It started in Atlanta where the Rays where swept in the two-game series before a lackluster performance in Baltimore against the Orioles on Friday night.
In the two-game series with Atlanta, the offense struggled to get going. The defense was less than stellar. Two errors were committed by players that are very good in the field. Gold glove center fielder Kevin Keirmaier dropped a deep fly ball, Then an error by shortstop Wily Adames allowed an Atlanta baserunner.
Timely hitting continues to be a problem for the Rays. Kevin Cash says he is not worried about the offense, that he is confident that the offense will get going.
The Rays are hitting .215 on the season good for 24th in all of Major League Baseball. The Rays are 13th out of 15 teams in the American league with that .215 average ahead of Texas and Oakland.
The Rays pitching is seventh in the American League with a 3.60 ERA.
The Rays are 4-4 and are now trail the Yankees by two games in the AL East.
Friday night in Baltimore, Blake Snell made his second start of the season for the Rays. He had a lackluster first inning, struck out the side in the second, and then was chased in the fourth after giving up three runs on four hits.
It’s obvious that the starting pitchers are still in late spring training and early season form, The longest outing by a Rays pitcher this season has been by Ryan Yarbrough.
Yarbrough went 5 1/3 innings in his first start last weekend against Toronto. Yarbrough then went 6 1/3 in his start against Atlanta on Thursday.
Former Ray Alex Cobb started for Baltimore and gave up all three of the Rays runs in five innings of work.
Tyler Glasnow will take the mound for the Rays tonight. Glasnow was sharp in his season debut against the Braves on Monday night striking out nine and allowing one run in four innings. He will try to stop the bleeding and get this Rays team back on track with another good outing tonight.
The schedule does not get any easier for the Rays. Monday will be their first off day this season. Then the Rays will play two against Boston followed a four-game stand against the Yankees at Tropicana Field.
