Series Preview: Tampa Bay Rays vs Cleveland Guardians

The Tampa Bay Rays are doing it. They are actually doing it.

A season that was all but dead at this point last week has suddely been revived with the Rays winning six consecutive games and seven of their last nine. The Rays went from 7.5 games back in the Wild Card chase last Thursday to 2.5 games back entering play today with only the Rangers between them and the Seattle Mariners for the final Wild Card spot.

Now the Rays will have to continue their winning ways against the team that had nearly killed

their season just a week prior, the Cleveland Guardians.

The Guardians enter play on Thursday at 69-69. After taking two of three from the Rays last week, the Guardians helped the Rays cause as they took two of three over the Mariners. However, in their most recent series, the Guardians dropped two of three to the Boston Red Sox. The Guardians are now just behind the Rays in the Wild Card chase as they are three games back. These next four games will prove critical for either team to reach the postseason.

Jose Ramirez is of course the player to watch for on Cleveland’s side as he is a generational talent and a future Hall of Famer having a future Hall of Famer type season. The 32-year old switch hitting third baseman enters play on Thursday hitting .278/.353/.491 with 26 HR & 36 SB, registering a 126 wRC+ and accruing 4.7 fWAR over 134 games played this season.

Other players of note on the Guardians include Steven Kwan (99 wRC+ | 2.5 fWAR) who is an average offensive player but among the best defensive outfielders in the game. The Guardians also have a couple of other superb defenders who despite being well below average offensively are both among the team leaders in fWAR, Daniel Schneemann (90 wRC+ | 1.7 fWAR) & Gabriel Arias (81 wRC+ | 1.2 fWAR). Meanwhile, former Rays prospect Kyle Manzardo may not be the greatest defensive first baseman but he is hitting like a first baseman should as he enters play hitting .231/.311/.459 with 24 HR registering a 112 wRC+ and accruing 0.9 fWAR over 120 games this season.

Meanwhile, Cade Smith is easily the Guardians best pitcher right now, however, he only enters games late as he has taken over Cleveland’s closing duties after Emmanuel Clase was placed on leave due to an ongoing MLB investigation. The Guardians at times have gotten solid contributions from their starting rotation with Gavin Williams, Tanner Bibee, and Logan Allen being their defacto front three. However, Parker Messick has been incredible since being promoted, having compiled a 2.08 ERA | 2.04 FIP over 3 starts (17 1/3 IP).

Frivolities

The top players according to Baseball Reference to have played for the Rays and Guardians:

Manny Ramirez
Corey Kluber
Julio Franco
Johnny Damon
Grady Sizemore

The Rays best player offensively against the Guardians all-time (min. 25 PA):
- Jose Cruz Jr: .368/.538/1.053 with 3 HR over 26 PA
  - The next four are Steve Cox, Jason Bartlett, Wade Boggs, & Luke Scott
The Rays most previous transacation with the Guardians:
- 7/31/23: Rays acquire Aaron Civale from the Guardians for Kyle Manzardo
The Rays first transaction with the Guardians:
- 8/4/08: Guardians claim Andy Cannizaro off of waivers from the Rays