated 65/45/50 but so far has only averaged about 1 HR/9 in his last 3 seasons with the Giants despite the below-average movement rating. Poynter was our 3rd round pick in 2033 but projects to be a 5th starter at best and Chavarria, who was up briefly with us last season, is an excellent glove man but a singles hitter. Unsurprisingly the fans were excited about the deal.

January 31: Former Rays slugger Andrew Greckel, who spent the last two seasons with the Yankees, signed a 2/32 deal with the Cardinals. He's in the twilight of his career at 37.

March 3: Ron Baer, who was in our rotation to begin last season but tore a meniscus and only made 5 starts, signed a 1-year, $8.2M deal with Houston. He started off the winter only demanding around $3.5 and we were in on him until he approached $5M (this was before we acquired Bryant) and obviously he did way better than that in the end.

March 20: Starter Joe Scheu has been diagnosed with chronic back soreness and will miss three weeks, putting him on the IL to start the season. Mario Urizar is slated to take his place in the rotation.

[Art Deco]

We had one more late spring injury and it was one we could have done without as slugging LF Luis Berumen sprained his knee and will miss all of April. This leaves us with the following Opening Day roster:

C-Gutierrez, Bing
1B-Stack
2B-Franco
SS-Blackwell
3B-Arroyave
IF-Cisneros, A.Lopez
LF-Stephens
CF-Rivas
RF-Fisher
OF-Ko
DH-Charlton

SP-Marlette, Morales, Bryant, L.Gutierrez, Urizar
LR-Marion
MR-Arnold, Coggin, Mauricio, Bridgewater, Gammage
SU-Riddick, Abeyta
CL-J.Smith

Art Bing makes it as the backup catcher ahead of Javy Denton due to the latter having options and the former not, Tony Fisher becomes a full-time starter due to the Berumen injury, and top pitching prospect Dwayne Marion makes the team with the Scheu injury.

Without Berumen or Scheu factoring in since they only use the current rosters, the preseason predictions are really down on us:



I would bet the over on 80 wins for the Rays.

[Art Deco]

Opening Day box:



It was a tough opening day for the Rays as the biggest concern coming into the season, the bullpen, turned out to be the problem today. Joe Marlette was outstanding in his season debut, dinged for a 2-run homer and nothing else, but Ajani Riddick and Ruben Abeyta conspired to allow 2 runs to the Yankees in the 8th to lose it. There were a couple of bright spots aside from Marlette: Danny Charlton had 3 hits and Tony Fisher had an impressive Rays debut with a double and an RBI single.

The Rays were two outs away from the bleakest of starts to a season, staring a 2-0 loss in the face to start 0-2, managing only two hits, and worse yet losing star 3B Danny Arroyave for five weeks with an abdominal strain. But while they couldn't magically heal Arroyave, they did rally in the 9th to take a thrilling 3-2 win over the Yankees for their first win of 2037. New boy Tony Fisher got the crowd into a frenzy with a 2-run homer with one out to tie it, and two batters later Danny Charlton went deep to RCF to walk it off. As a result Danny Morales wasn't saddled with a loss after an excellent start (6 4 2 1 2 9) and another newcomer Jon Coggin went 2 strong innings in relief to pick up his first Rays win.

Team record: 1-1. Next up: Toronto comes to town for 2 games.

[Art Deco]

As they did in the opening two-game set the Rays split their series with Toronto.

Transaction: Danny Arroyave goes on the IL with his abdominal strain, and a blast from the past is back as we purchased the contract of 3B Cristian Hernandez from Durham. Hernandez was our everyday 3B from 2030-2032 and hit 73 HR over that stretch before being dealt in 2033 to make room for Arroyave. He kind of faded out after that, most recently playing briefly for the Dodgers in 2035 but still has decent ratings (50 contact/55 power/55 defense) and will platoon with Luis Cisernos at the hot corner.

Wander Franco was the star in the opener, hitting a 2-run homer (#1) and then delivering a tie-breaking RBI double in the 8th to lift the Rays to a 4-3 win the Jays. Joe Stack also went deep for the second time this young season with a solo shot, backing a decent start from Gabe Bryant in his Rays debut (5.2 5 3 3 1 6) who started inauspiciously by giving up a single and a homer to the first two men he faced. Ruben Abeyta picked up his first win and Jadon Smith his first save.

