MLB Trade Rumors: Kevin Kiermaier, Joey Wendle 'Being Discussed' in Rays Talks
Nov 30, 2021
Tampa Bay Rays Kevin Kiermaier follows through on a double during the eighth inning against the Boston Red Sox during Game 4 of a baseball American League Division Series, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
The Tampa Bay Rays have reportedly discussed trades involving both infielder Joey Wendle and outfielder Kevin Kiermaier, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
Matt Gelb of The Athletic reported the Philadelphia Phillies have shown interest in Kiermaier.
As Rosenthal noted, the Rays need to clear spots on the 40-man roster in order to make room for free-agent addition Corey Kluber. The two sides reportedly agreed to a one-year deal on Sunday worth up to $13 million.
Kiermaier could be worth moving, as he's owed $12.2 million in 2022, especially considering the team's alternatives in center field, which include Manuel Margot.
The lack of consistency at the plate also makes Kiermaier dispensable, as he hit just .232 with a .298 on-base percentage over the last four seasons. The 31-year-old is coming off a solid 2021 with a .259 average, which is serviceable, considering his elite defense.
He posted 13 defensive runs saved in center field last season, per FanGraphs, and he has totaled 145 runs saved during his nine-year career.
Wendle, meanwhile, could draw interest with his defensive versatility after playing third base, second base and shortstop last season. The 31-year-old earned his first All-Star selection last year and finished with a .265 average, 11 home runs and 54 RBI.
The Rays likely won't deal starting position players without getting a significant return, but the team has a lot of depth and is looking for ways to stay elite after going 100-62 last season.
MLB Rumors: Corey Kluber Agrees to Rays Contract After Playing with Yankees in 2021
Nov 28, 2021
New York Yankees starting pitcher Corey Kluber receives the ball in the second inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Indians, Friday, Sept. 17, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
The Tampa Bay Rays and starting pitcher Corey
Kluber reached an agreement Sunday on a one-year deal ahead of the 2022 MLB season, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
Kluber put together a solid bounce-back
season with the New York Yankees in 2021. He compiled a 3.83 ERA and
1.34 WHIP with 82 strikeouts in 80 innings across 16 starts. His best
stretch came in May, when he threw a no-hitter and compiled a 2.27
ERA in five outings.
Injuries have become a major factor for
the 35-year-old right-hander in recent years, though.
The Alabama native was limited to seven
starts in 2019 because of arm and abdominal injuries, and he made only one appearance in 2020 because of a shoulder ailment.
Then, just as he was starting to settle
in with the Yanks, he suffered a shoulder injury in late May that
kept him on the injured list until late August.
"Whether you've had any [injuries]
before or not, I think it's still something that no player wants to
go through," Kluber said in July. "You want to be out there on the
team. You wanna be out there on the field with your team. You want to
be competing with your teammates, not watching with a kind of
helpless feeling."
Kluber was previously one of MLB's top
pitchers during a nine-year stay with Cleveland. He
earned three All-Star nods (2016-18) and won the AL Cy Young
Award twice (2014 and 2017).
During that impressive run of
starts in May, Kluber showed that he can still perform at that level. He might have a few more years
of productive pitching in his right arm since he's never relied on an
overpowering fastball to get hitters out.
With that said, staying healthy will be the
most important factor in his effort to put together a late-career
resurgence.
Expectations should be kept within
reason as he arrives to Tampa, but it's a free-agent signing with
definite upside in terms of adding to the club's rotation depth.
It would provide a major boost to the Rays if he can provide upward of 25 starts in 2022.
Report: Wander Franco, Rays Agree on 12-Year, $223M Contract Extension
Nov 23, 2021
Tampa Bay Rays Wander Franco, left, watches his two-run home run during the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox during Game 4 of a baseball American League Division Series, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Wander Franco and the Tampa Bay Rays have reportedly agreed to a 12-year, $223 million contract extension.
