One of the beautiful things about the game of baseball is that even a usually impotent offense will occasionally put up crooked numbers on the scoreboard. In last night's game against the Chicago White Sox, the Tampa Bay Rays (whose 3.63 runs per game is tied for secon- fewest in the majors) did just that.
Powered by four home runs (including the first of Richie Shaffer's career) the Rays scored eleven runs in last night's contest. Seven of the eleven runs came off White Sox ace, Chris Sale, making it the second consecutive outing in which he allowed seven earned runs without escaping the sixth inning.
Chris Archer tossed seven frames of two-run baseball, and with a nine run cushion the bullpen secured the victory with ease.
And now, just three days after avoiding a sweep by the hands of the lowly Boston Red Sox on Sunday afternoon, the Rays are on the verge of completing their own sweep of the Chicago White Sox. Winner of three consecutive games, the Rays have clawed their way back to .500 and are only two games behind the Toronto Blue Jays for the second wild card spot in the American League.
The Rays will give the ball to Erasmo Ramirez to face off against Carlos Rondon.
First pitch is at 2:10.
The Book on Carlos Rodon
Drafted in the first round of the 2014 amateur draft by the Chicago White Sox, Rodon pitched in all of nine games at the minor league level before being called up to the Show in mid April of this year. Although he was initially slated to pitch out of the bullpen, the White Sox have started Rodon in 14 of his 17 appearances.
Rodon has pitched well in his rookie campaign, though like Chris Sale he has struggled as of late. In two of his last three starts, Rodon has surrendered more than seven earn runs.
Rodon has also struggled with consistency in his rookie campaign, walking 5.40 batters per nine innings.
Here's a look at his arsenal in 2015:
PITCH | VELOCITY | FREQUENCY | vs RHH | vs LHH |
Fourseam | 94 mph |
29.05% vs RHH *** 38.08% vs LHH |
Sporadic | Sporadic |
Sinker | 94 mph |
31.13% vs RHH *** 23.13% vs LHH |
Middle of the zone and away. | Middle of the zone and in. |
Change | 85 mph |
11.22% vs RHH *** 1.40% vs LHH |
Inner half of the plate and below the knees. | Rarely thrown, but has been low and away |
Slider | 87 mph |
28.42% vs RHH *** 37.38% vs LHH |
Low and inside. | Low and away. |
Cutter | 93 mph |
0.18% vs RHH *** 0.00% vs LHH |
Rarely thrown. | Rarely thrown. |
Noted Tendencies:
*Throws a sinker vs right handed hitters on the first pitch 42% of the time.
*Throws a fourseam fastball or slider vs left hand hitters on the first pitch 84% of the time.
*Against left handed hitters, Rodon throws a slider 50% of the time when he is ahead in the count and 61% of the time when he has two strikes on the batter.
Other Rays' Notes
--No word on who is packing their bags
Hearing #Rays have claimed OF Daniel Nava, won't be here today likely Friday.
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) August 5, 2015
--According to Marc Topkin, he is the 8th Rays player to do so.
@Rshaff8 becomes the 303rd player in @MLB to hit a home run for his 1st Major League hit! #HowAboutThat #Rays https://t.co/j8mkfRmYU3
— Robert (@THERobertL) August 5, 2015