The Rays hit four solo homers in the second game but that was all they'd get and the pitching was bad in a 7-4 loss to Toronto. After Tony Fisher gave them a quick 1-0 lead with his 2nd homer, Danny Charlton (#2) and Joe Stack (#3) went back-to-back to make it 3-1. But Leo Gutierrez (0-1) lost the plot in the 5th, leaving the bases loaded with a run in, and Jon Coggin made it worse by wild-pitching home a run and giving up hits to allow the other two to score. As a result Gutierrez finished 4.1 4 4 4 5 4 and two relievers after Coggin each allowed runs. Luis Cisneros later added a solo shot but it was only a consolation run.

Team record: 2-2. Next up: Texas visits for 3 games.

[Art Deco]

Rays took 2 of 3 from the Rangers over the weekend, getting some fine pitching in the process but with most of the offense concentrated in one game.

Transaction: Claimed P Ken Battle on waivers from Seattle, optioned P Dwayne Marion to AAA Durham.

Battle is a 31-year-old lefty reliever who's rated 60/45/65 and will give us more depth in the pen. He's a control artist who had 2.95 ERA a 4/42 BB/K ratio in 54 games with the Cards last year.

And that one game was the opener as they routed the Rangers 11-1. Joe Stack's blazing start to the season continued with a 4-hit, 6-RBI game which saw him hit his 4th homer in 5 games, a 3-run shot to break it open in the 3rd, and a bases-clearing double in the 8th. The Rays also got a 2-run shot from Luis Cisneros (#2) and a a solo blast from Art Bing in his first start of the season. This was all more than enough for Mario Urizar in his Rays debut as he went an impressive 8 7 1 1 0 3 for the win.

Joe Marlette and the Rangers' Victor Pineda locked up in a pitchers' duel in the second game with neither team scoring through the first 7 before the Rays blinked first and ended up losing 3-0. Marlette left with two on and two out in the 8th and Jadon Smith came on early in the critical situation but gave up an RBI double before Ruben Abeyta allowed a 2-run homer in the 9th. Marlette (0-1) took the tough-luck loss after going 7.2 6 1 1 0 7 while the bats could only scratch out four hits.

Runs were at a premium again in the finale but this time the Rays scored them in a 3-0 win. Danny Morales (1-0) was dominant at 7 2 0 0 1 8 and this time Jadon Smith got the job done with his 2nd save. Wander Franco's 2-run homer (#2) in the 5th broke the ice and Mal Stephens added an RBI double in the 7th for insurance.

Team record: 4-3. Next up: Off to Fenway for 4 games against the Red Sox.

[Art Deco]

The Rays went into Fenway and took 3 of 4 from the struggling Sox, who are 2-9 to start the season and it would have been a sweep if not for a blown 2-run 9th-inning lead in the game they lost.

Tampa Bay rolled 7-1 in the opener behind an excellent start from new acquisition Gabe Bryant. The righty won his first Rays decision with a stellar 7 3 1 1 2 7 outing and was amply supported, most notably by Justin Blackwell who was 3-4 with a 2-run double to break the game open in the 4th. Mal Stephens was also 2-4 with a couple of ribbies.

The second game was rained out and made up as part of a Wednesday doubleheader. And for the longest time it looked like it would be a drab, dreary 2-0 loss as that's where it stood after 8 innings before Tony Fisher stepped up and drilled a 3-run homer (#3) to win it for the Rays. Fisher's blast took Mario Urizar off the hook after the righty turned in another good start at 5.1 5 2 1 3 4. Jon Coggin picked up his 2nd relief win and Jadon Smith recorded his 3rd save despite loading the bases in the 9th, getting his third strikeout of the inning to finish it off.

The nightcap is where things went wrong for the Rays as they scored twice in the 7th to take a 3-1 lead, but with Jadon Smith worn down from his 30-pitch appearance in the matinee it fell to Danny Mauricio and Ruben Abeyta to close out the game. Instead they conspired to allow a pair of runs to let Boston equalize and the Sox scored off Branden Gammage (0-1) in the 11th to take a 4-3 win. Leo Gutierrez gave them a fine start at 5 3 1 1 2 7 and Wander Franco was 2-4 with a bases-loaded walk to lead the offense.

The Rays bounced back in the finale to win 11-4 in a game that was a rout, then wasn't, then was again. 2-run homers from Danny Charlton and Wander Franco, the 3rd for each, gave them an early 6-1 lead and with Joe Marlette on the mound it looked like money in the bank. But Marlette (1-1) was far from his sharpest today and in the 6th he loaded the bases then gave up a double to clear them and struggled to a 5.1 7 4 4 2 6 line. Then in the 7th the Sox loaded the bases with a chance to tie or go ahead but the Rays got out of that and they then scored 5 times in the 8th, all with 2 out, to blow it open. Franco and Charlton each knocked in an additional run and Tony Fisher plated three more.

Team record: 7-4, 1/2 game behind 7-3 Baltimore. Next up: We fly cross-country to play 3 in Oakland.