Hector Gomez of Z101 Digital reported the news after Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times said the two sides were "moving close" to a long-term deal.
Jeff Passan of ESPN shared more specifics on Franco's deal with the Rays:
Wander Franco does not have a no-trade clause in his mega-deal with Tampa Bay. There is a $3M assignment bonus if he gets dealt. And if he remains with the Rays through 2031, he’ll get 10-and-5 rights that allow him to block any trade.
Franco has played just 70 games in the majors, producing a .288 batting average, .347 on-base percentage, seven home runs and 39 RBI in that time.
Despite the limited time in the majors, baseball experts have been expecting big things from Franco for several years after excelling at every stage of the minors. He was rated the No. 1 overall prospect in baseball in each of the past two years by Baseball America.
The 20-year-old lived up to expectations once he reached the big leagues.
"I think you could make the argument that he's the most impactful player on any team in baseball," Rays manager Kevin Cash said in October, per Adam Berry of MLB.com.
"He is a game-changing player," Cash added. "It's going to be fun to watch for a long time."
Franco excelled both offensively and defensively and was key in helping the Rays finish 100-62 in 2021, good for first place in the AL East.
Tampa Bay now locks down the emerging superstar for more than a decade, even getting a relative discount compared to Fernando Tatis Jr. and his 14-year, $330 million deal with the San Diego Padres.
Without the contract, Franco would have had two more seasons on his rookie deal before three years of arbitration, potentially hitting free agency for the first time after the 2027 season. The new deal secures the player's future with guaranteed money regardless of performance going forward.
Rays' Randy Arozarena, Reds' Jonathan India Win 2021 MLB Rookie of the Year Awards
Nov 16, 2021
CINCINNATI, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 20: Jonathan India #6 of the Cincinnati Reds in action during a game between the Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park on September 20, 2021 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Cincinnati Reds second baseman Jonathan India and Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena, as expected, were named the National League and American League Rookies of the Year, respectively, on Monday.
.@JonathanIndia is the Jackie Robinson NL Rookie of the Year!
India beat out St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson and Miami Marlins pitcher Trevor Rogers. Arozarena beat out teammate Wander Franco and Houston Astros pitcher Luis Garcia.
It seemed a foregone conclusion that India, 24, would win the award in the NL. he led MLB's rookies in games (150), on-base percentage (.376), doubles (34), walks (71) and runs scored (98) while ranking second with a .835 OPS. He added 21 homers and 69 RBI.
"I can't imagine someone being more deserving than Jonathan," Reds manager David Bell told reporters after the season. "He's done everything. He's done everything in his power to make our team better, and he has done that. He's personally had just a great season, great accomplishments, but he's just simply made us a much better team by being in our lineup every day, and I think that's what it is all about."
Nick Castellanos on Jonathan India: "The Reds better shape up and extend this man very quickly, or he's going to become too expensive. Jonathan India is a very, very good baseball player and he's going to get better."
The 26-year-old Arozarena was already the favorite to win Rookie of the Year after an incredible 2020 postseason that saw him named the AL Championship Series MVP.
"He set the bar so high, the expectation level coming off his postseason of 2020 probably made it unfair," Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters. "Nobody in their right mind was going to say he was just going to back that up for the month he produced in the (2020) postseason. But for a 26-year-old rookie, he had a pretty special season."
Indeed he did, hitting 274 with 20 homers, 69 RBI, 94 runs, 32 doubles, 20 steals and a .815 OPS. He led all MLB rookies with a 4.1 WAR, per Baseball Reference.
Luis Garcia placed second behind Randy Arozarena in the AL Rookie of the Year Award voting. Garcia got two first-place votes, 15 second-place votes and eight third-place votes. https://t.co/CvSJq7KOnx
It was stiff competition for both players. In the NL, the versatile Carlson—he played all three outfield positions and hit in seven different spots in St. Louis' lineup—hit .266 with 18 homers, 65 RBI, 79 runs and a .780 OPS.
