Game Notes: Odorizzi vs Tillman

Thanks to a surprisingly dominant start from Erasmo Ramirez, the Rays snapped their week long losing streak with a 3-0 shutout over the Orioles. The Rays are now 3-5 against Baltimore this year and all three victories have been of the shutout variety. Unfortunately, the Yankees also won yesterday, so the Rays remain a game behind in the division, but by beating Baltimore, they move out of a tie for second. Today, they'll send Jake Odorizzi to the mound to go against Orioles' ace, Chris Tillman.,

Heading into play today, Odorizzi has a record of 3-5 with a 2.31 ERA and a 2.49 FIP in 66.1 innings pitched over 10 starts. He currently has a 20.2 K% and 4.6 BB%. Odorizzi's tough luck season continued in his last start, as he went seven full innings and only allowed two runs (one earned), on five hits, two walks, while he struck out seven, but he still picked up the loss as he was only provided one run from the offense. In his last four starts combined, the Rays offense has scored a total of five runs, all resulting in losses.

TIllman has had an up-and-down season so far this year, with most of his success coming at the expense of the Rays. He's faced Tampa Bay twice so far this year and has gone a total of 13.2 innings pitched and has allowed three runs on seven hits, five walks, while striking out 11. Heading into play today, he has a record of 2-6 with a 5.59 ERA and 4.99 FIP in 48.1 innings pitched over 9 starts. His last time out, he went seven innings against the Astros, and allowed two runs on five hits.

Today's Lineups

TAMPA BAY RAYS	BALTIMORE ORIOLES
Kevin Kiermaier - CF	Manny Machado - 3B
Joey Butler - DH	Jimmy Paredes - DH
Evan Longoria - 3B	Delmon Young - RF
David DeJesus - LF	Chris Davis - 1B
Logan Forsythe - 1B	Steve Pearce - LF
Steven Souza - RF	J.J. Hardy - SS
Asdrubal Cabrera - SS	David Lough - CF
Nick Franklin - 2B	Caleb Joseph - C
Bobby Wilson - C	Ryan Flaherty - 2B
Jake Odorizzi - RHP	Chris Tillman - RHP

Chris Tillman Scouting Report:

Tillman has six pitches he can use to attack opposing hitters: A fastball (61%) and sinker (4%) in the low 90's, a cutter (9%), slider (<1%), and change (12%) in the low-to-mid 80's, and a curve (15%) in the high 70's.

Tillman likes to keep his fastball up in the zone, crowding up and in to the opposing hitter. He keeps his sinker away from lefties, and running in on righties. He runs his cutter up and in on lefties, while having it hook away from righties. He's thrown his slider a total of once this year. He keeps his change away from lefties, usually outside the zone, while using it anywhere to righties. Tillman will use his curve all around the edges of the plate, but it rarely lands in the zone to lefties, but to righties his starts it in the middle of the plate only to have it drop low and away from the zone.

So far this season, Tillman has a 16.1 K% and 11.9 BB%, which are both worse than his career norms. Despite his lack of success this year, Tillman is actually producing the least amount of hard contact of his career at 24%, while medium contact is a career high at 57%, and soft contact is 19%. He's generated ground balls 39%, fly balls 57%, and line drives 21% of the time.

Other Rays Notes:

- Update on Beckham

Beckham says he's a little sore, could PH today if necessary

— Matt Baker (@MBakerTBTimes) May 31, 2015

#rays Beckham said he doesn't believe hamstring will require DL. Getting treatment today. Said he might pinch-hit today if needed

— Roger Mooney (@RMooneyTBO) May 31, 2015

- May 31st in Rays History, which the Rays are 5-9 alltime. Fun fact, the Rays have twice lost to the Athletics 10-1 on this date.(2005

• 1999 - Esteban Yan allows a three run walkoff homerun to Matt Stairs of the Oakland Athletics, resulting in a 10-7 loss.
• 2000 - Traded Tony Graffanino to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for Tanyon '10 Run' Sturtze, who still holds the team's record for losses in a season with 18 in 2002.
• 2004 - Fred McGriff blast his 491st career homer, a two run shot off of Seth Greisinger of the Minnesota Twins.
• 2005 - Chad Orvella make his MLB debut. His line: 1.2 IP / 0 H / 0 R / 0 BB / 1 K
• 2006 - James Shields makes his MLB debut. His line: 5 IP / 9 H / 5 R / 3 BB / 5 K. The Orioles would walkoff against Tyler Walker in the 11th inning of that game. Shields first strikeout.
• 2008 - Scott Kazmir and five relievers combine to shutout the White Sox, 2-0. Kazmir's 7 shutout innings.
• 2009 - Carlos Pena become the first player to hit a ball off the 'A-Ring' at Tropicana Field. The ball ricocheted off the catwalk and back into the playing field, it would be caught for an out.
• 2014 - Kevin Kiermaier lifts an inside-the-park homerun against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Video