[Art Deco]

The Rays played three one-run games in Oakland and unfortunately came out on the short end of two of them with the finale being a particularly galling setback.

The good news was that they took the opener 3-2 with Tony Fisher fast establishing a reputation as Mr. Clutch, with his 9th-inning homer (#4) breaking a 2-2 tie. Wander Franco's RBI single in the 7th tied it, Danny Morales pitched another strong game (6 5 2 2 1 5), Jamie Arnold earned his first Rays win, and Jadon Smith saved for the 4th time. The only negative was that Ajani Riddick strained his rotator cuff and will miss about six weeks.

Transaction: Riddick went on the IL and Dwayne Marion was summoned again from Durham. He'll pitch the finale since we'll need a starter as a result of the doubleheader in Boston.

The Rays came back again in the second game as Cristian Hernandez's 2-run single in the 8th erased a 3-1 Oakland lead but Jadon Smith (0-1) gave up a run in his second inning of work in the 10th as Tampa Bay fell 4-3. Gabe Bryant went 5.2 7 3 3 2 7 in his start.

The finale will be undoubtedly one of the most painful losses the Rays will suffer this season as they scored 6 in the first and were up 8-1 in the 3rd, blew that lead and then went up again 10-9 in the 8th only to see Ruben Abeyta (1-1) allow a pair of solo homers in the bottom of the inning to let Oakland get away with an 11-10 win. Luis Cisernos' 3-run homer (#3) keyed that big first while Justin Blackwell and Art Bing each brought home a pair. As a result Dwayne Marion was handed a huge lead in his MLB debut but it turned out to be one he'd like to forget as he went 3.2 7 5 5 3 2 and Jake Bridgewater gave up 3 more runs after that. Tony Fisher continued his clutch play with the RBI single that restored the lead in the 8th but Abeyta couldn't keep the ball in the park and the Rays lost a rough one.

Team record: 8-6. Next up: A day off then we head to Houston for 3 games where the Astros are off to a flying 10-3 start.

[Art Deco]

Well that was about as nightmarish as a series could be. Not only were the Rays swept by an aggregate score of 30-8 they lost their best power hitter Danny Charlton to a broken hand and he'll be out six weeks, meaning their three top hitters are now on the shelf with Luis Berumen (mercifully ready to rehab in a week) and Danny Arroyave also sidelined.

The opener was the most competitive of the lot with Houston taking a 4-1 win. Mario Urizar (1-1) only allowed 3 hits over 6 innings, but unfortunately they were all homers and he finished 6 3 4 4 2 5. The lone Rays run came on a Charlton homer, his 4th.

Things looked up briefly in the second game went up 4-0 in the 3rd and had ace Joe Marlette on the mound. What could go wrong? Turns out plenty as Marlette was immediately ripped for 6 runs in the bottom of the frame and the Astros scored 7 more off the bullpen to win going away 13-5. Marlette (1-2) finished 4 7 6 6 3 6. On offense they got a homer from Wander Franco (#4) and Charlton had a 2-run triple.

The Rays experienced another slaughtering in the finale as Houston put a baker's dozen on the board again and won 13-2. Danny Morales (1-1) took today's beating at 4 10 7 7 1 1 and once again the bullpen was horrendous. Granted Houston is a great team (now 12-3 after winning 105 last year and beating the Rays in the ALCS), but enough is enough. And of course the injury was added to insult as Charlton suffered a broken hand after being hit by a pitch.

Team record: 8-9. Next up: We'll limp into Kansas City for 3 games.

[Art Deco]

A step in the right direction as the Rays took 2 of 3 in Kansas City, losing the finale in heartbreaking fashion.

Transactions: Danny Charlton went on the IL with his broken hand and Dwayne Marion was optioned to Durham while Joe Scheu was activated after a couple of rehab starts at Durham and 22-year-old Frank Duron was called up to serve as the DH against righties. The lefty-swinging Duron was our 2nd-round pick in 2033 and is rated 60 contact and 50 power (with potential to improve 5 in each) so hopefully he'll be a credible alternative.

The Rays took the opener 10-4 from the Royals, scoring thrice in the 7th and three more times in the 9th to break open a 4-4 game. Willie Gutierrez and Justin Blackwell, both acquired from KC a couple years back for Orlando Tosado, each had big games against their old team. Gutierrez was 3-5 with a 2-run homer while Blackwell added a solo shot that broke the 4-4 tie, the first of the year for both. And Luis Cisernos continued his power surge, blasting a 3-run shot (#4) in the 9th. Gabe Bryant (2-0) wasn't his best but good enough for the win today at 6.2 9 4 4 0 4.