Rogers, meanwhile, went 7-8 with a 2.64 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 157 strikeouts in 133 innings. Sixto Sanchez was the young pitcher the Marlins were expected to build around for the future, but after he was forced to miss the season, Rogers emerged as another building block in Miami.
In the AL, Franco very likely would have won this award had he played a full season. Nonetheless, he still hit .288 with seven homers, 39 RBI, 53 runs, a .810 OPS and a 3.5 WAR in 70 games.
"I think you could make the argument that he's the most impactful player on any team in baseball," Cash told reporters after the season. "Certainly for us, our team was really good; we got better when he came. He lengthened our lineup. He made our defense better. He worked really hard on his defense to make his defense better, and it made our overall defense better. He is a game-changing player. It's going to be fun to watch for a long time."
Finally, Garcia helped the Astros reach the World Series, finishing 11-8 with a 3.48 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP in 28 starts during the regular season, leading AL rookie pitchers in wins (11), innings (155.1) and strikeouts (167).
Rays' Nelson Cruz Wins MLB's 2021 Roberto Clemente Award
Oct 27, 2021
ST PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 07: Nelson Cruz #23 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts after hitting a solo home run during the third inning of game one of the 2021 American League Division Series against the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field on October 7, 2021 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
Lauded for his charitable efforts in the Dominican Republic, Tampa Bay Rays star Nelson Cruz has won the 2021 Roberto Clemente Award.
Major League Baseball bestowed the honor on Cruz on Wednesday:
Nelson Cruz is the 2021 Roberto Clemente Award winner!
Thanks to his charitable work in his native Dominican Republic, Cruz is the 50th winner of the prestigious honor. pic.twitter.com/8yRsLW9Ehr
"I never was doing what I was doing to be recognized or win awards, but it's always nice when people recognize the work that you put on to help others," Cruz said, via MLB.com's Do-Hyoung Park. "I know all 29 other players that were nominated really deserved to win it. I just thank God that I was the one."
MLB established the Roberto Clemente Award in 1971 to honor the player "who best represents the game of Baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field."
It was named after the Pittsburgh Pirates icon, who died in 1972 in a plane crash en route to Managua, Nicaragua. He was on that trip to deliver supplies after a massive earthquake caused extensive damage, killing at least 18,000 people and leaving 200,000 people homeless.
Cruz, who started the season with the Minnesota Twins before being traded to the Rays in July, also received the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award at the 2020 ESPYs.
The seven-time All-Star launched the Boomstick23 Foundation in 2016. The organization was established in the Dominican Republic's Las Matas de Santa Cruz municipality. Its mission is to support youth in the Dominican Republic and the United States with education and athletic resources.
Kike Hernandez's Walk-Off RBI Gives Red Sox ALDS Series Win vs. Rays
Oct 12, 2021
Boston Red Sox Rafael Devers (11) is congratulated by teammates after hitting a three-run home run during the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays during Game 4 of a baseball American League Division Series, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
The Boston Red Sox clinched their spot in the American League Championship Series with a dramatic 6-5 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in Monday's Game 4 of their AL Division Series at Fenway Park. Enrique Hernandez drove in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth with a sacrifice fly to clinch the series.
Rafael Devers and Eduardo Rodriguez led the way before that for the victors, who won three straight after dropping Game 1.
A comeback effort after falling behind 5-0 wasn't enough for the Rays, who were unable to defend their AL crown despite having the No. 1 seed in this year's playoffs.
All eyes were on the pitching in Monday's contest after Sunday's 13-inning marathon, especially for the Rays.
After all, they used nine pitchers in the last game and got just two innings from starter Drew Rasmussen. They also used potential Game 4 starter Luis Patino, which left Collin McHugh as the opener for a bullpen game with the season on the line.
He set the tone with two shutout innings to start, but any momentum he generated quickly faded when Boston knocked around Shane McClanahan in the third. McClanahan was one out away from escaping a jam when Devers launched a three-run homer, Xander Bogaerts singled, Alex Verdugo drove in a run with a double and J.D. Martinez added an RBI single.
