The Tampa Bay Rays were once again victorious, taking another series victory, their fourth straight to start the 2019 season. The Rays offense was relentless against the Chicago White Sox, bailing out a weak bullpen effort from Wilmer Font, Ryne Stanek, and Jose Alvarado.

Charlie Morton was solid in his five innings of work, allowing two runs on three hits and racking up seven strikeouts on the afternoon. Wilmer Font worked a scoreless 6th and 7th before running out of stream in the 8th. He’d be relieved by Ryne Stanek and Jose Alvarado, both of whom struggled to find the zone and get outs, but worked out of an eighth inning jam yielding a total of three runs to the White Sox.

Tampa Bay bounced back with two more runs in the ninth though and Adam Kolarek secured the 10-5 victory for the Rays with a perfect frame.

The Rays are now 9-3, they’re the only team in the American League East with a record of .500 or better.

This afternoon, weather permitting, the Rays will look to secure a three game sweep against the White Sox with Tyler Glasnow taking on Reynaldo Lopez.

News and Links

• Rays adjust staff; Snell, Morton set for weekend - Juan Toribio, Rays Baseball
• 10 bold prospect predictions for 2019 - Mike Rosenbaum, MLB.com

Wander Franco homers in Futures Game, wins MVP

Other than Vlad Jr., perhaps no prospect made as much noise and generated as much hype last season than Franco, who at age 17, garnered Rookie-level Appalchian League MVP honors after slashing .351/.418/.587 with 11 homers in 61 games. Now in full-season ball, the Rays’ top prospect (No. 13 overall) could very well put up comparable numbers, especially as temperatures start to rise across the Midwest League, and he should be the main attraction on the World team’s roster in this year’s Futures Game.

• Cronenworth Named IL Batter of the Week - Durham Bulls Press Release
• ‘It’s almost like a part of you dies’: Retired players on hard choices and life after baseball - Brittany Ghiroli, The Athletic ($)

Former Rays prospect and playoff hero, Fernando Perez is featured in the article

“It’s a drug and to be without it is hard,” said Perez, who took a year off to go to Germany in an attempt to fix his wrist and ensuing shoulder issues before ending up in independent ball. “It’s not easy no matter how prepared you are for life after sports. I still think about pitches I’ve seen 10 years ago. I’m still thinking about things I could have done differently or re-thinking the injury.”

• Back in Chicago to face former teammates, Avisaíl García is hungry for big season with Rays - Josh Tolentino, The Athletic ($)
• How Rays ace Blake Snell surgically shut down the White Sox in the sixth inning Monday - Tommy Rancel, The Athletic ($)
• How Austin Meadows makes the Rays’ Archer trade look better by the day - Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times

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