Tampa Bay put up a 5-spot in the 5th to go up 6-2 and held on to take a 6-5 win over Kansas City in the second game. Rookie Frank Duron had a big game with his first MLB homer a 2-run shot to cap the 5th and he also added a double while Luis Cisernos keeps homering as well with his 5th of the year a 2nd-inning solo blast. Joe Scheu's first start of 2037 was a struggle at 4.1 6 3 3 4 2 so the win went to Jamie Arnold (2-0) in relief with Jadon Smith picking up 5th save despite allowing a bases-empty homer in the 9th.

The Rays' bats were quiet in the finale but they were still in it until the bottom of the 9th when the Royals scored off Jadon Smith (0-2) to eke out a 3-2 win. Mario Urizar was solid at 5.1 5 2 2 3 2 and Tony Fisher went solo (#5) but only 2 runs and 4 hits on the day wasn't enough support. Smith gave up 2 hits to start the 9th and then looked like he might be out of it by getting a double play, but the next batter singled home the winner.

Team record: 10-10. Next up: A welcome return home to play 4 against Baltimore, the team the Rays happen to be 4 games behind.

[Art Deco]

A tough series for the Rays which saw them drop 3 out of 4 including a pair in the most dispiriting fashion.

The opener wasn't a heartbreaker though as the Orioles jumped out to an early 5-0 lead on their way to a 7-3 beatdown of the Rays. Joe Marlette (1-3) was uncharacteristically bad once again, without his best stuff in a 3 7 5 5 3 0 meltdown. His poor start to the season is a concern, especially as we have to rely on pitching now with our top 3 hitters on the shelf. Willie Gutierrez had a 2-run consolation homer (#2).

Aside from Marlette another pitcher we thought was money in the bank was Jadon Smith, and when the Rays have managed to get leads this season he's been shaky in preserving them. Today he didn't blow a save but gave up a run in the 10th to lose it 3-2 after Agustin Lopez came off the bench to deliver a dramatic 2-out pinch-RBI single in the 9th to tie it. In the loss the Rays wasted another great start from Danny Morales (8 4 2 2 1 6). The loss was Smith's 3rd in as many decisions, not a great thing to see from your star closer only 22 games into the season.

Gabe Bryant was brilliant and the Rays took a 2-0 lead into the 9th but Jadon Smith faltered once again, giving up a 2-run homer and then Ruben Abeyta (1-2) allowed a solo shot in the 11th and the Rays suffered another excruciating 3-2 loss. Bryant was 7 2 0 0 1 7 on 91 pitches but didn't get a lot of support with Willie Gutierrez's 3-5 night with one of the RBIs the highlight on offense. One of those hits was a double in the 9th but the Rays couldn't plate him and after that a loss in extras almost seemed inevitable.

The Rays finally took out their frustrations in the finale, walloping the O's 11-5 in a rare offensive outburst that was large enough to bullpen-proof a win. They put 4 on the board in first highlighted by a 2-run Joe Stack single, and Stack tacked on another ribbie later. Agustin Lopez was 3-5 with 2 RBI and Alex Rivas scored 4 runs and had a pair of hits including an RBI double. Duk-yoon Ko contributed his first homer of the year as well. Joe Scheu (1-0) wasn't very good again in his second start off the IL but didn't have to be, going 6.2 10 5 5 0 5.

Team record: 11-13. Next up: 3 games in San Antonio. We'll just have to hang in there and hope to not fall too far behind until we get Arroyave, Berumen and Charlton back while Marlette and Smith hopefully figure out a way to return to their all-star form.

[Art Deco]

The misery continues as the Rays fared about as well as Davy Crockett did all those years ago in San Antonio: outgunned, outmanned and going down to defeat as they were swept by the Alamos, barely scraping any offense together and nearly being no-hit in one of the games. There is some good news on the horizon though as Luis Berumen has started a rehab assignment at Durham.

They fell 7-4 in the opener, but don't be fooled as they scored a couple of meaningless runs in the 9th to make the final look semi-respectable. Mario Urizar (1-2) had his worst outing as a Ray at 5 9 5 5 0 3 while Wander Franco drove in a pair of runs.

The bright spot in the second game was that Joe Marlette (1-4) looked like Joe Marlette again, going 6 4 2 2 2 11 but the bats were no-hit by San Antonio's Cortez Cano until Alex Rivas singled to lead off the 9th. That led to a run but it wasn't enough in a 2-1 loss.

Once San Antonio put 3 runs on the board in the 2nd inning off Danny Morales (1-2) it looked like it was over and in the end it was as that was more than the Rays scored all day in a 5-2 loss. Morales wasn't very good at 5 10 4 4 1 2 after a string of good starts while Tony Fisher had a consolation solo homer (#6) in the 9th.

