Series Preview: Rays vs Padres
Twenty-five games down, one-hundred thirty-seven to go
All it takes is a thrilling series victory over one of the best teams in the National League West for the hopes of the Rays season to be restored. Now they’ll take on an even better team in the National League West, the San Diego Padres.
San Diego enters the three-game series with a record of 17-8, clinging to a half game lead in the division; they are 5-5 over their last 10 games and have lost their past two series. The Padres are among the better offensive teams in the league (110 wRC+) and they have a pitching staff that has posted the 2nd lowest ERA in baseball. The Rays meanwhile are now 11-14, 4 games back of the division leading New York Yankees.
The Padres are led by Fernando Tatis Jr who is off to an incredible start; he enters play on Friday hitting .333/.406/.624 with 8 HR over 106 PA (184 wRC+ | 1.7 fWAR). Other offensive contributors for the Padres early on have been former Rays prospect Jake Cronenworth (157 wRC+) and Gavin Sheets (139 wRC+); veterans Manny Machado and Luis Arraez have also been solid.
It’s the pitching however that has really propelled the Padres and they’ve been led by a late free agent signing, Nick Pivetta, who the Rays will fortunately miss. Regardless, the Rays will have to go against the Padres next best starter, Dylan Cease, and perhaps the best bullpen in all of baseball with a big three of Jason Adam, Jeremiah Estrada, and Robert Suarez making the end of games much tougher on opponents.
Frivolities
The top players by career WAR to have played for the Rays and Padres:
- Fred McGriff
- James Shields
- Blake Snell
- Greg Vaughn
- Nelson Cruz
The Rays best player offensively against the Padres all-time (min. 15 PA):
Randy Winn: .533/.533/.933 with 1 HR over 15 PA
GAME ONE
Friday, April 25th
9:40 PM EDT
RHP Shane Baz vs RHP Michael King
GAME TWO
Saturday, April 26th
8:40 PM EDT
RHP Ryan Pepiot vs RHP Dylan Cease
GAME THREE
Sunday, April 27th
4:10 PM EDT
RHP Zack Littell vs RHP Randy Vasquez