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The Rays have now won four straight games en route to securing first place in the American League East. Meanwhile, the Boston Red Sox have lost seven in a row, which is nice. The Rays won yesterday 6-1 over the Wasington Nationals, but in what would have been a crushing blow, Evan Longoria was removed from the game in the fifth after being hit in the wrist that had been bothering him the week before. It's good news, then, to see Longoria in today's starting lineup as opposed to on a one-way ticket to the disabled list.
Tonight, they'll send Alex Colome to the mound to face off against Tanner Roark. Heading into play today, Colome has a record of 3-2 with a 4.21 ERA and a 4.81 FIP to go along with his 16.5 K% and career best, 6.5 BB% in nine starts and 47 innings pitched. His last time out, he pitched into the sixth inning against the Angels and only allowed a run (Mike Trout solo-HR) on four hits, while walking two and striking out four.
Tanner Roark Scouting Report:
Roark was just recently moved into a starting role again about a month ago and the results have be mixed. In four starts this year, he is 2-0 with a 4.63 ERA in 23.1 innings pitched. So far this season, he is 2-2 with a 3.71 ERA and a 5.51 FIP, so it seems Roark as been benefiting from some good luck. He also carries a 11.7 K% (the lowest of his career), and a 5.0 BB% into play today. His last time out, he pitched into the 7th inning against Milwaukee allowing five runs on nine hits, while walking one and striking out four.
Here's what his repertoire looks like (performing as a starter):
| PITCH | VELOCITY | FREQUENCY | vs LHB | vs RHB |
| Fastball | Low 90's |
20% vs LHB / 24% vs RHB |
Sporadically | Sporadically |
| Sinker | Low 90's |
52% vs LHB / 48% vs RHB |
Tails away, out of the zone | Runs it in, under the hands, out of the zone |
| Change | Low 80's |
12% vs LHB / 0% vs RHB |
Down in the zone | N/A |
| Slider | Mid 80's |
0% vs LHB / 24% vs RHB |
N/A | Down and away, occasionally out of the zone |
| Curve | Mid 70's |
16% vs LHB 3% vs RHB |
Sporadically | Sporadically |
Roark hasn't really shown a split this year between righties and lefties. After 85 trips to the plate, lefties have slashed .269/.329/.526 with 5 HR to go along with a 8.2 K% and 7.1% BB%, meanwhile righties have slashed .261/.287/.444 with 4 HR to go along with 14.7 K% and 3.2 BB% in 95 trips to the plate.
When opponents make contact off of Roark, 17.7% of the time is a line drive, meanwhile 46.9% are groundballs, and 35.4% are flies.
Today's Lineups
Other Notes:
- Not Rays related, but an interesting development I'm sure everyone has heard about already. Hackers are the new market inefficiency.
Breaking News: St. Louis Cardinals Investigated by F.B.I. for Hacking Astros http://t.co/8oipBIeOrk
— The New York Times (@nytimes) June 16, 2015
- Rays first rounder, Garrett Whitely, sat down with 104.5 and stated that a deal would be worked out.
Hey Rays fans, looks like your first-round should be signing soon. He joined us yesterday. @TBTimes_Rays @draysbay http://t.co/142Q5JUB52
— 104.5 The Team (@1045TheTeam) June 16, 2015
- Rays international signee, Dayron Varona, moving on up
#StoneCrabs roster move: OF Dayron Varona promoted to Double-A Montgomery. No corresponding move yet.
— Josh Vitale (@JoshVitale) June 16, 2015
- Bobby Wilson has remained with the team
#Rays have hung on to C Bobby Wilson and outrighted him to Triple-A Durham, per http://t.co/70X0RDWCJO transactions
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) June 15, 2015
- 29th place
2 days ago, the Padres overtook the Rays as the team with the worst all-time record. TB held the record every day from 9/24/1998 - 6/13/2015
— Dan Hirsch (@DanHirsch) June 16, 2015
- June 16th in team history, of which they are 7-7 all time
- 1971 - Chris Gomez is born. A career middle infielder who somehow stuck around the majors for 16 seasons despite being less than adequate. During his two seasons with Tampa Bay (2001-2002), he slashed .275/.313/.440 with 17 HR in 188 games, while posting 2.9 WAR.
- 1980 - Dewon Brazelton is born, he'd be the team's first selection in the 2000 draft, sandwiched between Joe Mauer, Mark Prior, & Gavin Floyd, and Mark Teixeira. Over the course of four seasons with Tampa Bay (2002-2005), Brazelton was 8-23 with a 5.98 ERA and 5.73 FIP in 54 games and 253 innings pitched.
- 1998 - After trailing for most of the game, the Devil Rays score three runs in the bottom of the ninth against Randy Myers of the Toronto Blue Jays. The night was capped off by a walkoff double hit by Miguel Cairo, giving the team a 4-3 victory.
- 1999 - After coming back to tie the game in the 8th inning against the Chicago White Sox, the game would go into extra innings. Unfortunately, the Devil Rays would lose with anti-climatic fashion as Norm Charlton walked Greg Norton with the bases loaded to force in the winning run giving the White Sox a 3-2 walkoff victory.
- 2001 - The team is one hit by the fearsome combination of Brad Penny and Ricky Bones in a 11-0 loss to the Marlins
- 2012 - After allowing three runs to the Marlins in the first two innings and then holding them scoreless for the next 12, Brandon Gomes allows back-to-back extra base hits in the top of the 15th and the Rays would go on to lose 4-3.