Team record: 11-16. Yep, that's got to be about the worst start I've had in any of these Rays saves and until the big bats return it's going to be tough to turn it around (we're already 8 games behind high-flying Baltimore which is 19-8). Next up: 3 games in Chicago against the White Sox.

[Art Deco]

The Rays stopped the rot for now by taking 2 of 3 against the White Sox, but considering Chicago came into this series an abysmal 3-22 to start the year that was about the minimum they could have hoped for.

Transaction: Luis Berumen was activated after a few rehab games in Durham and Frank Duron was returned to the Bulls.

It took a 2-run Joe Stack homer (#5) in the 8th to pull out a 5-4 win over Chicago in the opener. Gabe Bryant was handed leads of 2-0 (after a 2-run Cristian Hernandez double) and 3-2 but couldn't hold them, finishing 5.2 5 4 3 2 5 so the win ended up going to Branden Gammage (1-1) while Jadon Smith turned in a shaky (runners on 1st and 3rd with 1 out before escaping) 6th save.

It always seems to be something with Joe Scheu, who's had a hard time of late staying healthy and today left after two outs in the first with a blister. Thankfully Leo Gutierrez (1-1) came in and pitched brilliantly and the Rays ended up with an unorthodox shutout in a 4-0 win. Gutierrez went 5 1 0 0 1 6 and three more relievers finished out the game. Mal Stephens' 2nd-inning solo homer (#1) turned out to be all the offense they needed while Wander Franco was 2-4 with 2 RBI.

The Rays were unable to complete the sweep after dropping a 3-2 decision to the White Sox in the finale. Luis Berumen's first homer of the year in the opening frame gave them a quick 1-0 lead but Mario Urizar (1-3) couldn't hold it, going a pedestrian 5.2 7 3 3 2 3. Shutting them down in the 9th for a rare Chicago save was Jeff Coblentz, part of the Rays' pen the last few seasons.

Team record: 13-17. Next up: A day off then the road trip continues with 3 in Minnesota.

[Art Deco]

More misery for the Rays as they drop 2 of 3 to a Twins club which was 10-19 coming into this series.

It looked like Tony Fisher would be the clutch hero once again as his 2-run homer (#7) in the top of the 8th gave the Rays a 5-3 lead but Branden Gammage (1-2) imploded, allowing 5 runs as Minnesota snatched an 8-5 win. Joe Marlette had turned in a decent start at 6.2 8 3 3 2 7 and Luis Berumen continued his red-hot hitting (now at .533) after coming off the DL by going 3-4 with his 2nd homer but it was all for naught in the end.

The Rays got big games from Justin Blackwell, Luis Berumen and Danny Morales as they got the better of the Twins 7-3. Blackwell was 3-4 with a double, homer (#2) and 3 RBI while Berumen actually saw his batting average drop after going 2-4 with a 2-run homer (#3). Joe Stack added a 2-run triple and Morales (2-2) was 7 6 1 1 2 4 as he's been our most consistent starter this year.

Tampa Bay fought back from an early 3-1 deficit on a 2-run homer from the insanely hot Luis Berumen (#4) to tie it in the 6th, but immediately fell behind again and went on to lose the finale 7-6 to Minnesota. Berumen was 3-5 with 3 RBI and is now hitting .542 but he can't do it alone and Gabe Bryant (2-1) wasn't great at 5 7 5 5 3 7. Wander Franco's RBI triple keyed a 2-run rally in the 9th but it was too little, too late.

Team record: 14-19. Next up: At least we're finally back home for 3 against Cleveland. Amazingly we've somehow gained ground in the division over the past two series, now only 5 back instead of 8 as Baltimore has lost seven straight after a 19-7 start.

[Art Deco]

The offense returned with a vengeance as the Rays scored 35 runs in sweeping the Guardians, buoyed the absurdly-hot Luis Berumen who's on a stretch the likes of which I haven't seen and will detail below.

After playing many low-scoring games this year it was kind of a shock to see the Rays come out on top in an 11-10 slugfest as they did in the opener against Cleveland. Joe Scheu had yet another terrible start (3 7 7 7 2 3) and the Rays found themselves in an early 5-2 hole before scoring 5 to take the lead, allowing 2 to let the Guardians tie, and going back ahead for good in the bottom of the 4th 9-7. Luis Berumen had two hits and two RBI including a solo shot (#5), Alex Rivas hit his first homer, and Tony Fisher, Joe Stack and Duk-yoon Ko each knocked in a pair. Danny Mauricio (1-0) earned the relief win and Jadon Smith made it an adventure again in the 9th, allowing 2 runs before getting his 3rd whiff of the inning for a shaky save #7.