It was suddenly 5-0, and the series felt like it was essentially over all thanks to one two-out rally.
To Tampa Bay's credit, the bullpen combination of JT Chargois, Andrew Kittredge, Patino and especially Pete Fairbanks kept it within striking distance after the abysmal third. That was no easy task in front of a raucous Fenway crowd, and Fairbanks impressed by entering in the seventh with runners on the corners only to induce an inning-ending double play from Bogaerts.
He also worked around an error in a scoreless eighth thanks to an incredible throw from Kevin Kiermaier to retire a tagging Verdugo at third.
However, J.P. Feyereisen was unable to replicate his team's effort in the ninth and gave up the series-winning run. Christian Vazquez started things off with a single, moved to second on a Christian Arroyo bunt, moved to third on a Travis Shaw infield single and scored on Hernandez's sacrifice fly to overcome Tampa Bay's comeback and win the series.
Rays' Comeback Falls Just Short
Boston was in better shape than Tampa Bay coming into Monday's game even after the 13-inning battle because Nathan Eovaldi went five frames and presumed Game 4 starter Nick Pivetta went four.
That left the home team with the much fresher bullpen behind starter Rodriguez, and it seemed it would be needed when it took 17 pitches to strike out Austin Meadows in an epic at-bat in the second inning.
Turns out, Rodriguez was ready to go far deeper into the game than could have been reasonably expected for someone who allowed two runs, two hits and two walks in 1.2 innings during Tampa Bay's only win of the series.
The 17-pitch battle between Eduardo Rodriguez and Austin Meadows is the longest by pitches in a #postseason PA since at least 1988 (when pitch count data started being tracked). pic.twitter.com/zjEdbzXUcf
The southpaw pitched into the sixth inning while striking out six and avoiding a single walk. Not only did he miss bats, but he also avoided consistent hard contact and limited the damage by allowing a single run in the fifth after a leadoff double from Jordan Luplow.
Rodriguez was charged with another run when he exited with a runner on and Tanner Houck allowed a two-run homer to Wander Franco, but he gave the Red Sox exactly what they needed after Sunday. The question was whether the bullpen would hold on to the lead he staked the Red Sox to, and Houck's showing wasn't a promising start.
Neither was Ryan Brasier's eighth. He gave up the lead by allowing a double to Mike Zunino, RBI double to Kiermaier and RBI single to Randy Arozarena. Things seemed dire for Boston, but Garrett Whitlock somehow escaped that jam without allowing another run and then threw a seven-pitch ninth.
It was just the performance the Red Sox needed to end Tampa Bay's momentum.
What's Next?
The Red Sox will face either the Houston Astros or the Chicago White Sox in the ALCS.
Rays' Kevin Kiermaier: Ground-Rule Double Ruling in ALDS Game 3 a 'Heartbreaker'
Oct 11, 2021
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 10: Kevin Kiermaier #39 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts after his ground rule double in the 13th inning against the Boston Red Sox during Game 3 of the American League Division Series at Fenway Park on October 10, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier blasted a ground-rule double in the top of the 13th during Sunday's 6-4 extra-innings loss to the Boston Red Sox, appearing for a moment to give the Rays a 5-4 lead.
But umpires ruled that Yandy Diaz, who clearly would have scored had the ball not bounced over the fence and gone out of play, had to go back to third base, taking a run off the board for the Rays.
"I'm just in awe right now," Kiermaier told reporters after the game. "That's the ruling, the umpires explained it to me. So I can't go against that. The rules are what they are. But man, that's just, that's a heartbreaker."
ESPN's Jeff Passan offered more context on the controversial ruling:
Here it is. Rule 5.05(a)(8). It explains the ruling that put Kevin Kiermaier on second and kept Yandy Diaz on third. pic.twitter.com/aBg0fImlIg
In other words, you can't just grab the ball and chuck it into the stands without there being a penalty. No, you just have to completely misfield it and only then do you get rewarded!
