The Tampa Bay Rays are 3-3 since the returning from the All-Star break. They took their first series back against the Baltiomore Orioles, but then dropped two of three to the Chicago White Sox. Now Tampa Bay will head up to Cincinnati where they’ll take on the Reds in a three game set.
The Rays are 53-50 on the season, 6.5 games back of the Toronto Blue Jays in the division and 1.5 games of the 3rd Wild Card, currently tied with the Texas Rangers. Meanwhile, the Reds share the same record with the Rays,
but are 8.5 games back in their division and 2 games back of the 3rd Wild Card with the Giants ahead of them by a game.
The Red are led by Elly De La Cruz who enters play hitting .276/.357/.478 with 18 HR and 27 SB, registering a 125 wRC+ and has accrued 3.5 fWAR over 103 games. T.J. Friedl (2.1 fWAR | 112 wRC+) has been the next best player on the roster while the pitching has been the main reason for Cincinnati’s success this season. Andrew Abbott has been excellent atop the rotation (2.13 ERA | 3.42 FIP) while Nick Lodolo, Nick Martinez, Hunter Greene, and Brady Singer have each been solid in their right.
Frivolities
- The top players by career bWAR to have played for the Rays and White Sox:
- Greg Vaughn
- Asdrubal Cabrera
- Tommy Pham
- Juan Guzman
- Dave Martinez
- The Rays best player offensively against the Reds all-time (min. 25 PA):
Ben Zobrist: .238/.385/.619 with 2 HR over 26 PA
The next four are Yandy Diaz, Randy Arozarena, Taylor Walls, & Carl Crawford - The Rays most previous transacation with the Reds:
— 5/3/23: Rays purchase Chase Anderson from the Cincinnati Reds - The Rays first transaction with the Reds
— 11/11/97: Rays trade Dmitri Young to the Cincinnati Reds for Mike Kelly
READ MORE
First trades in Tampa Bay Rays history: “With the Cincinnati Reds”
Probable pitchers are projected by MLB
GAME ONE
Friday, July 25th
7:10 pm EDT
RHP Zack Littell vs RHP Nick Martinez
GAME TWO
Saturday, July 26th
6:40 pm EDT
RHP Ryan Pepiot vs LHP Andrew Abbott
GAME THREE
Sunday, July 27th
1:40 pm EDT
RHP Shane Baz vs RHP Brady Singer
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- Rays Organization Ranked 2nd in AL East
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