Game Notes: Ramirez vs Chen

Last night's loss to the Orioles sucked, and I will refrain from mentioning it again, with the exception of this first paragraph. The Rays have now lost their past six games in a row, and the last three were lost as a result of the opponents final at-bats. Nonetheless, they're still only 1 game back in the AL East despite now being a game under .500.

Today, the Rays will send Erasmo Ramirez to the mound to face off against Wei-Yin Chen. Ramirez had his last start on Sunday and was doing decently until he fell apart in the sixth inning when he followed a walk and hitting a batter, with a three run homerun. The Rays would go on to lose that game, 7-2. Heading into play today, Erasmo Ramirez is 2-2, with a 6.62 ERA and 4.72 FIP in 35.1 innings pitched over 12 games. He also has a 19 K% and 10.5 BB%.

His opponent, Chen, has been a quality starter in Baltimore's rotation so far this year. He had a career year last year, winning 16 games to go along with a 3.54 ERA and 3.89 FIP. This season, he has a record of 1-3, with a 3.13 ERA and 4.34 FIP in 54.2 innings pitched over 9 starts.

Wei-Yin Chen Scouting Report:

Chen can attack opposing hitters with five pitches: A fastball (52%) and sinker (12%) in the low 90's, a slider (18%) and splitter (12%) in the low 80's, and a curve (7%) in the low 70's.

Chen will use his fastball anywhere in the zone to any opposing hitter, while keeping his sinker in on lefties and running away from righties. He uses his slider to sweep down and away from the zone to lefties, while burying it down and in to righties. He rarely uses his splitter to lefties (only has thrown 1 this year), while keeping middle-away from righties. Chen will use his curve anywhere in the zone to lefties, while burying it down and in to righties.

So far this season, Chen is producing line drives 16%, ground balls 39%, and fly balls 45% of the time. To go along with his 19.3 K% and 6.1 BB%. Chen is also producing the softest contact of his career, as it sits at 23.4% and his career total is 16.5%.

Other Rays Notes:

- The Rays starters have been very good.

Best rotations in #MLB (FIP-) 1. Nationals (83) 2. Indians (85) 3. Pirates (86) 4. Rays (86) 5. Cubs (89) 6. A’s (90)

— Beyond the Box Score (@BtBScore) May 30, 2015

- The Rays offense has not been good.

During 6-game losing streak, #Rays are 5-for- 46 (.109) with runners in scoring position, including 3-for-their-last-33

— Roger Mooney (@RMooneyTBO) May 30, 2015

- The Rays bullpen has not been good.

#Rays bullpen has allowed a home run in the last 5 games, matching the club record (last Sep 2-6, 2008).

— Roger Mooney (@RMooneyTBO) May 30, 2015

- That is unfortunate for the Rays rotation, which has been good.

#Rays starters have not allowed a run in their last 18.1 innings and only 2 runs in their last 25.1 innings, but have not re- corded a win

— Roger Mooney (@RMooneyTBO) May 30, 2015

- May 30th in Rays History

• Jae Kuk Ryu (1983) and Manny Ramirez (1972) are born.
• 1999 - The team sets a new franchise record with 10 extra base hits, including homeruns from Jose Canseco, Fred McGriff, John Flaherty, and Paul Sorrento in a 15-7 rout of the Seattle Mariners
• 2002 - The Devil Rays walkoff against the Athletics, after Greg Vaughn his a game winning double in the 13th inning
• 2005 - Chad Orvella is promoted from Double-A Montgomery
• 2008 - The Rays walkoff against the White Sox as Cliff Floyd lifts a Solo-HR in the bottom of the 9th inning against Scott Linebrink
• 2010 -

• 2013 - Alex Colome makes his MLB debut. His line: 5.2 IP / 5 H / 7 K / 2 BB / 0 R
• 2014 - Red Sox walk off against the Rays after Wil Myers and Desmond Jennings collide in the outfield. It would later be revealed that Myers had fractured his wrist as a result.