Tampa Bay had a much easier time of it in the second game, scoring 7 times in the first three innings on their way to an 8-3 win over Cleveland. That man Luis Berumen was 4-5 with 3 RBI and Justin Blackwell launched a 3-run homer (#3) to pace the offense while Mario Urizar (2-3) turned in a quality start at 6 6 3 3 0 5 for the win.

The Rays completed the sweep with a thunderous 16-5 rout of the Guardians in the finale with Alex Rivas having the biggest game of all the bats, going 3-6 with 3 runs scored, a triple and 4 RBI. The only homer among their 20 hits was Joe Stack's solo shot (#6), and Luis Berumen was 3-5 with 3 RBI while Tony Fisher also plated a trio runners. Not only did everyone in the starting lineup have a hit, they all had at least two hits except for Wander Franco. The offensive outburst was needed as Joe Marlette's surprising struggles surfaced again and he was unable to make it through 5 for the win going 4.2 11 5 5 2 5. Jon Coggin (3-0) instead got the decision and Jake Bridgewater actually picked up his first save, going the final 2 1/3 as he came into a 9-5 game before the Rays put up 7 more in the 7th.

Team record: 17-19. We only gained 1/2 game as Baltimore started winning again, so we're 4 1/2 back. Next up: An off-day then 3 games in Detroit.

Now about Luis Berumen. Since missing most first month of the season and coming off the IL May 4, he's done this:



That totals out to this:



His stats are easy to see in isolation since they're the beginning to his season but still I don't think I've seen a player this red-hot over a 9-game stretch. I've seen similar 5 HR/16 RBI performances over 9 or so games but not coupled with 22 of 39 at the plate. By the way 1.3 WAR in 9 games extrapolates to about 22 WAR over a 150-game season. Obviously he won't keep this up but we're talking about a guy with 80 contact, 70 power and 70 avoid Ks so he could put up some special numbers if he stays healthy. And with the team's extremely rough start to the season we're gonna need them.

[Art Deco]

The series started off promising for the Rays as they took Game 1 and should have won Game 2. But a bullpen meltdown cost them the middle tilt and they dropped the finale to revert back to their losing ways of late.

Tampa Bay romped in the opener, dispatching Detroit 7-1. Luis Berumen was at it again, going 3-5 with 3 doubles and an RBI, making him 25-for-44 since coming off the IL. Willie Gutierrez had a 2-run homer (#5) while Mal Stephens (#2) and Wander Franco (#5) added solo shots. Danny Morales pitched a strange game, going 4 8 1 1 2 4 and throwing 98 pitches so the win went to Leo Gutierrez (2-1) who was impressive in 3 1/3 scoreless.

The second game was a particularly tough pill to swallow as the Rays took a 4-1 lead into the 8th inning and contrived to lose 6-4. All 4 Rays runs came in the 1st on 2-run doubles from Tony Fisher and Luis Cisneros while Gabe Bryant was a solid 5 2 0 0 2 3. But three middle relievers gave up a run apiece and Detroit pulled within 4-3 after 8. Enter Jadon Smith, one of the game's top closers before this season who just can't seem to get his act together, and he allowed the tying run before surrendering a 2-run walk-off shot to drop to 0-4 with 2 blown saves and a 7.82 ERA on the season. It's been disorienting to see both our ace (Joe Marlette) and closer (Smith) struggle so much this year. Luis Berumen meanwhile had his 8th straight 2+ hit game.

Also struggling in a major way this year is Joe Scheu, who was counted on to be a solid #3 or #4 starter and instead has been downright horrible, including today in a 7-5 loss to Detroit. Scheu (1-1) amazingly took his first loss despite his 3.2 9 7 7 1 1 line being par for the course this year. He's only made it through 18 1/3 innings through 5 starts and has allowed 22 runs on 33 hits and 7 walks in that span for a 10.80 ERA. His outing meant a decent day for the offense went for naught, led by Luis Cisneros, who had 2 hits and 2 RBI including HR #6. Luis Berumen was largely kept in check today with only a double in five AB, ending his 2+ hit streak but keeping his overall hit streak at all 13 games since returning.

Team record: 18-21, now 6 1/2 back of Baltimore. Next up: An off-day to return home, where we'll play 3 against the 23-14 Phillies who are tops in the NL East.

[Art Deco]

The Rays returned home and took 2 of 3 from the Phillies as they trudge down the slow road to respectability.

