:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46575958/usa-today-8604644.0.jpg)
After the 75th pitch of his June 6 start against the Seattle Mariners, Jake Odorizzi took off his glove and grabbed his left side, wincing in pain. Kevin Cash and the Tampa Bay Rays' training staff rushed to the mound as Rays fans across the country shook their heads in disbelief.
Odorizzi begged the training staff to let him throw just one pitch. Not wanting to risk further injury, Cash took the ball from his right hander and sent him to the showers.
Three days later, Odorizzi was placed on the disabled list with a left oblique strain, joining Alex Cobb (Tommy John), Drew Smyly (shoulder), and Matt Moore (Tommy John) as yet another Rays' starting pitcher to be bitten by the injury bug.
However, despite losing one of their most productive starting pitchers of the 2015 season, the Rays continue to baffle baseball analysts as they continue to win games. In the eleven games since Odorizzi's injury, the Rays are 8-3 and are currently one game ahead of the New York Yankees in the American League East.
After taking three of four games from the Washington Nationals to begin the week, the Rays are set to open a three-game weekend series against the Cleveland Indians. The Rays will send Nathan Karns to the mound to face off against Cleveland's Carlos Carrasco.
First pitch is at 7:10.
Carlos Carrasco's 2015 Arsenal:
| PITCH | VELOCITY | FREQUENCY | vs RHH | vs LHH |
| Fourseam | 96 mph |
44.56% vs RHH / 45.42% vs LHH |
Sporadic; though he does throw up and in a lot. | Outer third of the plate, especially out of the zone away. |
| Slider | 89 mph |
10.57% vs RHH / 10.36% vs LHH |
Down and away, out of the zone. | Up and away, and low and inside. |
| Change | 89 mph |
8.12% vs RHH / 26.89% vs LHH |
Below the knees. | Below the knees. |
| Sinker | 95 mph |
29.71% vs RHH / 13.55% vs LHH |
Outside. | Inside. |
| Curve | 83 mph |
7.04% vs RHH / 3.78% vs LHH |
Sporadic. |
Sporadic. |
Noted Tendencies:
*Carrasco throws his fourseam fastball on the first pitch 60% of the time against both right handed and left handed batters.
Other Rays' Notes:
--Topkin's tweet does nothing but start the "what-if" games in my head...
FWIW, only 3 teams have more wins than the #Rays 38 - #Cardinals 43, #Astros 40, #Pirates 39
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) June 19, 2015
--Evan Longoria is a dad first, baseball player second.
Whether he's at home or the ballpark, his #1 job is dad. @Evan3Longoria for @TheBuzzerOnFOX: http://t.co/1IE44jbeUE pic.twitter.com/y1IS1O79NZ
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 19, 2015