"I saw the replay, there was nothing intentional about it," Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters, explaining why he didn't challenge the call. "That's just the rules. It's the way it goes, it was very unfortunate for us. I thought it was pretty obvious that Yandy was going to come around to score, but it didn't go our way."
Of course, that opens up an entirely different conversation about whether that rule makes any logical sense at all:
I’m not sure whether the rules of baseball make no sense or just lack common sense.
But there’s no rational reason to deny the Rays a run when the runner was 3 feet from third base when the ball caromed off the fielder out of play.
The “rule is clear” people need to chill out. That’s the dumbest rule I’ve ever heard of and I also played baseball for 30 years and never saw it come up. Great for the Sox, a seemingly fatal wound for the Rays.
As @Ken_Rosenthal said, umpires handled it correctly. Renfroe certainly didn't field it cleanly. Ball was still live as it jumped into the bullpen. Ground-rule double every time. Just a terribly unfortunate break for the Rays and will need to be looked into in offseason.
With instant replay now available to umpires, it wouldn't be surprising to see the rule changed, given that the precise positioning of baserunners can be pinpointed at the time the ball bounces over the fence. The old rule made sense without the ability to consult video. But replays showed that Diaz was clearly past second base, nearly to third, and the two bases he should have been awarded with a more logical rule in place would have led to him scoring.
Granted, it may have been something of a moot point, given that Christian Vazquez hit a two-run dinger in the bottom of the inning to walk it off.
But who knows how the game might have changed if the Rays went into the bottom of the 13th with a one-run lead instead of the contest remaining tied?
Regardless, the Rays can't change the outcome and now face an elimination game in Boston on Monday night at 7:07 p.m. ET, down 2-1 in the series.
"We have to put on our big-boy pants," Kiermaier told reporters about the win-or-go-home game.
And maybe have baseball's most obscure rules go their way, too.
MLB Playoffs 2021: Odds, Daily Fantasy Predictions for Sunday's ALDS
Oct 10, 2021
Boston Red Sox's Xander Bogaerts, right, celebrates his home run against the Tampa Bay Rays with J.D. Martinez (28) during the third inning of Game 2 of a baseball American League Division Series, Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Coming off Saturday's travel day, the two American League Division Series resume Sunday.
The Houston Astros can sweep the Chicago White Sox out of the playoffs and clinch a berth in the ALCS for the fifth consecutive year. They have outscored the AL Central champs 15-5 through the first two games of the series.
In the other series, the Boston Red Sox stormed back to life with a 14-6victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 2 to even things up before the first game at Fenway Park.
In anticipation of these games, here are some daily fantasy projections to keep in mind if you want to add more drama to the proceedings.
Sunday Odds
Tampa Bay Rays -104 (wager $104 to win $100) at Boston Red Sox -112
Pretty much any hitter in Houston's lineup would be worthy of starting in your DFS lineup. They led MLB in runs scored during the regular season and have carried that over to the first two games of the ALDS.
Since we have to single out one player to take, though, allow yourself to be steered in the direction of Carlos Correa. The two-time All-Star has three hits in six at-bats and two RBI in the series already.
That only adds to the legend of Correa's history as a high-level postseason performer.
Astros SS Carlos Correa has 50 career postseason RBI, which ranks 7th on MLB’s all-time list. That list that includes Hall of Fame names like David Ortiz (61), Albert Pujols (54) and Reggie Jackson (48)...Correa has 50 in just 64 games, with an .877 career postseason OPS. #khoupic.twitter.com/OaEYsNSyYi
Until the White Sox figure out a way to consistently get Correa out, he's as safe a bet as anyone to have an excellent single game.
In the other dugout, Luis Robert might be the surest thing to do something special in MLB right now.
