Tampa Bay Rays news and links: It’s Austin Meadows’ World

When Austin Meadows hit the Injured List late last month, it was safe to wonder whether he would be able to continue his torrid offensive output. At the time, he had a 1.097 OPS and a 188 wRC+.

Turns out, all he’s done is hit better since his return.

Since May 10, he’s paced a 1.115 OPS and a 197 wRC+. Despite the missed time, Meadows leads the Rays with 1.9 fWAR.

His last two games were especially great, including a 4-for-4 performance against the Indians and a 3 hit day in yesterday’s contest against the Blue Jays, in where he opened the scoring with an RBI single off of starter Aaron Sanchez, and then put the game out of reach with a 2-run homer in the 8th.

ICYMI:

He sure is, Josh.

Rays links

• TWIRB: Avisail Garcia, Orestes Destrade, Jake Cronenworth, and more!

• Ernest Hooper, Tampa Bay Times | Rays, injured players eager to heal, compete
• Juan Toribio, MLB dot com | Kiermaier’s latest snag might be best of 2019

ICYMI:

• Power rankings from The Athletic, ESPN and MLB

Other Links

• Jeremy Jeffress is Neo:

• Richard Justice, MLB dot com | These two players are climbing in MVP race
• Old friend alert! Mallex Smith steals for the cycle against Rangers
• Red Sox great BIll Buckner dies at 69

Tweet of the day:

The Rays look to seal the series win with a win in tonight’s game. Ryne Stanek gets the ball for the home team opposite veteran lefty Clayton Richard for the Jays.