Fifty-five games down, one-hundred seven to go.
The Rays go back on the road one game over .500, taking on the Houston Astros for four games, luckily just missing the resurgent ace Lance McCullers.
The first pitcher up is… maybe a starter? Ryan Gusto has made 12 appearances with six starts, but has also thrown relief in between. It’s not immediately clear to me how many innings they expect to get from him tonight, or even how they know when he throws next, or what he’s going to throw as he has had a kitchen sink approach. His story is an interesting read, as he’s faced a range of obstacles personally and in the game.
Friday night’s lights will shine on LHP Framber Valdez, who is throwing as well as ever, with his extreme groundball rates and perplexing sinker leading the way.
UCF product LHP Colton Gordon then takes the mound Saturday, optioned and recalled in May he’s got three starts on the season, including his major league debut, and just a 3% walk rate. He’s mostly four-seam and sweeper, but mixes a sinker alongside a curve.
Finally, there’s RHP Hunter Brown, who has performed like one of baseball’s best this season. He’s got a four-seam/sinker combo with a knuckle curve that locates well, and a change. Batters are making extremely weak contact off his stuff this year, as evidenced by his 29% hard-hit rate allowed and his 2.00 ERA.
Frivolities
- The top players by career WAR to have played for the Rays and Astros:
- Dwight Gooden
- Carlos Pena
- Scott Kazmir
- Aubrey Huff
- Julio Lugo
- The Rays best player offensively against the Astros all-time (min. 25 PA):
Tim Beckham: .424/.441/.727 with 1 HR over 34 PA
The next four are Corey Dickerson, Wander Franco, BJ Upton, & Brandon Guyer - The Rays most previous transaction with the Astros
— 8/1/22: Rays trade Jayden Murray to the Astros and Seth Johnson to the Orioles. Astros trade Jose Siri to the Rays and Chayce McDermott to the Orioles. Orioles trade Trey Mancini to the Astros. - The Rays first transaction with the Astros
— 4/13/00: Rays select Dwight Gooden off of waivers from the Astros
Probable pitchers are projected by FanGraphs
GAME ONE
Thursday, May 29th
8:10 PM EDT
RHP Shane Baz vs RHP Ryan Gusto
GAME TWO
Friday, May 30th
8:10 PM EDT
RHP Ryan Pepiot vs LHP Framber Valdez
GAME THREE
Saturday, May 31st
4:10 PM EDT
RHP Zack Littell vs LHP Colton Gordon
GAME FOUR
Sunday, June 1st
2:10 PM EDT
RHP Taj Bradley vs RHP Hunter Brown