Tampa Bay got a good start from Joe Marlette in the opener and a big game from an unlikely bat in Agustin Lopez but had to survive another 9th-inning meltdown from Jadon Smith to edge the Phillies 4-3. Lopez had an RBI single to open the scoring in the 5th and then added a 2-run homer in the 7th, his first in a rare start. Marlette (2-4) meanwhile was effective at 6 2 0 0 4 5 and they took a 4-0 lead into the 9th only for Smith to struggle again, allowing 2 homers to let Philly within one before finally getting the third out. He's now allowed 6 homers among 22 hits and 14 runs in 13.2 IP and despite his gaudy ratings (80/65/60) can't be trusted as there's something going on under the hood.

Mario Urizar had a lousy game and although the Rays tried valiantly to come back from the 6-1 hole he put them in they ended up falling short in a 6-4 loss to the Phillies. Urizar (2-4) went 4 8 6 6 0 4 with a pair of homers allowed. Tony Fisher had a solo homer (#8) and Mal Stephens had 4 hits, although he neither scored a run nor drove one in.

The Rays took the rubber game 6-3 over the Phillies after losing a 3-0 lead in the 7th. Luis Berumen, held hitless in the series coming in for the first two times this year, resumed his torrid pace by going 3-5 with a tiebreaking 2-run homer (#6) in the bottom of the 7th. Joe Stack staked Tampa Bay to a 3-0 lead with a 3-run first-inning blast (#7) and Danny Morales was good at 5 5 2 2 1 6 before Danny Mauricio (1-1) gave up a solo homer to lose the lead yet vultured the win. Branden Gammage went the final two innings for his first save as a Tampa Bay Ray.

Team record: 20-22. Next up: The cross-state rival Marlins visit the Trop for 3 games.

[Art Deco]

The Rays continue their slow climb back to .500, pulling to within a game after taking 2 of 3 from the Marlins over the weekend.

Gabe Bryant pitched his best game as a Ray in the opener but sadly it wasn't enough as he came out on the wrong end of a pitchers' duel with Miami's Cole Dale and the Marlins edged Tampa Bay 1-0. Bryant (2-2) went 6 3 1 1 1 10 but the run he allowed in the first turned out to be the only one of the game as his teammates were held to a mere four safeties.

The Rays made up for the feeble output the night before by clubbing four homers in a 10-2 rout of Miami. Duk-yoon Ko led the way by going 2-4 with a 3-run homer (#2) in the 2nd which put Tampa Bay on the board and they never looked back from there. Mal Stephens had a solo shot (#3) and a 2-run triple, Justin Blackwell drove in 3 including a 2-run homer (#4) and Luis Cisneros added a solo blast (#7). This was more than enough for Joe Scheu (2-1) who finally pitched a decent if inefficient game, needing 100 pitches to go 5 6 2 1 1 3.

Tampa Bay took the rubber game 6-1 behind Joe Marlette, who finally seems to be rounding into his normal dominant form. The lefty improved to 3-4, 4.50 thanks to a 7.2 3 1 1 2 12 masterpiece and Ruben Abeyta earned his first save after coming into a 3-1 game behind Marlette and staying on after Tony Fisher broke it open with a 3-run blast (#9). But the big hits came from some unlikely sources. Backup backstop Art Bing tied it with a solo shot (#2) and pinch-hitter extraordinaire Agustin Lopez came off the bench to deliver a tie-breaking 2-run double in the 7th.

Team record: 22-23. The Rays remain fourth in the division but thanks to Baltimore's recent stumbles they're only 4 back of the lead. Next up: The homestand concludes with 3 against Seattle.

[Art Deco]

Things continue to trend in the right direction as a sweep of Seattle put the Rays above .500 for the first time since they were 10-9 a month ago.

Luis Berumen's hot start to 2037 continued apace as he homered twice to lead the Rays to a 6-1 win in the opener against the Mariners. Berumen had solo shots in the 3rd and 7th to give him 8 on the year and all of the Tampa Bay scoring came via 5 longballs with Justin Blackwell's 5th breaking a 1-1 tie in the 4th, Wander Franco's 2-run blast (#6) in the 6th making it 4-1, and Cristian Hernandez's first rounding things out. Mario Urizar (3-4) pitched an excellent game at 6.2 3 1 1 2 9 for the win.

The Rays handled Seattle again 6-2 thanks to a huge game from Luis Cisneros, who belted a 2-run double in the 6th to break a 1-1 tie and then put the game away with a 2-run homer (#8) in the 8th. Agustin Lopez added a solo shot (#2). Danny Morales pitched well at 5.1 6 1 1 0 2 on 95 pitches but didn't hang around long enough for the win, which went to Danny Mauricio (3-0).