After returning from a torn hip flexor Aug. 9, Robert hit .350/.389/.622 with 12 homers in 180 at-bats over 43 games to finish the regular season. He's carried that over to the playoffs with five hits in seven at-bats against the Astros.
Luis Robert has been more or less the best player in baseball since coming back from the hip injury.
Houston is sending Luis Garcia to the mound against the White Sox in Game 3. Robert had an .860 OPS and seven homers against right-handed pitching during the regular season.
The Red Sox-Rays series features many offensive stars. While that would seem to indicate picking two hitters as the way to go, pivot in a different direction for Boston.
Nathan Eovaldi will make his first appearance in the series after pitching 5.1 innings in the AL Wild Card Game against the New York Yankees. The All-Star right-hander had the best season his career in 2021, posting a 3.75 ERA with 195 strikeouts in 182.1 innings over 32 starts.
Since these teams play in the same division, Eovaldi has had a lot of exposure to the Rays. He had a 2.39 ERA with 31 strikeouts and 15 hits allowed in 26.1 innings across four starts against Tampa Bay.
Wander Franco, the possible AL Rookie of the Year, has been a hitting machine since the start of August. He had a .323/.383/.506 slash line over his final 41 games in the regular season.
In two playoff games, Franco is 4-for-8 with two doubles. One potential drawback for the 20-year-old is his overall performance against right-handed pitching. He had just a .696 OPS against them in 183 at-bats during the regular season.
Rather than be concerned about that, though, just think of it as a small sample put up by a rookie who is the youngest player in MLB this year.
Franco has been the Rays best hitter down the stretch and has carried that over into his first postseason.
Overmatched Red Sox Get Reality Check from Buzz-Saw Rays in ALDS Game 1
Zachary D. Rymer
Oct 8, 2021
Boston Red Sox pitcher Nick Pivetta, right, stands on the mound as Tampa Bay Rays' Randy Arozarena rounds the bases after hitting a home run in Game 1 of a baseball American League Division Series, Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
The Boston Red Sox lived a charmed life in the American League Wild Card Game on Tuesday, beating the New York Yankees in a 6-2 contest in which the good bounces were plentiful and scares were scarce.
The Tampa Bay Rays took all the charm for themselves in Game 1 of the American League Division Series.
The final from Tropicana Field on Thursday was 5-0 in favor of the Rays, but this is a case of a score that undersells how one-sided the game was. According to FanGraphs, the only time the win expectancy chart was in the Red Sox's favor was when Kyle Schwarber's infield single in the first inning gave them a 50.3 percent chance.
After that, the Rays took over by doing what they did during their first 100-win regular season. They didn't give the Red Sox a single inch while helping themselves to as many as they wanted, including the 1,080 that Randy Arozarena traversed on his electrifying steal of home plate in the seventh inning:
Oh, and Arozarena also homered. Because in case anyone missed what he did last year, that's yet another service he offers in October.
The Rays' reward? A 1-0 series lead that somehow feels more like a 100-0 advantage.
Rays Players of the Game
LHP Shane McClanahan: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K. The hard-throwing left-hander in his first career postseason start became the youngest pitcher with at least five scoreless, walk-less innings in a debut.
LF Randy Arozarena: 1-for-2, HR, 3 R, 2 BB, SB. His home run heroics in the playoffs already had him rubbing elbows with all-time greats, so channeling Jackie Robinson was just as much him showing off as it was him padding his team's lead.
SS Wander Franco and DH Nelson Cruz: 3-for-8, HR, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R: Franco's RBI came on a first-inning double, and Cruz's RBI came on a catwalk-aided solo homer in the third.
Red Sox Players of the Game
RHP Nick Pivetta: 4.2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K. The 2-0 hole the Red Sox fell into with lefty starter Eduardo Rodriguez only got steeper on Pivetta's watch, but the innings he ate could loom large in Game 2.
DH Kyle Schwarber: 2-for-4. Between his two singles and three hard-hit balls, he was the closest thing the Red Sox had to a hitting star.
