The most alarming part of the series against the Orioles is not that the Rays lost all three games (though that is pretty bad). It’s that the Rays did not play anywhere near the level that they are capable of.
The Rays are such a talented team with so many strengths and there is not one doubt in my mind that they can win it all this year. However, their offense hasn’t clicked, their defense has been messy, and their pitches are still getting back into it.
If a team is built around defense and pitching, both need to be working for success. While the pitching improved already, the Rays defense hasn’t caught up yet. If you want to read more about the Rays’ defensive mishaps, check out this game recap from Game 2 against the Orioles. I thought Game 2 was the most frustrating game of the series.
Looking ahead to the Boston series, let’s focus on what stood out this weekend and what should be carried into Week 2 of baseball.
Lowe, Adames, and Wendle Look Good at the Plate
Brandon Lowe and Willy Adames have been pretty consistent at the plate so far this season. Joey Wendle hasn’t gotten as much playing time as the two, but is right up there with Adames and Lowe in terms of AVG and SLG.
| AVG | SLG | |
| Brandon Lowe | .286 | .657 |
| Willy Adames | .333 | .481 |
| Joey Wendle | .292 | .458 |
Adames, Lowe and Wendle lead the team in SLG. The only exception is Mike Brosseau (who’s had significantly less playing time, but has done well so far).
Manuel Margot’s Defense is Strong
With the exception of one play in today’s game, Manuel Margot has been playing defense pretty well. Margot already has 2 outs above average on the year, and has had better reaction time than in years past.
Hunter Renfroe’s Arm is a Weapon
During today’s game Renfroe fired ball from right to the plate to get the runner out. It’s good to know that we have someone in addition to Kiermaier who we can count on to hold runners.
Improved Starting Pitching
The starting pitching has been limiting damage, and looked much sharper than last week. Yonny Chirinos, though not perfect, only gave up one run (home run) through 4.2 innings pitched.
Glasnow and Snell
Snell only went 3 innings on Friday but his stuff looked a lot sharper than his previous outing. He ended up giving up two home runs in a row (first one should’ve been caught in centerfield) before being taken out of the game.
Glasnow went 4.2 innings with 5 strikeouts and 2 earned runs. He lost control a little bit but made the necessary corrections to get back on track. Biggest thing with Snell and Glasnow is reducing their pitch count so they can stay in the game longer.
The bullpen looked pretty good
Last year we were spoiled with a bullpen who was ranked as one of the best in MLB. The key guys are still with the Rays, but they are still settling in. Based on their performance so far, they will have no problem getting back to that elite level.
Nick Anderson is looking really good. Anderson only pitched 2.2 innings so far this year, but he’s only given up 2 hits and no runs. His at bats are quick and effective. His strikeout rate in 2019 was one of the best in the league. With 2 strikeouts so far this year, hopefully he’ll continue that trend.
Looking Ahead to Boston and New York
The Rays have a day off tomorrow before a two game series against the Red Sox. Boston is not that strong this year, but that does not mean the two games will be easy wins. After watching the Rays struggle this past weekend against a team that is considered one of the worst in baseball, anything is possible. The Rays will regroup tomorrow, hopefully hit the reset button, and come out to play against the Red Sox. If not, it will be a long week and an even longer 4 game series against the Yankees next weekend.