Game Notes: Colome vs Sabathia

Well after a disappointing loss last night in which the Rays squandered an opportunity to tie and possibly win the game in the bottom of the 9th, the Rays will move on tonight and begin a four game series against the AL East leading New York Yankees.

The Rays are currently 2nd in the Division and are separated by 3.0 games from New York.

Toeing the rubber for the Rays will be Alex Colome, and CC Sabathia will be saddled with the task of taking him on head-to-head. Since returning to the Rays after a stint on the disable list, Colome has  been able to rein in the final slot of the starting rotation. In his past start against Boston, Colome went five innings and allowed two runs, in a follow up start to a five shutout innings against the Orioles. Both were photo finishes, each ending by scores of 2-0.

Meanwhile, Sabathia has been anything but consistent this season as he's mixed good quality starts with some dreadful ones. His last time out, he went one out into the 7th inning, and allowed four runs on nine hits, with four strikeouts and two walks. Over the years, Sabathia has faced the Rays numerous times (this will be the 37th!), and the Yankees have lost seven of the past nine attempts.

Lineups:

Yankees:

#Yankees lineup vs. #Rays : Gardner LF, Beltran RF, Rodriguez DH, Teixiera 1B, McCann C, Headley 3B, Young CF, Drew 2B, Gregorious SS.

— Matt Stein (@MattSteinSTF) May 11, 2015

Rays:

#Rays lineup vs. NYY: Guyer CF, Souza Jr. RF, Longoria 3B, Forsythe DH, Butler LF, Loney 1B, Cabrera SS, Beckham 2B, Rivera C, Colome P.

— Matt Stein (@MattSteinSTF) May 11, 2015

Guyer again gets the start at leadoff and in center, with Beckham and Butler each getting the nod. Enjoy that limelight, boys.

Sabathia Scouting Report:

CC Sabathia has long moved on from the days in which he blew his fastballs past opposing hitters, now he relies on mixing his pitches to get batters out. He throws a fastball (28%) and sinker (27%) in the low 90's, a cutter (1%) in the high 80's, a change (20%) in the mid 80's, and a slider (25%) in the high 70's.

With his fastball, Sabathia keeps it low and away from lefties, while using it sporadically all over the zone to righties. With his sinker, he's only used it a handful of times to lefties, and he starts it, inside to righties and has it break back into the zone on righties. He's only thrown his cutter once this season.

Sabathia keeps his slider in one part of the zone to both righties (down and in) and lefties (low and away). He's barely used his change to lefties, but with righties he either keeps it down and out of the zone or tries to paint the outside corner.

Other Rays News:

- John Jaso is making little to-no-progress

Jaso still hasn't swung bat, just started strength exercises a few days ago. Still has pain w/ bruised bones, can't even do a pushup. #Rays

— Matt Stein (@MattSteinSTF) May 11, 2015

Jaso wants to try to get a bat in his hands in the next couple days, cautious not to aggravate the injury and cause it to swell more. #Rays

— Matt Stein (@MattSteinSTF) May 11, 2015

At least he's optimistic

Jaso said optimistically thinking, could return within a few weeks. #Rays

— Matt Stein (@MattSteinSTF) May 11, 2015

- Tyler Goeddel and Blake Snell are the Rays minor league players of the month for April

#Rays name @BiscuitBaseball OF Tyler Goeddel and @StoneCrabs now @BiscuitBaseball LH Blake Snell as minor-league player/pitcher of the month

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) May 11, 2015

- Former Rays farmhand, Oscar Hernandez, was removed from an extended spring training game after re-aggravating his hand injury

Oscar Hernandez took one cut at bat in extended ST game. Founded it off and then came out of the game. Dealing w/hamate injury on hand.

— Jared Cohen (@Jared_Sports360) May 11, 2015

- Brent Honeywell has the start tonight for Bowling Green at 6:30

@brent_honeywell gets the ball tonight for .@BGHotRods in the series opener at @wmwhitecaps, 5:35 CDT 1st pitch on .@1340TheTicket

— Daniel Reed (@Dr45Dr_PXP) May 11, 2015

- May 11th in Rays history

• 1964 - Bobby Witt is born, he spent the 1999 season with Tampa Bay
• 1998 - Randy Winn makes his MLB debut
• 2002 - Randy Winn ends the team's franchise record 15 game losing streak with a walkoff three run homerun
• 2007 - Claimed Josh Wilson off waivers from the Washington Nationals

Go Rays!