The Rays Opening Day is at home on Friday July 24th at 6:40 pm against the Toronto Blue Jays. What is their roster going to look like, and will they secure an opening day win? Let’s take a look.
Charlie Morton Takes the Mound
Charlie Morton is slated to start for the Rays on opening day. In 2019 Morton had 240 strikeouts, which is the 9th highest among all MLB pitchers. He also gave up the fewest home runs per 9 innings and had the 4th best FIP (similar to ERA, but removes influence of defense) in the league.
The rest of the Rays starting rotation doesn’t look too bad either:
- Blake Snell
- Tyler Glasnow (now back from positive COVID-19 test)
- Ryan Yarbrough
- Trevor Richards
- Yonny Chirinos (back as of July 19 from COVID-19)
Rays Opening Day: Taking the Field
Catcher: Mike Zunino
Think Michael Perez will be the back-up catcher for Zunino, but the Rays do have some other options should either of them be placed on the IL.
While Mike Zunino did not live up to expectation during his first year with the Rays in 2019, he’s been working very hard during this time to improve. He was one of the first players at the field when workouts resumed and has spent a significant about of time in the batting cages and working with the hitting coach to identify areas of improvement. He’s also said that he feels more comfortable with the pitching staff now, which allows him more time to focus on hitting. I really like when players put in this kind of effort, and I hope it pays off for him.
Kevin Cash had the following to say about Zunino:
Courtesy of Juan Toribio, MLB.com
“That’s a great sign,” said Rays manager Kevin Cash. “He can be as dangerous as anybody in our lineup. He has unbelievable strength and bat speed that can flip balls out. We have a lot of guys that are trending in the right direction, and at the right time.”
First Base: Ji-Man Choi
I feel like Ji-Man Choi became everyone’s favorite player overnight. He’s a really good first basemen, a consistent hitter, and just a fun player to watch. If needed, Nate Lowe can fill in for him at first.
Second Base: Brandon Lowe / Joey Wendle
Think Brandon Lowe takes the lead at second after his performance in 2019, but Wendle has also proven his ability at the position. Mike Brosseau can also be thrown into the mix at this position to give the guys a break.
Shortstop: Willy Adames
Willy Adames is a great defensive option for shortstop and a good hitter, especially during the second half of 2019. It’s obvious he brings motivation, energy and encouragement to the clubhouse. He is still a young player, so there is room to improve, but he is on the right track. If he needs a break at shortstop, Daniel Robertson is a versatile player who can fill in.
Third Base: Yandy Diaz
2019 was Diaz’s best career year so far. He can build on his accomplishments this year and continue to support the team at third and at the plate. Daniel Robertson, Nate Lowe, Michael Brosseau and Yoshi Tsutugo are also all capable of playing third if needed.
Outfield:
The Rays outfield this year has so much depth and are very strong defensively. The front office really developed a good group of guys with solid defensive skills and abilities.
- Kevin Kiermaier
- Manuel Margot
- Hunter Renfroe
- Yoshitomo Tsutsugo
- Brian O’Grady
- Austin Meadows (on IL from COVID-19)
- Randy Arozarena (has not been at “summer camp”)
- Jose Martinez (more of a DH)
Kiermaier, Margot, and Renfroe
Of course we have the AL’s best centerfielder, Kevin Kiermaier leading the way. He just needs to make sure he stays healthy, especially in this shortened season. Margot came over from the Emilio Pagan trade, and although he wasn’t met with that much excitement from Rays’ fans, he is going to be a great defensive player to platoon for Kiermaier. Kiermaier and Margot are two of the fastest fielders in baseball, and both ranked in the top 10 in terms of Outs Above Average (OAA). Hunter Renfroe was traded for Tommy Pham, but is also an above average defensive player, with 7 defensive runs saved in 2019 and ranking in the top 10% of MLB for OAA.
Tsutsugo and O’Grady
We don’t really know how Yoshi Tsutsugo will perform in the US yet, but hopefully he will do well. He has a strong bat in Japan and after he adjusts to pitching here, should be able to provide some run support. Brian O’Grady does not have a lot of major league experience, but will be a good option if someone needs a day off or should another player get injured or sick.
Martinez, Meadows, and Arozarena
I think Jose Martinez will more likely act as a DH, as others on the list are more skilled defensively. Martinez joined the team at workouts this past weekend, so hopefully he can get himself ready in time for opening day. Austin Meadows will probably not be ready for opening day, but will hopefully join the group as soon as he gets better. Randy Arozarena has not been on the field at all since the beginning of workouts so he will also miss opening day. I am not sure if he is planning on joining the team later on, but it would be great if he did. He is a talented, young player with a lot of potential.
Read More about the Rays outfield options and set-up for 2020 here.
Rays Opening Day: Bullpen
According to MLB, the Rays have the 4th best bullpen in the league to start 2020, despite them having the highest WAR and lowest ERA in 2019. Regardless, the Rays have a solid pen that looks very similar to 2019. They are just missing Emilio Pagan, who was traded to the Padres at the beginning of this year.
- Nick Anderson
- Diego Castillo
- Colin Poche
- Oliver Drake
- Jose Alvarado
- Chaz Roe
- Peter Fairbanks
- Andrew Kittredge
- Jalen Beeks
- Anthony Banda
- Aaron Loup
Most of these guys contributed to the lights out 2019 bullpen that was fun to watch. For the first time in a while, I felt like I didn’t have to hold my breath when a new reliever came in. Aaron Loup was added to the major league roster after Austin Meadows was placed on the IL. He performs well particularly against lefties, and hopefully will contribute positively to the group. Jalen Beeks and Anthony Banda have a chance as a bulk inning pitcher behind an opener, or to follow behind the starting pitcher.
The success of the bullpen is dependent on a couple of factors. First, I am curious to see how Kevin Cash adjusts his strategy based on the new three-batter minimum rule. The Rays’ bullpen success is based so heavily on match-ups, and especially later in the game it will be more difficult to plan ahead and predict who each pitcher will be facing. Cash will have to find a way to utilize his pitchers in a way that maximizes their abilities while still following the new rule. If you want to learn more about the three-batter minimum rule and how it works, check out this article.
Jose Alvarado will need to perform at his best to maintain a stable bullpen. He’s got the velocity, but too often we see him giving up walks and throwing the ball without control. If he can get back to his best performance, that will help the bullpen remain in good shape. In the event that Alvarado struggles, the Rays bullpen has plenty of other options to pick up where Alvarado left off.
I am really excited to watch Nick Anderson again this year, as he was my favorite guy to watch in the pen last year. He’s a consistent, dependable, and talented pitcher. Hoping he gets the nod for the closer role more formally this year. The video above is some of his highlights from the 2019 ALDS. Can’t wait until we get there again this year!
Looking forward to this season…
The Rays have a great team this year will solid depth and a lot of potential. Their success comes down to if they can stay healthy, and remain optimistic and consistent despite the weird circumstances of this season. I think they have a great chance at beating the Blue Jays this weekend, especially with Charlie Morton starting us off on Opening Day.
The Blue Jays are also at a significant disadvantage to start the year, as Canada is not allowing MLB to play in Toronto. Their home field remains unconfirmed.
I hope we can see the Rays in the playoffs again this year, but until then, I am just excited to watch them get back on the field. Are you ready for the Rays Opening Day?