The Sports Xchange
MLB Team Report – Tampa Bay Rays – INSIDE PITCH
Alex Cobb wanted to make sure he wasn’t the one to mess up the Rays’ streak of great pitching.
He went out Wednesday and posted his third consecutive strong start, working seven innings and allowing one run in Tampa Bay’s 3-2 win over Toronto.
“We’re having a blast,” Cobb said. “Being on a roll like this, you definitely don’t want to be a ripple in the water, so to speak. We’re all feeding off each other and kind of competing at the same time. It’s a lot of fun right now.”
The overall pitching has been phenomenal since the All-Star break. Over that span (24 games), the Rays have a big-league-best 2.27 ERA, .198 opponents’ average and 243 strikeouts. And in 12 of their last 18 games, they have allowed two or fewer runs.
The key to Cobb’s success Wednesday was his curveball, which manager Joe Maddon said was the best he’d seen from any Rays pitcher this year. That allowed Cobb to make better use of his fastball and changeup, and the mix was impressive.
“All three pitches working at the same time for him tonight, maybe the best performance I’ve seen from him,” Maddon said.
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MLB Team Report – Tampa Bay Rays – NOTES, QUOTES
–RHP Fernando Rodney saw his scoreless streak end at 22 innings with a ninth-inning solo homer, but he did tie the team record by converting his 19th consecutive save and big-league-leading 34th overall. Roberto Hernandez (1999) and Rafael Soriano (2010) also had 19 saves in a row for the Rays.
–DH Evan Longoria’s status for Thursday’s matinee may be a late-morning decision, based on how he feels. Manager Joe Maddon said his initial inclination was to not play Longoria — who just returned from the disabled list Tuesday after missing 85 games with a partially torn left hamstring — in the day game after a night game. Longoria went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts Wednesday, so he didn’t run much.
–LHP Matt Moore doesn’t mind Thursday’s 1:10 p.m. start time, saying he likes not having too much time to kill. “It seems like by the time I wake up around 9:30 and get some breakfast, it’s time to come over here and get ready, which is nice because you don’t have all that in-between fluff time where you’re trying to figure out what you want to do, and you have all day to think about the squad you’re going to face,” he said. However, in his career, Moore is 1-4 with a 4.61 ERA in nine day games and 8-3 with a 3.19 ERA in 15 night games.
–RHP Jeff Niemann worked 2 2/3 innings for Class A Charlotte in the first of his four scheduled rehab starts as he completes his recovery from a mid-May broken right leg. Niemann allowed one run on three hits and a walk, striking out three. He is targeting a late-August return.
–DH Luke Scott, recovering from a mild oblique strain, is close to starting a rehab assignment. He came through another batting practice session on Wednesday feeling good, and Rays were deciding whether to have him spend one more day at Tropicana Field taking swings against a high-velocity pitching machine or to send him out on rehab. He is on schedule to rejoin the Rays sometime next week.
BY THE NUMBERS: 20 — Strikeouts for RHP Joel Peralta in the last 40 batters he has faced.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “It’s hard to continue this level, but I really believe that our pitchers can be very good for the rest of the season.” — Rays manager Joe Maddon.
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MLB Team Report – Tampa Bay Rays – ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
–DH Luke Scott (right mid-back tightness) went on the 15-day disabled list July 21. He took swings off a tee July 30 and Aug. 5. He might head out on a rehab assignment during the week of Aug. 6-12 that could have him rejoining the Rays the following week in Seattle.
–RHP Jeff Niemann (fractured right fibula) went on the 15-day disabled list May 15, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 16. He began throwing bullpen sessions July 21. He began a four-start rehab assignment Aug. 8 with Class A Charlotte, and he is on target to return in late August.
–C Robinson Chirinos (concussion) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 19.
–OF Brandon Guyer (torn labrum in left shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 13, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 29. He underwent season-ending surgery May 30.
ROTATION:
RHP James Shields
LHP David Price
LHP Matt Moore
RHP Alex Cobb
RHP Jeremy Hellickson
BULLPEN:
RHP Fernando Rodney (closer)
RHP Joel Peralta
LHP J.P. Howell
LHP Jake McGee
RHP Burke Badenhop
RHP Wade Davis
RHP Kyle Farnsworth
CATCHERS:
Jose Molina
Jose Lobaton
INFIELDERS:
1B Carlos Pena
2B Ben Zobrist
SS Sean Rodriguez
3B Ryan Roberts
DH Evan Longoria
INF Elliot Johnson
INF Jeff Keppinger
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Desmond Jennings
CF B.J. Upton
RF Matt Joyce
OF Sam Fuld
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