An Unstoppable Force Meets a Movable Object
Though the Red Sox lost the season series to the Rays 11-8, they were outscored by only two runs. If one was so inclined, one could look at that and conclude Boston gave the American League's winningest team a hard time.
In actuality, not really. The Red Sox didn't win another series against the Rays after sweeping a three-game set at Fenway Park in the first week of April, and the run differential was skewed by Boston's 20-8 drubbing Aug. 11.
It was therefore hard to look at this particular ALDS and see avenues through which the Red Sox could grab easy wins. Surely, their wins would have to come by way of flawless execution and maybe a few lucky bounces.
They got neither in Game 1.
Naturally, the Red Sox mostly have themselves to blame for their flawed execution. A bobble by center fielder Enrique Hernandez opened the door for Arozarena to score on Franco's first-inning double. And while Arozarena certainly showed off his speed when he stole home, even Boston manager Alex Cora had to hand it to him for catching lefty fireman Josh Taylor napping:
#RedSox Cora on #Rays Arozarena steal of home: “A great baseball play.”
On the other side of the ball, the Red Sox outhit the Rays 9-6. But all nine of those hits were mere singles, and their one and only knock in seven at-bats with a runner in scoring position came courtesy of the lone gift the Rays granted them in letting a pop-up by Xander Bogaerts drop to load the bases with one out in the eighth. A strikeout and a pop-out quickly ended that rally.
Equally frustrating, however, was how many of Boston's hardest-hit balls went for naught. The team had nine batted balls of at least 95 mph go for naught, which is territory that few other teams have been unlucky enough to find in October during the seven-year Statcast era.
Mind you, it wasn't all bad luck that turned those rockets into outs. It's a wonder the Red Sox hit anything through the Rays defense, as Tampa Bay's shifts seemed guided not so much by projections as crystal-ball predictions.
Of course, that's the Rays for ya. Defense was one of their calling cards during the regular season, wherein they placed third in the AL in defensive runs saved and trailed only the Houston Astros in allowing a .281 average on balls in play.
Game 1 was likewise a showcase for Tampa Bay's arms. McClanahan and the three relievers who followed him didn't throw a single fastball slower than 91 mph, thereby keeping the Rays on the velocity-paved path that guided them to a stellar 47-25 sprint to the finish in the second half.
And the Rays had an elite offense in place even before they took off after the break, as they outscored everyone from Franco's debut June 22 through the end of the season. Perhaps they were never feared like the Toronto Blue Jays, but they're probably your favorite pitcher's least favorite offense to face.
Or definitely, if your favorite pitcher is Marcus Stroman:
The Rays have always been one of my least favorite teams to face. Scrappy and relentless at the plate. They grind out at-bats all game until pitchers give in to their plan of attack. Every hitter is capable of going deep but can also beat the shift. Tough lineup to navigate! @MLB
So in case their romp through the regular season didn't do the trick, Game 1 of the ALDS was perhaps the best argument the Rays have made that the team they have in 2021 is even better than the one they had in 2020.
Considering that the latter won two-thirds of its regular-season games and went to the World Series, that's saying something.
What's Next for Red Sox-Rays?
Tampa Bay will look to stretch its advantage to 2-0 on Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:02 p.m. ET on FS1.
The pitching matchup will be seven-time All-Star lefty Chris Sale for the Red Sox and rookie right-hander Shane Baz for the Rays. That's a mismatch on paper but maybe not so much in practice.
Sale's initially triumphant return from Tommy John surgery hit a snag in the final weeks of the regular season, when he was hit at a .292 clip over his last five starts. Though inexperienced, Baz is an elite prospect with stuff that's perfectly worthy of the Rays.
The Red Sox could get a big boost if slugger J.D. Martinez's sprained left ankle allows him to play. Cora reportedly said there's a strong possibility of that happening, which will do for a much-needed silver lining for Boston while it licks its wounds after Game 1.