In his first two months since joining the Rays Tony Fisher has developed a reputation for coming through with the clutch hit, and his 3-run homer (#10) in the bottom of the 8th which turned a 3-2 Seattle lead into a 5-3 Rays win and a sweep of Seattle has only solidified it. Gabe Bryant was overpowering at times but left the game behind after going 5.1 7 3 3 2 10 with Jamie Arnold (3-0) getting the win in relief and Jadon Smith provided a drama-free 1-2-3 two-whiff 9th for a change to pick up his 8th save.

Team record: 25-23. We're still 4th in the AL East but the good news is that means we're only 2 games back as the division has become extremely compressed with Baltimore's implosion and the Yankees' ascendance. New York won 12 straight before losing to take over first place from the Orioles. Next up: A day off then we get a shot at those 1st-place Yankees with 3 in the Bronx.

Rays news: Danny Arroyave has started a rehab assignment at Durham and should be up after the Yankees series. It'll be great to get him back though Luis Cisneros and Cristian Hernandez were reasonably productive at 3B in his absence.

[Art Deco]

The Raysaissance continues as Tampa Bay went into Yankee Stadium and swept New York to grab a share of first place and make it 8 straight wins.

Luis Berumen supplied the offense and Joe Scheu pitched his best game of 2037 as the Rays topped the Yanks 3-1 in the opener. Berumen accounted for all three runs with a 2-run homer in the 4th and then added a solo shot (#10) in the 8th after New York pulled within a run. Scheu meanwhile was excellent at 6 5 0 0 1 3 to improve to 3-1 while Jadon Smith also looked like his old self by fanning 3 in a scoreless 9th for save #9.

The Rays romped in the second game, handling the Yankees 8-2. Tony Fisher's grand slam (#11) keyed a 5-run 3rd which broke it open, and Joe Marlette (4-4) was back in fine form at 7 5 1 1 2 8. Fisher had 3 hits and Agustin Lopez was 2-4 with a ribbie.

The one constant through this key series with the Yankees was excellent starting pitching from the Rays and Mario Urizar was sharp as they completed the sweep with a 3-2 triumph. The offense was largely held in check managing only five hits, but two of them were homers: a 2-run Tony Fisher shot (#12) and a solo blast from Justin Blackwell (#6). That was enough for Urizar (4-4), who went 6.1 7 1 1 1 3 to help Tampa Bay to its 8th straight win. Jadon Smith was shaky in the 9th, allowing a run and stranding two men, but held on for his 10th save.

Team record: 28-23, tied with Toronto atop the AL East, 1/2 game up on the Yankees and 1 up on Baltimore. Next up: A return home to play 3 against Boston, the poor sister of the division so far.

Not much doubt about this award:

[Art Deco]

The red-hot Rays ran their win streak to 10 and it should have been 11 if not for a major bullpen meltdown in the finale. Still they did move into sole possession of first in the AL East even if it is only by half a game.

Transaction: He's back! Star 3B Danny Arroyave comes off the IL for his first action since the second game of the season with Cristian Hernandez sent back to Durham.

The opener was a pitchers' duel between Boston's Ben Brown and Tampa Bay's Danny Morales, and the Rays prevailed 2-1. Morales went 5.1 6 1 1 1 7 but wasn't around for the decision which came courtesy of Justin Blackwell's tie-breaking solo homer (#7) in the 7th. Jon Coggin (4-0) earned the win and Jadon Smith handled the 9th without incident for his 11th save.

The Rays took the second game 7-5, but it shouldn't have been that close after they led 7-0 through 7. Gabe Bryant (3-2) was on the beam at 6 4 0 0 1 9 while Wander Franco and Justin Blackwell each drove in a pair with Luis Berumen adding HR #11 as part of a 3-hit day. But Ken Battle and Jake Bridgewater made a real mess of things in the 8th and 9th, combining to allow 5 runs and necessitating Jadon Smith to come on and get the final out for save #12.

While yesterday's bullpen follies only made the score close, today they were fatal as an 8-4 lead after 7 disappeared in a 5-run 8th and the Rays lost both the game 9-8 to Boston and their 10-game win streak. As a result a massive game from Danny Arroyave was wasted as the 3B, just back from nearly two months out, drove in 6 with a bases-clearing double and a 3-run homer (#1). Joe Scheu turned in a decent start at 6 6 4 2 2 5 even if he did wild-pitch two runners home on consecutive pitches. That got Boston back in the game, and then in the 8th Ruben Abeyta was hit for four runs to tie it and Danny Mauricio (3-1) allowed a couple of Abeyta's men to score and one of his own to lose it.

Team record: 30-24. Next up: The Angels visit for 3 games.