Randy Arozarena Stars as Rays Shut Out Red Sox to Take Game 1 of ALDS
Oct 8, 2021
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 07: Randy Arozarena #56 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates his solo homerun in the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox during Game 1 of the American League Division Series at Tropicana Field on October 07, 2021 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
In a battle between division rivals, the Tampa Bay Rays drew first blood.
The American League's No. 1 seed earned a 5-0 win over the Boston Red Sox on Thursday at Tropicana Field in the AL Division Series.
The Rays took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI double from Wander Franco and an RBI single by Yandy Diaz. Nelson Cruz made it a 3-0 game when he hit one of the stadium's catwalks.
Randy Arozarena continued his quest to wrest the title of "Mr. October" away from Reggie Jackson. He scored three runs, the last of which came on a steal of home in the seventh inning.
The Red Sox finished with nine hits—three more than the Rays—but went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base.
Notable Performers
Shane McClanahan, SP, Rays: 5.0 innings pitched, five hits, three strikeouts
Randy Arozarena, LF, Rays: 1-for-2, three runs, one home run, one RBI, two walks
Wander Franco, SS, Rays: 2-for-4, one run, one double, one RBI
Nick Pivetta, RP, Red Sox: 4.2 innings, four hits, three earned runs, two walks, four strikeouts
McClanahan Passes First Postseason Test
Shane McClanahan had a solid rookie season, finishing 10-6 with a 3.43 ERA and 3.31 FIP in 25 appearances, per Baseball Reference. Playoff baseball can be a different animal, though.
The left-hander wasn't overawed by the occasion, and that was apparent in the first inning as he hit triple digits on the radar gun to punch out Rafael Devers.
With the Rays up three runs, the Red Sox were knocking on the door in the fifth inning. Christian Arroyo singled with one out, and McClanahan's pitch count was climbing toward the 80s, a number he hit only 12 times in the regular season.
Enrique Hernandez popped out to first and Kyle Schwarber grounded into a fielder's choice as Tampa Bay avoided any damage. That was McClanahan's final inning in a strong outing.
Rue the day your team has to face this McClanahan fellow.
Arozarena was the hero for Tampa Bay last playoffs when it captured its second AL pennant. He had a .377/.442/.831 slash line and 10 home runs in 20 games.
Based on Thursday night, Arozarena may be on his way to another big postseason. He took Nick Pivetta deep in the fifth inning.
Stealing home was the cherry on top. The 26-year-old clearly flips an internal switch when the calendar changes over to October.
Looking at the bigger picture, a quality start, a collective relief effort and timely hitting by Arozarena like the Rays got is a recipe for another trip to the World Series.
Red Sox Missing Martinez
Although Red Sox manager Alex Cora included J.D. Martinez on the ALDS roster despite his sprained left ankle, it's clear the four-time All-Star isn't at 100 percent. Cora said his role would be limited to pinch-hitting duties for at least Game 1.
Boston didn't miss Martinez much in the AL Wild Card Game thanks to early home runs by Schwarber and Xander Bogaerts. The Sox could've used his power in the middle of the lineup in Game 1 because it's difficult to string singles together against the Rays' excellent defense.
Pretty much every batted ball the Red Sox have tonight has been a hard one. But nothing to show for it, because of bad luck and downright excellent defensive positioning.
Red Sox have hit the ball fine tonight. Not great, no no-doubters, but should have more on the board than they do. The Rays are just so good defensively and if you're not hitting the ball over the wall (or off the stupid catwalk F the Trop) they're gonna make a play on it.
The eighth inning summed up the Red Sox's struggles. Bogaerts hit a fly ball off the catwalk that fell in for a single to load the bases with one out. Devers, the team leader in homers and RBI, struck out on four pitches, and Hunter Renfroe fouled out to end the inning.
What's Next?
Tropicana Field will host Game 2 on Friday at 7:02 p.m. ET. Shane Baz is the scheduled starter for Tampa Bay, and Chris Sale will get the nod for Boston.
